The sun reflects off the freshly sharpened blade as the axe spins through the air.

Thud.

The axe hits its target — a log. The thrower throws a fist in the air with excitement. He has succeeded.

The axe-throwing competition was one of many at Rolleo — an event the forest Club held Saturday in Rougemont.

Rolleo is an annual event where the forest Clubs from N.C. State and Virginia Tech come together to compete in different events.

“We’re kind of like sister schools,” Chris Barfield, a senior in forest management, said. “We get along really well.”

The event had both physical events like the axe-throwing contest, as well as mental events like naming wildlife artifacts.

David Barker, a junior in forest management, said it was hard to train for the tobacco-spitting contest. But the hardest physical competition is the underhand chop, according to Korey Meadows, a senior in forest management.

“Not only do you need endurance, but you have to keep your repetition,” he said.

Laura Hendrick, a senior in forestry at Virginia Tech, participated in the girls’ bow-saw competition. She said the wood was hard and she was nervous because she didn’t do a practice cut before competing.

However, not all the participants in the event were nervous like Hendrick. Allison Dunn, a junior in forest management, said she wasn’t nervous.

“It’s hard,” she said. “But, it’s a fun competition.”

Everyone at the event enjoyed themselves watching and participating in the competitions.

The different competitions are what bring these two schools together, according to Meadows. He said he has attended three of the four events since he has been here.

“I really like to hang out with people,” he said.

According to Meadows, the turnout has been great every year, including this one.

The event ended with a barbecue that brought together not only the forest club students, but the club’s alumni and family.