For the first time since 2019 the University of Idaho (UI) Logger Sports team competed at their annual home event, the UI Lumberjack Classic, on April 16th and performed exceptionally well. Collegiate teams from the University of Montana (UM) in Missoula and Flathead Valley Community College (FVCC) in Kalispell were the other schools present.
The Vandaljacks had enough members signed up to put together three teams. Clubs with large numbers have to break up their teams into groups of eight. The UI A team placed 1st overall with 239 points, the UI B team placed 3rd with 69 points and the UI C team placed 5th with 12 points. The teams had eight, seven and two members respectively. UM had a team of eight and a team of one. FVCC had a team of two. Historically UM and FVCC have outnumbered UI, but the tides have turned this year.
Club captain Paul Riebe has been in his position for the last four years and on the team for five. This was his final competition as a college student.
“I can think of no better way to tie a ribbon on my career at U of I than to announce U of I as the top team at our show,” he said.
The highest overall scorer for Idaho was senior Liz “Boomtown” Bloomsburg with 42. Bloomsburg has had a goal of winning Belle of the Woods for quite some time, which she finally achieved at this competition.
The highest overall scorer for the men on Idaho’s team was Paul “Chief Plebort” Riebe with 32.5. A big part of his score came from Obstacle Pole (OP). This also happens to be his favorite event.
“I’m really pretty good at it, it’s the one event I usually win,” he said.
He was the only male to not DQ in this event (which happens when a person either falls off the pole or misses a footfall on the way back down). Due to the inclement weather, it was incredibly difficult for anyone to hold their footing despite their handmade calks (pronounced “corks”) made from modified soccer cleats and logger boot spikes.
Top Idaho competitors in each event
Pulp Toss Female: Delaney “Dooley” Snaadt, 1st place
Pulp Toss Male: James “Autozone” Reibe, 1st place
Axe Throw Female: Bloomsburg, 1st place
Axe Throw Male: Chris “Chrissy” Rau, 2nd place
Caber Toss Female: Snaadt, 1st place
Caber Toss Male: James “Other James” Steiger, 1st place
Pole Climb Female: Makayla “Treefrog” Greany, 1st place
Jack and Jill: P. Riebe and Bloomsburg, 3rd place
Horizontal Hard-Hit Female: Greany, 4th place
Horizontal Hard-Hit Male: Casey “Bill” Lemon, 1st place
Stock Saw Female: Colette “Beerbushka” Crawford, 1st place
Stock Saw Male: J. Riebe, 1st place
Horizontal Speed Chop Male: P. Riebe, 4th place
Vertical Hard-Hit Male: Lemon, 1st place
Single Buck Female: Snaadt, 1st place
Single Buck Male: P. Riebe, 3rd place
Double Buck Female: Snaadt and Bloomsburg, 1st place
Double Buck Male: Riebe Brothers, 2nd place
Obstacle Pole Female: Greany, 1st place
Obstacle Pole Male: P. Riebe, 1st place
Chocker Race Female: Bloomsburg, 1st place
Chocker Race Male: Rau, 1st place
Despite the cold and snow, every competitor had fun. I personally have never seen the level of camaraderie at any sporting event as I saw here. The first person done would cheer on the last person, even if they were from different schools. Following the competition, every team ate together. After spending the whole day in 30-40 degree weather, and the entire afternoon in snow, everyone warmed up with laughs and a warm meal. After that, the teams went to Paul’s house for awards.
“My favorite part of the day was when all the competitors and some of the volunteers met up at my house to celebrate the day and to hear me announce all of the rankings and awards. There was a lot of energy in the room, and everybody made a lot of noise for each other’s scores. I really love the people we compete with in this sport, the sportsmanship is like no other sport I’ve ever experienced,” he said.
This was also the favorite moment of next year’s team captain, Chris Rau.
“My favorite moment from the home competition was the awards presentation afterwards. I really enjoyed the camaraderie and support between teams,” Rau said.
James Riebe will be taking the position of team president next year and looks forward to continuing growing the team and becoming more involved in the community. He competed both alongside and against his brother, Paul Riebe, at this event and said it was a pleasure.
“He’s taught me everything I know about Logger Sports and much of what I know about leadership. I look forward to carrying the torch for the team next year,” he said.
With a large amount of non-graduating members this season, the Vandaljacks will hopefully have an even larger team next year and continue their success.
James Taurman-Aldrich can be reached at [email protected]
Kenny Roberts
Great story James