UT Tyler College Anglers Qualify for Team-of-Year Finals Through Ranger Cup University Program
Category: npaa
Apr 28th, 2011 by OutdoorsFIRST
Modified Apr 28th, 2011 at 12:00 AM
FLIPPIN, Ark. (April 28, 2011) – Tyler Fisher and Matthew McClellan, seniors from the University of Texas at Tyler, recently became the first team of collegiate anglers to qualify for the Ranger Cup University Team of the Year finals – which includes an expense-paid trip to Texas’ famed Choke Canyon Reservoir later this year where they will compete for over $2,000 in cash and prizes.
By virtue of being the highest-finishing team (both anglers registered with Ranger Cup University) at the National Guard FLW College Fishing Championship, Fisher and McClellan will soon be paired against the qualified team with the highest place of finish in the BoatUS Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship later this spring. Both teams will receive an expense-paid, grand prize package, which includes travel, lodging and meals, as well as the opportunity to compete from fully rigged Ranger boats. The made-for-TV event will be televised nationally on the Americana Outdoors show seen on the Versus network. The event represents a unique opportunity for collegiate anglers – complete with over $2,000 in cash and prizes awarded to the winner.
“Before the tournament, I received an email from Ranger about signing up and I made sure before we left that we signed up for it,” said McClellan, a longtime Ranger loyalist who runs a Z21 Comanche. “The tournament didn’t go the way we wanted it to; we had a tough second day after leading the first day. But it’s awesome that we qualified for the grand prize through Ranger Cup University. It’s not very often you can finish 7th in a tournament and walk away with such a huge bonus.”
In addition to the team prize package won by Fisher and McClellan, the Ranger Cup University program also rewarded Ryan Ingalls, a collegiate angler from Christopher Newport University, with $250 in Ranger Cup University prize money for being the highest-finishing individual qualified angler at the National Guard FLW College Fishing Championship.
Modeled after the most lucrative contingency rewards in the industry, the Ranger Cup, Ranger Cup University is the first program of its kind exclusively for collegiate anglers and is open to those fishing in either FLW- or Boat US-affiliated competitions. Signup is free, regardless of which brand of boat they own. To remain qualified in the program, anglers need only adhere to clothing and logo requirements. And as part of the Ranger Cup University program, participants will be able to receive specially discounted tournament gear through Gemini Custom Apparel, with no artwork or set-up fees. Through Gemini, Ranger Cup University anglers can purchase fully customized tournament jerseys for as low as $48.
“I’d never heard of a boat brand that has put something like this together. I was so surprised that it was free and that we could actually go out and fish for prize money,” McClellan said. “For a company like Ranger to step up with a program like this is really awesome for us.”
For more information on Ranger Cup University, to register and read all about the program guidelines and payout opportunities, go online to RangerBoats.com.
About Ranger Boats
Headquartered in Flippin, Ark., Ranger Boats is the nation’s largest manufacturer of premium fiberglass fishing boats, which include series of bass, multi-species, fish ‘n play and saltwater boats. Founded in 1968 by Forrest L. Wood, Ranger Boats continues its commitment to building the highest-quality, strongest-performing boats on the water. For more information, go to RangerBoats.com.