ISU senior Frank Boyer goes by two drastically different nicknames. The 5-foot-10, 165 pound lumberjack has been called Mighty Mouse for his small stature, especially when compared to bigger lumberjack competitors. But Boyer also carries the persona of Frank the Tank — the name that is chanted at competitions as Boyer chops and saws his way through four lumberjack events.

Boyer, a member of the Iowa State Forestry Club, was able to showcase both Mighty Mouse and Frank the Tank when the ISU Forestry Club on Sept. 26 traveled to Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Ill., to compete in the STIHL Timbersports Midwest Collegiate Challenge.

Boyer had only competed once previously in a conclave competition — an event combining different forestry related events — last year at Michigan Tech.

Boyer admitted that he was nervous about his first competition but after one year of anticipation, Boyer felt no nerves when he went to Carbondale.

“I was so pumped up that I didn’t have the ability to get nervous,” Boyer said.

Lucas Monson, senior in forestry and coach of the Iowa State Forestry Club lumberjack competitors, said a majority of competitors tend to be nervous but Boyer can be found joking around and waving to the crowd as he wields his axe or saw.

“Frank has as much fun as he can, he’s a breed of his own to say the least,” Monson said.

Fueled by a rowdy crowd, the undersized Boyer placed first in the stock saw competition and second in the standing block chop, leading to his overall third place finish out of the seven competitors in the lumberjack competition.

“He’s afraid of absolutely nothing out there,” fellow lumberjack senior Jack Faith said.

In addition to the 19 competitors, the ISU Forestry Club brought more than 20 supporters to Carbondale, forming one of the largest cheering sections at the event. The ISU crowd has developed a reputation for being one of the loudest groups at competitions, which Boyer said has helped bolster his efforts.

“Since we’re the rowdiest group, I was the rowdiest contestant,” Boyer said.

Following his 22.74–second winning time in the stock saw, Boyer smashed the cookie — a four inch thick piece of wood — over his head as he celebrated his victory.

“It was all an adrenaline rush,” Boyer said. “I wouldn’t have done half the crazy things I did without them [the ISU crowd].”

“Frank was the most entertaining and one of, if not, the best athlete there,” Monson said.

Unfortunately for Boyer, he did not qualify for the Southern Championships where he would have been able to compete for the opportunity to join the professional lumberjack circuit for a year. However, Boyer still has hopes of competing in the future and maybe making the professional circuit.

“If you win it pays,” Boyer said. “There’s a reason why not many people do it,”

Boyer, who will graduate in December, plans to compete in the Woodchuck Games this spring at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and also plans to enter the Amateur division of the Lumberjack World Championships in June in Hayward, Wis.

To see Boyer and the rest of the Iowa State Forestry Club’s competitors, the 2009 Midwest Collegiate Challenge will be aired on ESPNU this summer.