Tim Benedict, a forest science major at Penn State, made it to the STIHL Collegiate Timbersports Championship for the third consecutive year, competing in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee the first week of June. Third time’s the charm, they say, and for the first time in his lumberjack career, Benedict won the national competition.

The Pittsfield, Pa. native got a spot at the championship by edging out other fielding woodsmen in a regional qualifier, going on to face lumberjacks from five other national regions in four different events: the chainsaw competition, the single buck event, the underhand chop, and the standing block chop.

In each event, competitors race for the fastest time at a number of different tasks. Benedict topped his best underhand chop time at the nationals, cutting through a 13-inch log in just 26 seconds, not far behind the level that professionals compete at. But he’ll need to get better, as his award for winning the national collegiate competition is a spot on the U.S. Lumberjack Team for the world championships in Norway this coming September.

“I first got involved in Timbersports four years ago while I was a student at Penn State Mont Alto,” said Benedict. “I thought it would be cool, so I tried out for the team and have been hooked ever since.”