Season Updates 

 SAWA Rookie of the Year Takes 3rd in Collegiate Nationals 

On July 22nd, Haywood Community College student, and 2005 SAWA Rookie of the Year, Jay Blackburn competed at the STIHL TimberSports Series Collegiate Finals against 5 other regional qualifiers from both the US and Canada.  Jonathan Blais of Canada was crowned the STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® Collegiate Champion and has earned a bid to compete in the professional circuit of STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® Series in 2007. Gary Williamson, the heavily favored US competitor who also finished second in last years championship, took second to Jonathan, while Jay made a real move as the dark horse and finished in 3rd place.  All eyes were on Blackburn for the upset win after qualifying first in the underhand chop and 3rd in the stock saw with his best event left... single bucking.  Unfortunately for Jay his training in southern hard wood ill prepared him for the soft Ohio white pine and he struggled for a 5th place finish, eliminating his hopes for the championship in 2006.  All eyes will be on Jay in the 2007 Collegiate Timbersports Series, as he continues to have a year of eligibility left, and has vowed to train even harder for a chance at the title next year!.

Weakland Takes Overall Title in Brevard

Daryl Weakland, the 2005 runner-up for the SAWA Series Championship, used first place finishes in 3 events to capture his first All Around title of 2006.  Winning the Single Buck, Hot Saw and Axe Throw combined with a second place finish in the Double Buck and placements in both chopping events gave Weakland 33 points for the day and moved him into a second place tie with Jim Bascio for the 2006 SAWA Grand Championship, each with 84 points.  2005 Grand Champion Mike Slingerland has now seen his lead for a 4th consecutive title dwindle to only 1 point with 5 contests remaining.  Jimmy Lawrence was second in Brevard with 30 points while Wayne Louya managed 27 points for third.

Slingerland Wins Again

The NC Forest Festival, in Plymouth NC, is a beautiful place for a lumberjack competition... just ask SAWA Champion Mike Slingerland.  Mike won 3 of 6 events and placed in the top 5 in all other events to take his second title of 2006 in as many contests.  Mike amassed 39 total points while second place finisher Jim Bascio managed just 28.  Newcomer to the SAWA, Mark Jones, formerly of the West Virginia Axemen's Association, tied for 3rd place today with Jimmy Lawrence, both totaling 27 points. 

 SAWA Grand Champion Dominates in SC

Three time SAWA Grand Champion Mike Slingerland put in a dominating per-formance in the first contest on the SAWA Pro Lumberjack Series for 2006.  Winning four of the six events and placing second in the remaining two, Slingerland came away with 46 of a possible 48 points to take a commanding lead toward his 4th consecutive SAWA title. Jim Bascio managed a second place showing in all around points by winning the axe throw event and placing in all 6 events while Matt Williams won the standing block chopping event.