Durham, N.H. (April 22, 2008) – Hordes of students, fans, families and even dogs gathered at the University of New Hampshire over the weekend to see student lumberjacks representing 12 schools across the Northeast compete in a chopping and sawing battle for a stake in the STIHL®TIMBERSPORTS® Collegiate Series Championship.
Paul Smith’s College competitor Matt Bolton chopped and sawed his way to victory through his cumulative points gathered in the underhand chop, stock saw and single buck events. Bolton also became the fourth student lumberjack to earn a ticket to the Collegiate Championship to be held June 27 in Columbus, Ga.
As part of his win, STIHL will pay Bolton’s way to the Collegiate Championship, including travel and lodging for the lumberjack and his coach. He also earned a $1,000 scholarship for his school from STIHL.
“STIHL would like to congratulate Matt on his win in our fourth STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Collegiate Series event of the season,” said Roger Phelps, promotional communications manager for STIHL Inc. “We created this series to help identify and develop the top collegiate lumberjacks and provide them with an opportunity to advance in the sport and join the ranks of the professional elite. Matt and his fellow competitors are wonderful ambassadors of the sport.”
Matt Bolton's consistency proved crucial to his victory. Taking second place in the underhand chop, fourth in the stock saw and first in the single buck, Bolton showed strength in his overall performance because as he entered the third discipline, the single buck, University of Connecticut’s Corey Christians and Bolton were neck and neck in points. Bolton was able to seal his win with a single buck time of 16.81 seconds.
The University of New Hampshire's Josh Edwards took third place, followed by John Little from Finger Lakes Community College. Rounding out the top five was Devin Randall, representing Unity College.
The next STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Collegiate Series event will take place at the University of Montana in Missoula, Mont. on April 26.
For more information, go to
www.ESPNOutdoors.com
and click on TIMBERSPORTS, or visit
www.stihltimbersports.com
.
About STIHL Inc.
STIHL Inc. manufactures the world's largest selling brand of chain saws and produces a full line of powerful, lightweight, and versatile handheld outdoor power equipment for homeowners and professional users. STIHL products are sold through independent servicing power equipment retailers from coast to coast – not mass merchants. For more information or for the name of the closest STIHL retailer call toll free 1-800-GO STIHL (1-800-467-8445) or visit STIHL's Web site at
www.stihlusa.com
.
STIHL Inc. is the official underwriting sponsor of the STIHL®TIMBERSPORTS® Series presented by Carhartt. The series airs throughout the year on the ESPN2 cable network, and the STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® Collegiate Series airs on ESPNU.
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