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The annual crosscut saw competition
at the Abraham Lincoln National Railsplitting Festival drew a crowd
of spectators and competitors this weekend, showcasing not only
speed and skill but also the tradition and community that the event
has carried for years.
Despite delays from scattered rain showers ,and an eventual downpour
that forced the amateur railsplitting contest to move to the next
day, Sunday, Sept. 21, the competition brought families, seasoned
participants, and new faces to the arena for a lively display of
teamwork.
The men’s competition featured multiple rounds, with teams rotating
partners in fast-paced heats. Casey and Ryan Balenger, a father-son
team from Atlanta, Illinois, set the tone with an effort marked by a
false start before clocking in at 21.05 seconds. Ryan, just 17 years
old, represented the younger generation stepping into the historic
sport.
The fastest times came from
experienced competitors. Jason Nunn of Munfordville, Kentucky, and
Jonathan Norin of LeRoy, Illinois, earned first place with a
blistering 9.58-second cut when Nunn paired with Jason Norin,
another father competing alongside his son. Second place went to
Norin and Cody Friedlien at 12.48 seconds, and third was secured by
Friedlien and Tony Swanson with a 15.0 finish.
Nunn, who has been competing since
childhood, reflected on his long history with the sport. “I’ve been
doing it ever since I was 9 years old,” he said. “This is my second
year coming up here. A lot of people should join it, youth and older
people, and start getting into it. You learn a lot about pioneers,
and people before us.”
Friedlien, another veteran of the competition, emphasized the
community that has grown around the saw. “I’ve been doing this a
long time, got involved with family and grandparents years ago and
got a good group of guys here…they love doing this too,” he said.
“I’m 43. I started professionally splitting when I was 17 or 18, and
junior splitting before that. So probably 11 or 12 years old—30
years.” He stated, summing up his experience of years.
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After the men’s heats, the
competition shifted to the Jack and Jill division, pairing
husbands and wives, fathers and daughters, and friends from
across the region. Casey and Tori Ballenger, a husband-and-wife
duo, competed with a respectable time of 17.9 seconds.
Cody Friedlien and Heidi Mueller of
Germantown, Illinois, dominated the field with a first-place finish
at 12.3 seconds. Jonathan Norin and Mueller followed closely behind
at 13.73 seconds for second place, while Casey and Tori Ballenger
secured third.
The event also featured a unique father-daughter pairing, as Jason
Nunn teamed with his daughter Kason, who has been competing since
last year. Their 26.78-second cut highlighted the family spirit
central to the competition. “It was really fun,” Kason said after
their round.
Another standout was the only all-female team, Trinity Bussan of
Normal and Sophia Bojan of Bloomington, who tackled the event with
determination and drew many cheers from the crowd.
As the competition wrapped up and rain began to fall harder, the
host Bob Rankin used the moment to encourage new participants. “To
keep this going we need more help,” he told the audience. “Most of
us have gray hair, if any left. So if you’re interested, please talk
to us.”
The call underscored the generational spirit that defines the
crosscut event. With seasoned veterans, young newcomers, and family
teams side by side, the Railsplitting Festival’s crosscut
competition continues to serve as both a celebration of history and
a vibrant community gathering.
Sophia Larimore
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