Women’s final

GLADSTONE — The 5th US Log Rolling Open took place July 4 in Gladstone for the third year. This year’s event had a deep field of competition with the two reigning World Champions who also both won the 2021 Midwest Log Rolling Championships’, Livi Pappadopoulos and Anthony Polentini. It also includes the 2021 Splash and Dash Champions Shana Verstegen & Connor Birdsong. The competition had former World Champions Ellie Davenport, Tanner Hallett, and Shana Verstegen among many top ranked athletes. Athletes hail from Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, and California.

The event has a purse of $5,000. The esults of this year’s event:

Women:

Livi Pappadopoulos, Holmen, Wisconsin

Claire Keech, Hudson, Wisconsin

Ellie Davenport, St. Paul, MInnesota

Men:

Anthony Polentini, Hartland, Wisconsin

Tanner Hallett original from Oconomowoc currently residing in Los Angles

Connor Birdsong, Onalaska, Wisconsin

Log Rolling is winning major recognition. The U.S. Log Rolling Open was named a 2017 Sports Event to Watch in the January 2017 issue of Sports Events Magazine. Log rolling has been covered on Comcast Sports NET Chicago, ABC, FOX News, ESPN, Outdoor Life Network and WCIU You & Me. Additionally, log rolling is a rapidly growing sport and has been featured in print news of the Wall Street Journal, Self Magazine, The New York Times, ESPN and more.

Dan McDonough and Katie Burke co-direct this event. The US Log Rolling Open was founded by Burke in 2016 with the first two years taking place in Orland Park, IL. McDonough, who grew up in Escanaba, MI is part of a rich history of Log Rolling in Northern Michigan and instrumental in its return to the region. 1926 World Champion Billy Gerard hailed from Gladstone, and several area natives also grew up in the area, such as five time women’s champion Mary Jean Malott, and 1981 champ Fred Sayklly. Throughout the 1980’s and 90’s, Gladstone hosted several pro log rolling events, including the 1999 World Championships.