HALL OF FAMEWorld Axe Throwing League

When the World Axe Throwing League was founded in 2017, the sport needed more than throwers — it needed builders. People who would write the rules, train the judges, set the standards, and create the framework for a global competitive community. Benn MacDonald was one of those people from day one.

As the longest-serving member of the WATL Council, Benn played an instrumental role in shaping the rules and regulations that govern competitive axe throwing today. From the early days of defining scoring zones and killshot mechanics to the nuanced division systems that separate recreational, amateur, and professional play — Benn's fingerprints are on every page of the rulebook.

His presence on ESPN broadcasts as the featured Head Judge introduced millions of viewers to the sport's legitimacy and precision. For competitors watching at home, Benn was the steady, authoritative figure behind every call — the person who ensured that the sport they loved was judged fairly, consistently, and with unwavering integrity.

But Benn's greatest impact may be the one that doesn't show up on television. As a mentor, he guided countless new judges through their certification, coached venue owners through their first sanctioned leagues, and quietly supported competitors navigating the pressures of tournament play. He answered the late-night rules questions. He showed up early and stayed late. He did the work that held the community together.

His thought leadership helped establish the standards that WATL affiliates across 47 countries now follow. His guidance shaped not just how the game is played, but how the community treats one another — with respect, with fairness, and with the understanding that the sport is bigger than any one person.

Upon his retirement in 2026, WATL proudly names Benn MacDonald as the inaugural inductee to the Hall of Fame — the first person to receive the highest honor the sport can bestow. His legacy is not measured in throws or scores, but in the foundation he helped build for every competitor who picks up an axe.