College bass anglers to compete in largest-ever national championship
Category: press release
Sep 8th, 2008 by OutdoorsFIRST
Modified Sep 8th, 2008 at 12:00 AM
College bass anglers to compete in largest-ever national championshipMore than 200 student anglers to convene on Lake Lewisville next week SAN ANTONIO, Texas (Sept. 8, 2008) – The field is set for the 2008 BoatU.S. National Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship (NCBFC), with 106 two-person teams representing 57 schools from 23 states registered to participate. The full-field enrollment makes it the largest college bass tournament ever held.Presented by Careco Multimedia and Fox College Sports, the three-day tournament takes place on Lake Lewisville, Texas (near Dallas), Sept. 18-20. The stage is unlike any other in collegiate sports because regardless of school size, each team competes against one another on equal terms in head-to-head competition. Among the mix are traditional college-sport Division I powerhouses from the Big 12, SEC, Pac-10, Big East and more, but there are also many small schools that don’t have big time athletic programs. A team from North Carolina State won the inaugural event in 2006. Last year it was a Texas A&M team. However, it was the University of Montevallo (Alabama) that won a large regional event earlier in the year over schools like Auburn, Ole Miss and Georgia. “This is fishing and bass don’t really care about who’s on the other end of the line,” said Wade Middleton, tournament director and a longtime television fishing show host. “That’s the beauty of this sport and why the field can be so diverse and every team has a chance at winning. Many of our participants excelled at other sports in high school but couldn’t or didn’t want to compete at the college level. In fishing, just about any student who wants to can get involved,” he said.From last year’s winning Texas A&M team, Justin Rackley had aspirations of a pro baseball career before an injury ended the dream. Now he’s known on campus for his bass fishing success and has his sights set on a pro fishing career. Montevallo’s Clent Davis has always been focused on fishing. “I grew up fishing, love the sport and am thrilled to have this opportunity to fish on our school’s team,” he said. “We like the fact that we can go right up against the big guys and know we can beat them. Right now our team members are recruiting new students to carry on what we’ve started.”Also unlike other college sports, bass fishing teams can be male, female or co-ed. In some instances, it has been the girls responsible for starting their school’s fishing program. That was certainly the case with Tiffany Spencer from the University of Texas-Arlington and Kat Cammack from the Metropolitan State College of Denver (Colo.). Both ladies were instrumental in getting fishing clubs started and their teams entered into the championship.For teams to be eligible to compete in the championship they must be officially recognized school fishing programs. During NCBFC competition, each team is responsible for full operation of their boats. Only artificial lures are allowed and each team is allowed to weigh-in five bass, measuring at least 14 inches in length for largemouth and 12 inches for spotted bass, each day. Team standings are based on cumulative total weights each day. After the second day of competition, only the top five teams advance to the third and final day. The finalists compete from equally rigged Ranger Z-21 bass boats with Yamaha outboards, MotorGuide trolling motors and Garmin electronics. All teams are fishing for the more than $35,000 in scholarships and prizes, but in the true sense of college rivalries most say the real honor comes in carrying the national championship award back home to their schools. “Trevor (Knight) and I lifting the trophy over our heads last year was an unbelievable experience that I’ll never forget,” said Texas A&M’s Rackley. “It’s something I’d like to do again this year.” Rackley has a chance to repeat as he does return, but with a new partner as Knight graduated since last year’s win.The championship will be featured along with several other collegiate regional bass fishing events as part of the 13-episode NCBFC television series produced by Careco Multimedia in conjunction with Fox College Sports that begins airing in early October on Fox College Sports and affiliated networks. The 2008 NCBFC is made possible by a long listing of leading companies, including BoatU.S., BoatU.S. Angler, Ranger Boats, Cabela’s, American Rodsmiths, Anglers’ Legacy, Abu Garcia, Aviva Fishin’ Buddy, Berkley, Costa Del Mar, EPIC Sports Video Cam, Falcon FTO tackle organizers, Fenwick, Frogg Toggs, Garmin, Gemini Sport Marketing, Lago Vista Lodge, Gene Larew Lures, MotorGuide, PowerPole, Rapala’s Fishing Frenzy, Sebile, Sperry Top-Sider, TruckVault, Witz Sportcases, Yamaha, City of Lewisville, Sneaky Pete’s Marina and Fox College Sports.For more information about the 2008 NCBFC, visit www.collegiatebasschampionship.com.