Lumberjack World Championships - Hayward, Wisconsin

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SAWYERS AND CHOPPERS

Arden Cogar, Jr.
At the age of 39, Cogar, is the only practicing attorney currently involved with lumberjack sports. A native of West Virginia, Cogar is a member of a large timber sports family, which includes not only his father, but his wife, mother, cousins, and in-laws. Arden, currently residing in West Hamline, attends about 30 lumberjack shows a year, and is a historian on the sport of chopping. Though he wears a suit 5 days a week, Cogar states he 'loves to make chips fly" on the weekends. For a man who only has time for a hobby, it still remains his passion as evidenced by his wins last year where Cogar was 2nd in the Men's Springboard Chop, 4th in the Men's Underhand Chop and placed 4th in the Double Buck with partner Chris Bradshaw.

Lindsay Daun
Daun, 22, a student from Round Lake, Illinois, started competing because both of her parents were involved in timber sports. Daun, the Women's Single Buck Champion in both 2003 and 2004, took home 4th place in last year's Single Buck competition, and with partner Dave Jewett placed third in the Jack and Jill sawing competition with a time of: 7.35.

Brad DeLosa
DeLosa, a native of Lithgow, New South Wales, Australia holds two world titles from the Sydney, Australia Show and is the titleholder of the NSW Champion of Champions. A member of the Austalian Axemen, DeLosa is a fitter machinist who enjoys motorbike riding when not in training. DeLosa says his favorite event is the Standing Block Chop, an event he placed second in last year along with taking a 3rd place finish in the Men's Underhand Chop.

Warrick Hallet
Hallet, from Glencoe, Minnesota is a finish carpenter by trade who enjoys wood chopping and working at home. Hallet's favorite events are the Hot Saw and Springboard Chop, in which he placed third in 2008. Last year Hallett placed 4th in the Master's Double Buck with partner Lawrence O'Toole, Sr.

Rick Halvorson
Halvorson, 60, from Alma Center, Wisconsin has been involved in timber sports for over 20 plus years. Halvorson owns a logging business along with his wife Penny, who is also a world champion. Together the Halvorson's own 8 Jack and Jill world titles (1990, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2002). Halvorson competes in 15-20 events per year, mostly in the Midwest and the eastern U.S. An avid downhill skier, Rick keeps in shape with weight training and states his favorite event is the Hot Saw. Last year Halvorson took first place in the Master's Double Buck with partner Alastair Taylor.

Dave Jewett
Jewett,a chainsaw carver, lumberjack competitor, log furniture builder and owner of a Christmas tree business is sometimes best described as a "Renaissance Man of Wood". Holder of over 30 world titles and 25 world records, Jewett recently returned to pro competition after surviving kidney failure and a having a successful transplant from his father. Dave took first once again last year with long time partner J.P. Mercier in the Double Buck. Jewett and Mercier hold the title for 2000-2002, 2004 and 2006 in this event. Partnered with Lindsay Daun in the Jack and Jill, Jewett earned a third place finish and placed first in the Axe Throw competition.

Mel Lentz
Lentz, 50, of Diana WV, is one of true greats of timber sports. Mel is a Nine Time All Around Champion (1981-83, 1986, 1988-91 and 1994), Four Time Single Buck Champion, (1981, 1983, 1989, 1994),Three Time Hot Saw Champion (1988, 1999, 2000), Six Time Standing Block Champion, (1988, 1990-91, 1993-95), Two Time Springboard Champion (1984 & 1994), 1990 Double Buck Champion with Rolin Eslinger and Ten Time Underhand Block Chop Champion (1982-84, 1986, 1988-91, 1994-95). Returning back last year, Lentz once again showed his championship form with a 3rd place finish in both the Double Buck with teammate Matt Cogar and the Hot Saw. Mel also took 4th in the Single Buck, Springboard Chop and Men's Standing Chop as well as a second place finish in the Axe Throw.

Jean-Pierre (J.P.) Mercier
Jean Pierre(JP),52,from St. Etienne, Quebec, Canada, is a professional saw maker, filing and sharpening saws, including those of many world title holders. Mercier became involved with timber sports over 30 years ago because his father was a competitor. A multiple year champion in the Double Buck, Mercier and partner Dave Jewett hold titles for the years 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004 and 2006. JP enjoys making maple syrup, singing in a choir in the off season and playing chess between heats. Placing first in the Double Buck competition last year with long time partner Dave Jewett, Mercier also took home fourth in the Jack and Jill with partner Denise Ott.

