Penn College Hosts Woodsmen's Competition, Forestry Reunion
Published 04.22.2010
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Pennsylvania College of Technology students finished third overall and placed in virtually every category when the college's School of Natural Resources Management hosted the Mid-Atlantic Intercollegiate Woodsmen's Meet on April 17.
Students from the college's Schneebeli Earth Science Center near Allenwood which hosted the traditional event for the first time since 2004 competed against counterparts from four other schools with forestry programs in events that included archery, ax throw, men and women's crosscut saw, speed chop, pulp toss, water boil, and log roll.
"We are always eager to host the woodsmen's competition. It gives our students and faculty an opportunity to showcase our program and facility; more importantly, it allows for an exchange of ideas and learning among the different colleges," said Mary A. Sullivan, dean of natural resources management at Penn College. "It's a great event, and we look forward to it every year!"
Top finishers for the Penn College team, which is coached by forestry laboratory assistant Jack E. Fisher, were:
First Place Dendrology Benjamin A. Walk, Montgomery Men's Crosscut Coy R. Weller, Middleburg, and Brian A. Tomassacci, Shickshinny Pulp Toss for Distance Coy R. Weller Team Log Roll Sandra M. Angstadt, Kutztown; Michael C. Frantz, Loganton; Brian A. Tomassacci and Coy R. Weller
Second PlaceMen's Chain Saw Michael C. Frantz Pole Fell Matthew A. Daubert, Burnham, and John P. Gildea, Bear Creek Township Women's Crosscut Sandra M. Angstadt and Amanda K. Fetter, Stevens
Third Place Archery Coy R. Weller Men's Bolt Split Coy R. Weller Pole Fell Michael C. Frantz and Brian T. Tomassacci Pulp Toss for Distance Brian T. Tomassacci
Fourth Place Dendrology Gregory M. Christina, Summerhill Jack and Jill Crosscut Sandra M. Angstadt and Thomas D. Miller, Wellsboro Women's Bolt Split Sandra M. Angstadt Women's Speed Chop Sandra M. Angstadt
Haywood Community College, Clyde, N.C., placed first, followed by Penn State Mont Alto. Allegany College of Maryland was fourth and Montgomery Community College, Troy, N.C., finished fifth.
In a grueling separate contest held by Stihl Timbersports comprising underhand chop, one-man saw buck, chain saw and vertical chop Daubert placed fifth. Penn College's Cody J. Fye, of Bigler, participated as the "rabbit" in the challenge, evening out the field and spurring competition. A video-production crew was on hand for the Stihl challenge; the program is scheduled to air on ESPNU in early summer.
The competition was just one of the activities enjoyed by alumni attending a 40th-anniversary celebration for the college's forestry program. More than 40 graduates of Williamsport Area Community College or Penn College gathered at the Earth Science Center along with 20 guests and three retirees for tours, lunch and reacquaintance.
"The woodsmen's meet was a perfect opportunity for several generations of our alumni to reconnect with former classmates and faculty members," said Valerie L. Fessler, director of alumni relations at Penn College. "Alumni spent time reminiscing about their experiences at the college and were impressed with the many additions to the facility. It was great to see old friends connect because of the great experience the college was able to provide."
Alumni traveling the farthest were Ronald Yaple, of Sheffield, Mass., and Robert Day, of Claymont, Del. The earliest graduate in attendance was Phillip Holcomb, Class of 1974, while the most recent was Dustin L. Rhoades, who graduated in May. The group also included three sets of spouses, all graduates of the forest technology program.
Fessler also shared an e-mail from a forestry alumnus, who wrote: "I would like to thank you and your staff (for) making me and my dad feel right at home. It felt like I didn't miss a beat after being away for 32 years. It was a pleasure talking to three of my former professors. I also enjoyed the tour of the campus."
For more information about the School of Natural Resources Management, visit online or call 570-320-8038. For general information about Penn College, visit on the Web , e-mail or call toll-free 800-367-9222.
Students from the college's Schneebeli Earth Science Center near Allenwood which hosted the traditional event for the first time since 2004 competed against counterparts from four other schools with forestry programs in events that included archery, ax throw, men and women's crosscut saw, speed chop, pulp toss, water boil, and log roll.
"We are always eager to host the woodsmen's competition. It gives our students and faculty an opportunity to showcase our program and facility; more importantly, it allows for an exchange of ideas and learning among the different colleges," said Mary A. Sullivan, dean of natural resources management at Penn College. "It's a great event, and we look forward to it every year!"
Top finishers for the Penn College team, which is coached by forestry laboratory assistant Jack E. Fisher, were:
First Place Dendrology Benjamin A. Walk, Montgomery Men's Crosscut Coy R. Weller, Middleburg, and Brian A. Tomassacci, Shickshinny Pulp Toss for Distance Coy R. Weller Team Log Roll Sandra M. Angstadt, Kutztown; Michael C. Frantz, Loganton; Brian A. Tomassacci and Coy R. Weller
Second PlaceMen's Chain Saw Michael C. Frantz Pole Fell Matthew A. Daubert, Burnham, and John P. Gildea, Bear Creek Township Women's Crosscut Sandra M. Angstadt and Amanda K. Fetter, Stevens
Third Place Archery Coy R. Weller Men's Bolt Split Coy R. Weller Pole Fell Michael C. Frantz and Brian T. Tomassacci Pulp Toss for Distance Brian T. Tomassacci
Fourth Place Dendrology Gregory M. Christina, Summerhill Jack and Jill Crosscut Sandra M. Angstadt and Thomas D. Miller, Wellsboro Women's Bolt Split Sandra M. Angstadt Women's Speed Chop Sandra M. Angstadt
Haywood Community College, Clyde, N.C., placed first, followed by Penn State Mont Alto. Allegany College of Maryland was fourth and Montgomery Community College, Troy, N.C., finished fifth.
In a grueling separate contest held by Stihl Timbersports comprising underhand chop, one-man saw buck, chain saw and vertical chop Daubert placed fifth. Penn College's Cody J. Fye, of Bigler, participated as the "rabbit" in the challenge, evening out the field and spurring competition. A video-production crew was on hand for the Stihl challenge; the program is scheduled to air on ESPNU in early summer.
The competition was just one of the activities enjoyed by alumni attending a 40th-anniversary celebration for the college's forestry program. More than 40 graduates of Williamsport Area Community College or Penn College gathered at the Earth Science Center along with 20 guests and three retirees for tours, lunch and reacquaintance.
"The woodsmen's meet was a perfect opportunity for several generations of our alumni to reconnect with former classmates and faculty members," said Valerie L. Fessler, director of alumni relations at Penn College. "Alumni spent time reminiscing about their experiences at the college and were impressed with the many additions to the facility. It was great to see old friends connect because of the great experience the college was able to provide."
Alumni traveling the farthest were Ronald Yaple, of Sheffield, Mass., and Robert Day, of Claymont, Del. The earliest graduate in attendance was Phillip Holcomb, Class of 1974, while the most recent was Dustin L. Rhoades, who graduated in May. The group also included three sets of spouses, all graduates of the forest technology program.
Fessler also shared an e-mail from a forestry alumnus, who wrote: "I would like to thank you and your staff (for) making me and my dad feel right at home. It felt like I didn't miss a beat after being away for 32 years. It was a pleasure talking to three of my former professors. I also enjoyed the tour of the campus."
For more information about the School of Natural Resources Management, visit online or call 570-320-8038. For general information about Penn College, visit on the Web , e-mail or call toll-free 800-367-9222.