Penn State Mont Alto will host the STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS®Series Mid-Atlantic Qualifier, one of its five regional qualifying events. It will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, April 17, on the campus' intramural field at the corner of PA Route 233 North/Park Street and Slabtown Road. It is a free event and open to the public..
According to STIHL®, the regional events are "where the best professional and collegiate lumberjacks will qualify for a place in their respective championship at the Oregon State Fair, Aug. 26-28." Spectators of the event will see:
Professional Series Qualifiers: Ten of the region’s best pro lumberjack athletes will compete in six professional lumberjack disciplines, with the top four advancing to the STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® Series U.S. Championship. The Professional Series airs on ESPN2. Professional lumberjack Tom Oliver, a Penn State Mont Alto alum and resident of Palmyra, Pa., will compete.
Collegiate Series Qualifiers: The five participating colleges and universities will select their best collegiate lumberjack to go head-to-head in four professional disciplines, with the top contender advancing to the STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® Collegiate Championship. The Collegiate Series airs on ESPNU. At last year's event, Mont Alto's Tim Benedict captured the Mid-Atlantic title and competed in the national championship, finishing sixth.
For event and series details, visit the official website for STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® at www.stihltimbersports.us.
In addition, on Saturday, April 16, the Penn State Mont Alto Woodsmen team will host four other college teams from the region in a STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® collegiate meet. Visiting teams include Montgomery and Haywood Community Colleges from North Carolina, Allegany College of Maryland and Pennsylvania College of Technology. More details will follow as they become available.