BRAINERD HIGH SCHOOL WINS MINNESOTA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
Keegan Decker and Cody Czech from the Brainerd Warrior Bass Fishing team brought in a four fish limit of Mille Lacs Lake bass that weighed 16.83 pounds to win the Minnesota State Championship at Mac’s Twin Bay Resort in Isle, Minn. The win earned them championship titles, trophies and a slot in the Central Conference Regional Championship to be held in Lawrenceburg, Ind., in September.
The battle of Mille Lacs was extremely close as less than one pound separated the top six teams in the event hosted by the Minnesota Bass Federation. With 70 teams setting a new record for the annual SAF State Championship the anglers were trying to get one of seven qualifying berths to the fall Conference Regional Championship.
The Brainerd pair barely edged out the duo of Matt Stearns and Reid Saarella from the Lakeville North Panthers Fishing team who were right behind them with a limit of bass that tipped in at 16.75 pounds to claim the runner-up spot.
The battle for regional qualifying berths stayed close as the team of Mathew Olsen and Jared Deelstra followed closely behind with 16.68 pounds to finish third and just ahead of another Brainerd Team of Tyler Czech and Noah Day who had a limit that weighed 16.67 pounds to finish in the 4th position.
Coming in fifth place was the team also from Brainerd, Noah Peterson and Gaven Roberts, who brought in 16.52 pounds for the day. The Brainerd dominance continued as the final two qualifying spots went to Warrior teams of Austin Neyens and Tyler Bahr and Kyle Bahr and Trey Peterson. Those two teams had 16.35 pounds and 15.73 pounds respectively to round out the regional qualifying berths.
The 2016 Minnesota State Championship was a two-person (team) event for students in grades 7-12. The top 10 percent from each TBF/FLW state championship field and the top three teams from each of the seven TBF/FLW Opens will advance to a Conference Championship event. The top 10 percent of each conference championship field will then advance to the High School Fishing National Championship, in the spring of 2017. The High School Fishing national champions will each receive a $5,000 scholarship to the school of their choice.
The TBF/FLW Northern Open is August 14 back at Mac’s Twin Bay Resort in Isle, Minn. The event will conclude the regional qualifying opportunities for 2016 and it’s open to all SAF anglers across the country.
For full results click HERE.
For tournament photos click HERE.
REPEAT CHAMPION ON LAKE CHELAN; WASHINGTON CHAMPIONSHIP NUMBERS GROW
Thirty two high school anglers, the largest group to date for Washington, competed this year in a points series tournaments culminating with the state championship. Awards for tournament angling team of the year, tournament big fish team of the year and first time scholarship certificates for the top three places made for a very successful and competitive year.
Nathan Portch & Brayden Liebe brought a 15 pound bag to the scales to win the 2016 SAF Washington State Championship held on Lake Chelan in Manson, Wash. Bluebird skies and only a slight wind made for smooth conditions as the pair managed to top the field, the second time for Portch. The win earned them championship titles, trophies and a slot in the 2016 Western Conference Regional to be held in October on Lake Havasu, Ariz.
Portch of Spokane not only became Washington’s first back to back state champion, but also Washington’s second student to receive a four year scholarship. Last year’s partner and fellow state champion, Cully Scroggin’s, was signed by Bethel University in Virginia. Portch will join Cully next year as members of their fishing team.
Second went to J.T. Long of New Port & Brodie Trapp of Selah, also a past high school state champion. Third went to Drake Ofsthun & Ryan Heiman of Kennewick. All received scholarship certificates along with awards. Tyson Gray & Logan Boone of Centralia had the tournament big bass with a 4.77 pound smallmouth.
High points Angling team of the year went to Nathan Portch & Brayden Liebe with tournament Big Fish team of the year going to Blake Williams & Nolan Vandine of Pasco. Blake is this year’s Junior State Champion, a seventh grader who teamed up with Nolan a freshman, to compete as a high school team.
The 2016 Washington State Championship was a two-person (team) event for students in grades 7-12. The top 10 percent from each TBF/FLW state championship field and the top three teams from each of the seven TBF/FLW Opens will advance to a Conference Championship event. The top 10 percent of each conference championship field will then advance to the High School Fishing National Championship, in the spring of 2017. The High School Fishing national champions will each receive a $5,000 scholarship to the school of their choice.
In addition to the state, conference and national championship events, all High School Fishing anglers nationwide qualify for the world’s largest high school fishing, standalone, championship event, the High School Fishing World Finals. The 2016 World Finals was held June 28 – July 2 on Pickwick Reservoir in Florence, Ala., with over $60,000 in scholarships and prizes up for grabs.
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