2011 Kentucky State Champs
April 9, 2011 (Kentucky Lake, KY) – Now the high school fishing world knows that the Meade County High School SAF Fishing Club is in it to win it! Not only does the school proudly have the first ever High School Fishing World Finals Champions, Ethan Snyder and Jared Raymer, they now are home to the first ever SAF Kentucky High School Fishing State Champions. Club mentors and advisors, Frank Raymer and Travis Stull’s hard work and persistence seems to be paying off for the club, and their students are especially grateful for it.
State Champions, Donovan Jones and Stephen Compton, beat out their fellow club members and reigning HSFWF champs by 2 lbs 11 oz, winning themselves the opportunity to advance to the regional tournament to be held this fall. “It is a great accomplishment for both of us since we have been fishing so long. It feels great to be the first high school state champions because of all the hard work we have each put into becoming better fisherman.” Jones and Compton brought in a 5-fish limit weighing 12-13. Meade County brought 4 teams, and 3 of them placed in the top 5. Now that’s impressive.
Second place team, Taylor County Cardinals Jordan Clark & PJ Nickols brought in a limit weighing 11-13, just 1 pound behind the champs. Taylor County High School had a great showing, bringing 9 teams to this inaugural tournament, 3 of which finished in the top ten.
Marshall County High School Anglers, Eric Phelps and Logan Thomas brought in 4 fish that weighed 11-9, just 4 oz behind the second place team. Marshall County brought 6 teams to complete.
A total of 46 teams from Kentucky competed for the first ever 2011 Kentucky State Championship.
The state champions will also advance to an FLW Outdoors/TBF High School Fishing Regional Championship held in conjunction with a National Guard FLW College Fishing Regional Championship hosted on a college campus this fall. They will receive travel allowances to help offset expenses and use of a Ranger boat for the event. The winners from each regional will advance to the FLW Outdoors/TBF High School Fishing National Championship held on a college campus in conjunction with the National Guard FLW College Fishing National Championship in the spring of 2012. National Champions will each receive a $5,000 scholarship to use at the university of their choice.
Each team that competed is now qualified to enter the 2011 High School Fishing World Finals held in July in Russellville, Ark., with no entry fees. Information on this prestigious event can be found online at www.highschoolfishing.org. Also, every team completed the free online quiz to become a Certified Student Angler regarding boater safety, invasive species and angler ethics. Each angler was given a completion certificate and a sticker to display, that made them eligible for contingency awards. Visit www.highschoolfishing.org, for more information and to find a High School State Championship near you.
