Science & Outdoors
UWSP proudly represented at national competition
The Pointer
jtowl695@uwsp.edu
The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point chapter of the Society of American Foresters proudly represented their campus at the 58th annual Midwestern Foresters’ Conclave this year with their third place victory. Nine collegiate chapters competed in various events and Saturday, Sept. 27, marked the day when all their rigorous training would come to fruition.
The event is a Midwest tradition comprised of team competitions. While any student is able to compete in the conclave, only one competitor is chosen to represent his or her campus in the Stihl Timbersports Collegiate Challenge. The competition is nationally recognized with ESPN coverage.
Andrew Gollnick was chosen to represent UWSP as the Stihl series competitor and he proved a worthy candidate.
During the stock saw event, the competitor uses a MS 660 Stihl Magnum chainsaw to make two cuts in four inches of white pine. According to ESPN Outdoors, “the stock saw discipline is a true test of operator ability.”
Though Gollnick placed second in the stock saw event, the struggle was intense as he remained tied for first place throughout a majority of the saw-off.
For Danae Fritz, vice president of SAF, “getting to participate in all the events at the conclave is rewarding, but Timbersports is the coolest aspect.”
Aside from training year-round for the national competition, SAF also hosts various events including woodchuck games, which will be held on April 14 at the Central Wisconsin Environmental Station, located approximately 20 minutes from campus. The woodchuck games were created to prepare members for the Stihl Timbersports level of the Midwestern competition.
SAF is also involved with pulp cut, an annual chain saw safety and operation course taught by SAF advisor and Professor Paul Doruska and Professor Mike Demchik alongside SAF members including Fritz.
Pulp cut, or NR 405, is a one credit elective that is offered at UWSP during the fall semester and allows students the opportunity to gain both safety knowledge and hands on experience harvesting wood pulp.
“Some students are apprehensive about trying, but once you do, it’s really fun,” said Fritz. SAF member Sarah Holter also encourages students to give the organization a chance for the sake of, “meeting lots of people.”
Meetings are held every Thursday at 5 p.m. in room 170 of the Trainer Natural Resources building. The organization reserves Mondays and Wednesdays for practice, a training schedule which seems to pay off based on the results of this year’s conclave.
To learn more about SAF, visit their Web site at http://www.uwsp.edu/stuorg/saf. If interested in becoming a member, attend a meeting or stop by the SAF office located in TNR 361A.
