Axe ’Em, Jacks!
NACOGDOCHES, Texas –– The Stephen F. Austin State University Sylvans timbersports team has once again claimed victory at the 67th annual Association of Southern Forestry Clubs Conclave, marking the Sylvans’ 20th overall Conclave title and extending their winning streak to eight consecutive Conclaves.
Hosted this year by the University of Arkansas at Monticello Forestry Club, the event brought together 14 universities to compete in a series of rigorous technical and physical forestry-related events.
The Sylvans secured first place in both technical and physical events, earning a total of 342.75 points, which is 90.7% of the maximum possible score. This is the highest point total ever achieved at Conclave, besting the Sylvans score of 317.25 at Mississippi State University in 2015.
“The SFA Sylvans’ performance this year was the single-most dominant victory in the history of Conclave,” said Dr. Jeremy Stovall, Sylvans coach and a professor of forestry. “No club had won eight straight conclaves. No club had scored more than 90% of the maximum possible score. No club had ever beaten Arkansas at home.”
North Carolina State University placed second with 288.5 points, and the University of Arkansas at Monticello placed third with 266.5 points.
“We placed first in 12 of the 23 events — over half,” Stovall said. “Beyond the scoring, we also set three new Conclave records and one new world record. We now lead Arkansas in records by a margin of seven to four and hold half of the Conclave physical event records. Arkansas still has 31 wins, but we’re steadily closing the gap.”
In technical events, the Sylvans earned the following honors:
- Forest Health inaugural competition, first place — Ash Cardwell and Caroline Thoreson, scoring 99 out of 100 possible points
- Compass and Pace, first place — Christopher Marroquin
- Dendrology, second place — Dagan Ray
- Wood Tech, second place — Madelyn Bankhead
- Wildlife, third place — Ashlyn Cox and Vincent Jolley
- Timber Estimation, fourth place — Josiah McBroom
- Diameter at Breast Height Estimation, fourth place — Weston Williams
- Pole Classification, seventh place (tie) — Will Egan
In physical events, which can be viewed on YouTube, the Sylvans earned the following honors:
- Women’s Log Chop, first place – Maddie Sweeten (set new Conclave and world records with a 59.53-second chop; Sweeten now holds two Conclave records and two world records, something never before achieved in the Association of Southern Forestry Clubs Conclave)
- Chain Throw, first place — Jacob Barrett and Aaron Bass (set new Conclave record with a 50.36-second finish)
- Axe Throw, first place — Marek Kania
- Birling, first place — Bowen Andel
- Archery, first place — Jacob Barrett
- Men’s Bowsaw, first place — Trent Kline
- Men’s Log Chop, first place — Trent Kline
- Women’s Crosscut, first place — Maddie Sweeten and Delaney Nickell
- Men’s Crosscut, first place — Trent Kline and Jacob Barrett
- Jack and Jill Crosscut, first place — Maddie Sweeten and Trent Kline
- Knife Throw, second place — Jacob Barrett
- Log Roll, second place — Jacob Barrett and Jacob Estes
- Pole Climb, second place — Weston Williams
- Pole Fell, fourth place — Jacob Barrett
- Women’s Bowsaw, fourth place — Maddie Sweeten
Some Sylvans members traveled to the competition early to help UAM students, faculty and volunteers prepare for the event. For their efforts, the Sylvans received the Sportsmanship Award. This marks only the sixth time the award has been presented to the team who won Conclave and only the seventh time that the Sylvans have earned this recognition.
“Alumni noted that whenever something needed to be done, they saw a bunch of purple shirts there helping out,” Stovall said. “Numerous spectators complimented the great spirit of our team, their camaraderie and how they cheered on their peers from the other schools.”
The Sylvans team included 39 students, volunteer coach and alumna Chelsea Lopez, alumni Jacob Sanders and Brayden Gill who assisted with coaching, and Stovall. The University of Georgia will host the 68th Conclave in March 2027.