FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contacts:
STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Series
Stefen Lovelace, IMRE
(o) 410-821-8220
(c) 814-883-7005
stefenl@imre.com
STIHL TIMBERSPORTS U.S. Collegiate Championship Competitor Field Set
Six Top Collegiate Lumberjack Athletes Qualify to Compete in Central Park in June
NEW YORK, N.Y. (May 7, 2015) - The STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Series, presented by Ram
Trucks, today announced the six collegiate athletes who will compete in the U.S. Collegiate
Championship, which will take place at Central Park in New York City on Saturday, June 20.
Five competitors earned their championship bids by winning their respective regional collegiate
qualifiers, and one holds the wild card position. Those five athletes include Three Rivers
Community Colleges Aaron Hovis (Midwest Collegiate Qualifier winner); Haywood
Community Colleges Ben Kniceley (Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Qualifier winner); Unity
Colleges Blake Wilder (Northeast Collegiate Qualifier winner); Oregon State Universitys
Cody Labahn (Western Collegiate Qualifier winner); and N.C. States Griffith Wilson
(Southern Collegiate Qualifier winner). This years wild card spot was filled by University of
Maines, Brad Jones, coming out of the Northeast Conclave.
"These six athletes are the best young lumberjack athletes in the country, and they have a
tremendous opportunity to showcase their talents in Central Park this summer, said
STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Executive Producer Brad Sorgen. This year is the 30 th anniversary of
our sport, and these athletes will get unprecedented exposure for both themselves and their
schools.
All of the athletes that qualified have showcased incredible skill and potential. In the qualifier
rounds, Hovis standing block time at the Midwest Collegiate Qualifier was sensational at 32.80
seconds, beating the majority of his opponents by 30 seconds. Kniceley and Labahn won both
the underhand chop and standing block disciplines by a landslide in their regional qualifiers.
Wilder posted the fastest time in the stock saw discipline at the Northeast Collegiate Qualifier
with a time of 12.46 seconds. Wilson dominated the Southern Collegiate Qualifier for the second
straight year, winning the underhand chop, stock saw, and single buck, while coming in a close
second in the standing block discipline. Jones had the fastest standing block of the year, an
impressive 32.20 seconds, which earned him the collegiate wildcard spot.
The collegiate athletes will compete in four disciplines: the single buck, the stock saw, the
standing block chop and the underhand chop, and will use professional rules and professionalsized wood. In addition to becoming the 2015 Collegiate Champion, the winner will also
represent the U.S. on the international rookie team at the World Championship in November

(the exact location and date will be announced soon), and earn an automatic bid into the 2015
STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Professional Series.
The U.S. Championship will be a jam-packed day with high-intensity action, as the Professional
Qualifier rounds will kick-off the days events from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The Collegiate
Championship will take place from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. The day will conclude with the Professional
Championship that will run from 3 to 5:30 p.m.
Admission to the U.S. Championships is free, and will take place at the Naumburg Bandshell
within Central Park at 72nd Street and 5th Avenue. Those who are unable to attend can watch the
Championships via live stream on the website, as well as follow the Series through
Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. The Championships will air nationally on ABC on Oct. 11, Oct.
18 and Oct. 25 at 4 p.m. EST.
Sponsors of the 2015 STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Series include Ram Trucks, the presenting
sponsor; John Deere, the official equipment; and Duluth Trading, the official work wear of the
Series.
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. STIHL products sold through U.S. STIHL
dealers are for distribution in the United States only. 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 website
at www.stihlusa.com.

STIHL Inc. is the official underwriting sponsor of the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Series. The
series airs throughout the year on ABC, and the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Collegiate Series
airs on ESPNU. The STIHL TIMBERSPORTS SERIES is the pinnacle event in lumberjack
sports. Since 1985 the Series has grown to become the premier showcase of the decades old
sport of lumberjacking with competitions held around the world.

The term TIMBERSPORTS is a registered trademark owned by ANDREAS STIHL AG & Co.
KG. and refers to the series of disciplines and competitions that are part of the STIHL
TIMBERSPORTS Series. As such, it should not be used as a generic description of the overall
sport of lumberjack sports. This trademark refers to all modifications of the term
TIMBERSPORTS such as timber sports, or timbersport. The term TIMBERSPORTS should
always appear in conjunction with "STIHL."

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