Laurence O'Toole, Jr.
Laurence, 28, from Doncaster, Victoria, Australia is the son of multi year champion Lawrence O'Toole, Sr. Holder of 5 World Titles and 7 Australian titles, Laurence was also the overall champion at Sydney in 2009. Last year O'Toole took first place in the Men's Underhand Chop, and placed third in the Standing Block Chop, Springboard Chop and the Men's Single Buck.

Laurence O'Toole, Sr.
O'Toole Sr., 58, from Doncaster, Victoria, Australia is the 1987 Standing Block Chop Champion and 1985, 1987 Underhand Champion. Returning last year O'Toole took home first place in the Master's Underhand and fourth in the Master's Double Buck with Warrick Hallett.

Mike Slingerland
Slingerland,45, of Rockwell, NC is a pediatric physical therapist by profession and holder of 22 World Titles. His entire family, including wife Barbara, twin sons, Matt and Eric and daughter Sara all compete in lumberjack sports. Last year Mike along with partner, Jason Wynyard placed second in the Double Buck with a time of :5.84.

Mike Sullivan
Sullivan, 49, from Winsted, Connecticut, has participated in timber sports for over 25 years. Sullivan got interested in the sport because his father was a competitor, and he now competes in 18-20 events throughout the United States, Canada and "wherever the big shows are" yearly. Mike is a manufacturer's rep for an archery company who still finds time to train year round. Sullivan, the 2003, 2005 and 2008 Hot Saw Champion took second place in that event last year. Along with partner Nancy Zalewski, Sullivan also placed 2nd in the Jack and Jill sawing event. An avid hunter and accomplished chainsaw carver, Sullivan has over 26 World Titles and more than 100 overall titles to his name.

Sheree Taylor
Taylor, 55, a farmer from Te Aroha, New Zealand, was told by doctors in 2001 that she would never be able to compete again. Proving ability supersedes age (and doctors) Sheree placed second last year in the Women's Single Buck, an event she won in 1995, 1998, 2001, 2005, 2006 and 2007. At last year's Championships, Taylor also took second place in the Women's Underhand Chop, besting some competitors who were 20 years younger.

Alastair Taylor
Taylor, 58, of Te Aroha, New Zealand is a farmer by trade and winner of the 1982-83 Double Buck Championship with partner Eyler Admans in 1982 and Brian Herlihy in 1983. Alastair, married to multi-year champion Sheree Taylor, is also the 2006-07 Masters Underhand Chop Champion, where he placed second in last year's competition. In the 2009 Master's Double Buck Alastair and partner Rick Halvorson took home the gold.

Jason Wynyard
Wynyard, 34, from Auckland, New Zealand, is a full time competitor who has been involved with timber sports for over 20 years. Raised around timber sports competitions by his father, a world champion in the 1960's, Jason and his wife Karmyn are both multiple year champions. Currently Jason competes in 6-8 shows in the United States, 10 shows in New Zealand and 5 shows in Australia per year. With last year's win at LWC, Jason won his 11th consecutive Tony Wise All Around title. Wynyard, who trains year round with weights, rope skipping and running, took first place in both the Men's Springboard Chop and Hot Saw. Last year Jason and his wife Karmyn took first in the Jack and Jill where they still hold the world record of :6.17. Rounding out his trophy case from the 2009 Lumberjack World Championships, Jason placed second with Mike Slingerland in the Double Buck and took second in the Men's Underhand.

Karmyn Wynyard
Karmyn Wynyard, a native of Auckland, New Zealand, has two sons and 1 daughter with World Champion Sawyer/Chopper Jason Wynyard. Though Karmyn has been competing for only 12 years,her family has been involved on the world timber stage for many years. Both her father and brother Dion have influenced Karmyn over the years. In 2003, 2005, 2006 Karmyn and Jason won the Jack and Jill Sawing event,setting a NEW WORLD RECORD in 2005 with a time of: 6.17. Last year Karmyn and Jason took first once again in the Jack and Jill event when Karmyn was six months pregnant. Last year Karmyn went on to win first place in the Women's Single Buck, took fourth in the Women's Underhand Chop, plus placed first with her team in the Relay Race.

Nancy Zalewski
Zalewski, 40, a native of Hayward, resides in Manitowoc, Wisconsin where she is a chemist. Zalewski has been competing for just 11 years and credits her Jack and Jill partner, Mike Sullivan, for her many accomplishments. Last year Nancy set a NEW WORLD RECORD with the time of :28.19 in the Women's Underhand Chop during the semifinals and took home first place in the finals in this event. Zalewski and Sullivan teamed up once again last year and took second place in the Jack and Jill. Zalewski also placed third in the Women's Single Buck, and due to her point total was crowned the 2009 Women's All Around Champion - a title she has now held 5 times.