Friday, Feb. 3 was the day that many Flucos had been dreaming of for 365 days. It was a day where students could dress up as a lumberjack or lumberjill, go to IHOP and pig out on pancakes, and take plaid-related group selfies before, during, and after school.

Started by students in 2010, Lumberjack Friday is traditionally held the first Friday of February that coincides with a home basketball game. On that day, students and faculty dress up in flannels, jeans, boots, suspenders, and hats (and occasionally fake beards and axes) to be honorary lumberjacks for the day. Many students set their alarm clocks at an early hour and carpool so they can get to the IHOP at Zions Crossroads by 6:30 am so they can eat pancakes and witness the big lumberjack event.

(This year, in particular, the “pancake eating” part was elusive for some students, many of whom said they waited two hours at the restaurant and never even received a drink, let alone their food order.)

According to Fluco tradition, three junior boys are chosen by the head lumberjack (a male senior) to have a syrup chugging contest at the restaurant. As the other Flucos pull out their phones and the music begins, these boys begin to chug the syrup, usually in less than a minute or so. Whoever wins receives the title of Head Lumberjack for the following year.

This year’s contestants were Juniors Matthew Mooney, Jason Watts, and Shaun Cobb. All boys finished their syrup, and while the competition was close up until the very end, Mooney emerged the victor– and owned the consequences, “I felt terrible. I was really sick. I kept coughing really bad,” he said.

Still, Mooney felt the pain was worth it. “I think it’s really cool. Cool title to have,” he said. Mooney said that he has already started coming up with ideas of how he wants to continue on the tradition next year, and hinted that there may be more people competing next year.