News

UAM WINS CONCLAVE 29TH TIME

Saturday, April 4, 2009 10:50 PM CDT

SPECIAL TO THE COMMERCIAL

UAM’s Conclave champions are (from left, front row) Ozzie Young, Savanah Byars, Brad Sears, Gerry McElroy, Travis Rushing; (second row) Trey Johnson, Sean Smith, Bobby Glaze, Joe House, Jacob Nettles, Mike Bailey, Justin Mallett, Brandy Forester, Drew Tubbs; (back row) Tim Osteen, Daniel Standley, Nate Trauger and John Mark Henderson. Special to The Commercial

MONTICELLO — For the 29th time in its 52-year history, the Association of Southern Forestry Clubs Conclave competition has been won by the University of Arkansas at Monticello.

UAM forestry students placed first in technical events, second in physical events, and first overall, edging Stephen F. Austin State University for the title in a three-day competition March 12-14 in Huntsville, Ala.

UAM, host to Arkansas’ only school of forestry, has won 18 of the last 26 Conclave competitions.

“It’s nice to place as high as we did in the physical events but it is especially gratifying to win the technical events competition,” said Dr. Richard Kluender, dean of the School of Forest Resources and director of the Arkansas Forest Resources Center. “That is an indication of the quality of our academic program in relation to some of the top forestry schools in the country.”

UAM students placed in the top 11 in each of the eight technical events. Brian Maddox, a senior from DeSoto, Mo., placed second in wood technology; Justin Mallett, a senior from Arkadelphia, placed third in compass and pacing and tied for fourth in pole classification; Travis Rushing, a junior from Hampton, placed fifth in dendrology; Nate Trauger, a junior from Delight, placed fifth in timber estimation; Sean Smith, a junior from Mabelvale, placed sixth in photogrammetry; Brad Sears, a senior from Des Arc, and Ozzie Young, a sophomore from El Dorado, tied for 10th in wildlife; and Jacob Nettles, a junior from Crosby, Miss., placed 11th in diameter-breast-height estimation.

In the physical events, UAM students won three individual and team events and placed in the top nine in every category. Rushing won both the archery and log chopping competitions and finished second in the knife throw. Bobby Glaze, a sophomore from Camden, and John Mark Henderson, a senior from Conway, teamed to win the chain throw.

Brad Sears placed third in the axe throw, teamed with Rushing to place fourth in men’s crosscut sawing, and joined Gerry McElroy, a freshman from Crossett, to place fourth in Jack-and-Jill crosscut.

McElroy placed second in women’s crosscut, ninth in pole felling, and teamed with Brandy Forester, a sophomore from Cherry Valley, for fourth in the women’s crosscut.

Glaze placed fourth in log birling. Henderson took second in men’s bow saw and teamed with Rushing to place fifth in log rolling.

UAM will host the Conclave in 2010.

For more information, contact the School of Forest Resources at (870) 460-1052.

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