Arden Cogar Jr. West Virginia Strength and Power HoF inductee 2026

By Strength and Power Hall of Fame

 

Personal history

I am an attorney who has practiced law in West Virginia since 1997. I attended West Virginia University where I attempted to walk onto the 1988 football team that played for the National Championship. I was quickly humbled by the speed of people much larger than me. I was in the WVU Honor Program and ended up tutoring football players throughout my undergraduate years. My first daughter was born the day my bar review course began during 1997. My second daughter was born three years in my legal practice. I have always taken my role as a father seriously and enjoyed primary custody of my daughters throughout their school years. I'm an avid hunter/outdoorsman, weightlifter, fitness enthusiast and lover of four-legged family members. 

What led you to your sport

My primary sport is Lumberjack Sports. My father was a multi-time world champion. I also had four paternal uncles and about 15 cousins that competed in some facet of the sport over the past 80 years. When I was humbled at my attempt to walk-on at WVU for football, I did a pivot and joined the WVU Woodsmen's Team and Forestry Club. My family had competed in the sport for years, but I had never taken it seriously as an athletic endeavor until I was at WVU. Over the years, I have competed in Olympic Weightlifting, Powerlifting, CrossFit and Strongman but always as an adjunct to my main sport - Lumberjack Sports or Timber sports. 

Achievements

I have won 57 World Titles in Lumberjack Sports 2. I have won 4 US Stihl Timber sports Championships 3. I have made the US Stihl Timber sports Finals 28 times in 37 attempts. 4. I have represented the United States as a member of Team USA for over 30 years. 5. I have competed in Australia over 30 times, New Zealand 5 times, Europe over 30 times, and have been to every state in the United States doing some facet of Lumberjack Sports. I've also been to all of the Canadian provinces except the Yukon Territory, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland competing in some facet of Lumberjack Sports. 

State, National and World Records

I still have about 5 world records on various sizes and species of wood in various disciplines of Lumberjack Sports. For example, 1. 8x8 aspen standing block 7.1 seconds; 2. 13" yellow Poplar Standing Block 18.25 seconds 3. 14" yellow poplar Standing block 25.45 seconds 4. 15" yellow poplar Standing Bock 38.85 seconds 5. 13" white pine standing block 18.18 seconds

Other accomplishments

I was selected to be the Ceremonial Faller of the 2023 Capitol Christmas Complex Christmas Tree. My father was bestowed the same honor during 1976. I have appeared in Muscle & Fitness, Men's Health, Red Bulletin, The New Yorker, and multiple media outlets associated with my time as a lumberjack sports athlete. 

Other activities

I help run about 15 lumberjack sports events per year. I am also the fundraiser and organizer of the largest lumberjack sporting event in the United States - The Webster County Wood chopping Festival. I also serve as the emcee while competing at more than 15 lumberjack sporting events each summer. I've also helped several folks in my area with powerlifting, CrossFit and strongman events.

Author: By Strength and Power Hall of Fame Completed: no Created: Wed Mar 18 21:14:22 UTC 2026 | Last Updated: Sun Mar 22 16:15:48 UTC 2026