Mike Ottley (top) and John Hunt, both of Churchville, at Woodsman Competition. Submitted photos.

The Finger Lakes Community College sent teams to two Woodsmen's Championship competitions recently. Having held titles in recent years, the FLCC teams fell out of first place in their divisions.

The New York State Intercollegiate Woodsmen's Championship was held Saturday, March 29, at the Laffayette Field Station in Syracuse. Competing in ten woodsmen's events, the FLCC squad finished in last place with 4,075 points behind second place Syracuse State University of New York Environmental Science and Forestry with 4,188 points and first place Paul Smith College with 4,359 points. For the NYS Championship, men and women compete as a squad to accumulate points for each school. Two men and two women from each school compete for the individual state championship. Mike Ottley, of Churchville, placed first for FLCC in the men's quarter split and, with Laura Eames, of Attica, in the Jack and Jill pulp throw.

At the 57th Annual Spring Woodsmen's Championship, 23 woodsmen's teams from Northeastern United States competed in nineteen events April 18 and 19 at Colby College in Waterville, Maine. FLCC placed third in its division after having held this title for two years. Paul Smith College placed first in both the men and women's events.

The FLCC men's team, which included Ottley, earned first place in the team pulp toss for accuracy. Ottley and teammate, Marc Roche of Bliss, won the cross cut sawing endurance contest.
The men's second team representing FLCC included John Hunt of Churchville and finished with 1,199 points. Four collegiate level competitors from the United States will compete with the Timbersports professionals at the ESPN Stihl finals to be held in Ohio in August.