###2008 BoatU.S. Championship Teams Posted at www.collegiatebasschampionship.com/Schools.htm.ALABAMA Auburn University – Adam Murphree/Clay MesserAuburn University – Richard Peek/Paul DavisAuburn University – Sam Rochell/Dennis ParkerFaulkner University – John Galloway/Justin BarnesFaulkner University – Kyle Tindol/Michael EubanksTroy University – Craig Karrh/Tyler WeaverUniversity of Alabama – Foster Bradley/Brent FrederickUniversity of Alabama – Ben Weldon/Warren HoffmanUniversity of Alabama – Daniel Statum/Jeff AulUniversity of Alabama-Birmingham – Tim Waits/Braxton SetzerUniversity of Montevallo – Clent Davis/Chuck HolderfieldUniversity of Montevallo – Dustin Gray/Josh LamarUniversity of South Alabama – Jonathan Pope/Joshua PopeUniversity of South Alabama – Tyler Pitts/Matt Gardner ARIZONA Arizona State – Mitch Kistner/Craig CarrollArizona State – Brent Perkins/Michael EylerArizona State – Chris Yee/Whitney Cummins ARKANSAS Arkansas Tech – Wesley Lambert/Trevor GraddyArkansas Tech – Eric Shatford/Matthew GoddardUniversity of Arkansas – Jerid Jones/Chris JacksonUniversity of Arkansas – Kazuki Kitajima/Bodie DrakeUniversity of Arkansas – Matt Graves/Jay Berry COLORADO Metropolitan State College of Denver – Adam McHenry/Kat Cammack FLORIDA University of Central Florida – Brent Compton/Joe ForkerUniversity of Central Florida – Scott Noce/Patrick MangoldWebber International University – Duane Bowman/Harris HartleyWebber International University – Marty Wilson/Alicia Mohler GEORGIA Georgia College & State University – Matt Henry/Zach Olson INDIANA Ball State University – Tyler Steward/Ryan MeinartBall State University – Jed Puckett/Brent PaullIndiana University – Eric Boger/Tyler ZschiedrichPurdue University – Jacob Spencer/Chris BookoutPurdue University – Aaron McAlexander/Ben WoodPurdue University – Chad Dunham/ ILLINOIS Southern Illinois University – Richard Dunham/Tyler AilorSouthern Illinois University – Bryan Partak/Colby Thompson IOWA University of Iowa – Josh Heine/Matt TaylorUniversity of Iowa – Tyler Mehrl/Bob Downey KANSAS Kansas State – Casey Smith/Jared BrooksKansas State – Ben Fuchs/Aaron Barney KENTUCKY Eastern Kentucky University – Andrew Luxon/Richard CobbEastern Kentucky University – Ryan Oller/Christopher DavisEastern Kentucky University – Tyler Moberly/James WathenMurray State University – Daniel Langton/Cory CarrMurray State University – Drew Snider/Treston SmithUniversity of Kentucky – Todd Hodges/Aaron YoungUniversity of Louisville – Travis Andres/Cody GreenwellWestern Kentucky University – Adam Hock/Matt Baker LOUISIANA Louisiana State University-Shreveport – Zachary Caudle/Harmon CarsonLouisiana State University-Shreveport – Patrick Morton/Will MooreLouisiana Tech University – Aaron Rogillio/Jordan WigginsLouisiana Tech University – Brock Brunson/Brandon HolmesNorthwestern State University – Zachary Gaghard/Paul RiniNorthwestern State University – Nathan Fields/Jonathan BennettNorthwestern State University – Jeff Rich/Aaron SistrunkUniversity of Louisiana-Lafayette – Cody McCrary/Neil Arnaud MISSOURI Drury University – Drew Sanford/Drew SimonDrury University – Alex Sahliyeh/Derek BrownSoutheast Missouri State University – Adam Zielinski/Alex SkeltonSoutheast Missouri State University – Taylor Gorton/Mike Rains MISSISSIPPI Mississippi State University – Bradley Sartain/Harry HalliwellMississippi State University – Cal Clark/Wes GibsonUniversity of Mississippi – Chad Hollan/Richard OrrNEBRASKA University of Nebraska – Tony Cimino/Seth ZentnerUniversity of Nebraska – Shane Strope/Drew FriedrichNORTH CAROLINA North Carolina State University – Will White/Kyle HodginNorth Carolina State University – Joshua Hooks/Chad Bazen OKLAHOMA Oklahoma State University – James Elam/Kris McDonaldOklahoma State University – Daniel Davis/Orie ChambersUniversity of Oklahoma – Chip Porche’/Matt PangracUniversity of Oklahoma – Jordon Nichols/Justin Hurd OREGON University of Oregon – Carter Troughton/Ross RichardsUniversity of Oregon – Chris Parks/Joe Cote PENNSYLVANIA Penn State – Jason Haney/Derrick Hughes TENNESSEE Freed – Hardeman University – John Lawson/Nathan PirtleUniversity of Tennessee – Nicholas Tate/Chris TateUniversity of Tennessee-Martin – Matthew Tubbs/Kevin ShoreyUniversity of Tennessee-Martin – Michael Keatts/Matthew Jones TEXAS Baylor University – Jay Holland/Christopher GassBaylor University – Andrew McAdams/Ryan ThompsonLamar University – Joshua Maddox/Matt MorrisonSam Houston State – Joshua Rush/Bubba GoughSam Houston State – Bill Weekly/Trey RapsilverStephen F. Austin State University – Kendall Wleczyk/Cale SchrockStephen F. Austin State University – Ryan Watkins/Andrew UpshawTarleton State University – Chris Michels/Tanner MorganTarleton State University – Cole Koenig/Kyle BarfieldTarleton State University – John Anderson/Kent AndriesTexas A&M University – William Edmonds/Kenny StewartTexas A&M University – Justin Rackley/Andrew ShaferTexas A&M University-Kingsville – Jerod Hawkes/ Texas Tech – Ryan Dupriest/Laramie CogganTexas Tech – Wesley Medford/Russell FeltTexas Tech – Chad Pabody/John GuestUniversity of North Texas – Brandon Dickenson/Kevin LainUniversity of North Texas – Steven Hollowell/Chaz PairUniversity of Texas-Austin – Mason Welch/John ReinaUniversity of Texas-Austin – William Waldschmidt/Micah SchelerUniversity of Texas-Austin – Ty Brockhoeft/Bobby FreyUniversity of Texas-Arlington – Stephen Pineau/Drew BryanUniversity of Texas-Arlington – Brady Beal/Bryan LewisUniversity of Texas-Arlington – Tiffany Spencer/Taryn Bishop VIRGINIA Virginia Tech – Scott Wiley/Charlie MachekVirginia Tech – Brett Thompson/ WISCONSIN University of Wisconsin-Madison – Derek Frederixon/Drew FrederixonUniversity of Wisconsin-Stevens Point – Joseph Marty/Curtis MeshakUniversity of Wisconsin-Stevens Point – Kristopher Korn/Casey Kmiecik