“It’s not about staying on top forever,” Hilton shared. “It’s about being here and meeting new people, talking to old friends that we’ve seen before and just getting to be more knowledgeable and wiser about job sites and safety.” NEWCOMERS TAKE THE TITLE The first day of finals proved difficult for all the competitors, as it ended in a sudden-death-style cut-off between the “A Team” and “Knotty Boys.” It was a nail-biting finish to the first day of Ar- borSPORTS™ as Knotty Boys took their well-deserved win aer a neck-and- neck race to complete the cookie cuts. The winning team consisted of Nate Morrell of the Hamden County Arbor- ist Apprenticeship Program and Nick Graveline of Northern Tree Service . Surprisingly, this was the duo’s second time ever meeting. Previously, the two had met at the arborist apprenticeship program. Once at the expo, they decid- ed to see if they could work well togeth-
ArborSPORTS™ 2026 Thursday, March 26, 2026 winning team — Nate Morrell of the Hamden County Arborist Apprenticeship Program and Nick Graveline of Northern Tree Service.
er and take home the title of this year’s ArborSPORTS™ winners. According to Graveline and Morrell, the most difficult part of the outdoor course was setting the rope in the wind and felling the log into the small drop zone. Despite these challenges, the key to their success was staying calm under
pressure, and that’s exactly what they advised for future contenders. “Don’t try to rush it,” Morrell explained. “Slow and smooth, stay focused, and don’t get overwhelmed.” The winners of day two of Arbor- SPORTS™, Harry Harmon with Amer-
48 | Spring 2026 ArborTIMES ™
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