TUNSTALL HIGH SCHOOL WINS VIRGINIA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

June 13, 2016

Virginia ChampionsLandon Siggers and Jacob Johnson brought in a five bass limit weighing 15 pounds, 5 ounces, to win the TBF/FLW Virginia High School Fishing State Championship on the James River. The pair had a 5 pound 9 ounce beauty that anchored their winning sack to earn them the championship titles, trophies and a slot in the Northern Conference Regional Championship on Lake Champlain in September.

Coming in a tie for second were the teams of, Drake Hundley and Aaron Riddick, and, Cullen Lammhoover and Blake Miles, both representing Motoaca High School.  The teams had five fish limits weighing 12 pounds, 15 ounces.

Al three teams will advance to the Northern Conference Regional Championship on Lake Champlain in September to compete for a chance at advancing to the High School National Championship.

A special thanks goes out to Alan Gray and FLW’s BFL staff, as well as, Jerry Wright and the VA TBF for providing equipment and manpower for the event.

Virginia Contestents Cullen and MilesThe 2016 Virginia 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 2016 High School Fishing World Finals. The 2016 World Finals is coming up June 28 – July 2 on Pickwick Reservoir in Florence, Ala., with over $60,000 in scholarships and prizes up for grabs.  Click HERE for more details.

Click here for the state championship FULL RESULTS.

HIGH SCHOOL FISHING WORLD FINALS RETURNS TO FLORENCE, ALABAMA

16 New HSF logo

Over $60,000 in Scholarships and Prizes Offered, All With No Entry Fees

Ponca City, Okla., June 7, 2016 – The Student Angler Federation’s High School Fishing World Finals is the most prestigious national high school fishing event in the country. Last year, 177 teams from 22 states competed in Florence, Ala.  This year’s event expects even higher numbers as anglers will again head to Pickwick Reservoir, June 27-July 2, to vie for the titles.

“We’re thrilled to once again be hosting the World Finals,” Florence Lauderdale Tourism’s, Suzie Shoemaker, stated. “Last year was a terrific event and our community has embraced this event with open arms,” added the always enjoyable Shoemaker.

15HSFWF-winners“The High School World Finals is the event that started it all for several high school programs across the country,” TBF National Youth Director, Mark Gintert, said.  “Now, in its seventh year it’s continues to get bigger and better each year.  We’re thrilled to return to Florence and Pickwick Reservoir.”

Bethel University will rejoin the event as one of the scholarship providers and they’re doing so in a big way. Any Junior or Senior on the winning team will receive a $6,000 four year scholarship offer to Bethel University in McKenzie, Tenn., for a total of $24,000 per angler or as much as $48,000 per team. Additionally, should the winning team not be able to accept Bethel’s offer, The Bass Federation will offer the winning team $1,000 four year scholarships to the school of choice or as much as $8,000.

“Bethel University is very proud to partner with SAF’s High School World Finals to offer scholarships for the Champions,” Bethel Team Coach, Gary Mason, said.  “Bethel University is known nationwide as one of the leading collegiate bass fishing programs in America and the first to offer scholarship funding for student angling.

It’s very fitting we partner with one of the nation’s top high school fishing programs to support these young anglers,” Mason added.  “We’re both privileged and honored to be a part of SAF’s High School World Finals.”

Activities begin Tuesday, June 28 with registration, check-in/rules meeting and a banquet at the Florence Coliseum. Competition begins Wednesday, June 29 and concludes on Saturday, July 2 with a 21 team final.  The finale will award life-changing education scholarships and a long list of prizes to help them along their journeys such as, laptops, tablets, gift cards and large screen TVs -the envy of any dorm room- will be on the line for these young anglers.

The no-entry fee event is open to all active SAF high school anglers including graduating Seniors.  Non-SAF members can pay their memberships at the time of online registration.

For the detailed fact sheet and to register click HERE.

About The Bass Federation

The Bass Federation Inc., (TBF) is owned by those we serve and dedicated to the sport of fishing. TBF is the largest and oldest, organized grassroots fishing organization. TBF affiliated state federations and their member clubs conduct more than 20,000 fishing, youth and conservation events at the local level each year and have provided a foundation for the entire bass fishing industry for more than 40 years. Visit Bassfederation.com.

 

FIVE FLORIDA SCHOOLS NAMED FIRST RECIPIENTS OF FLW FOUNDATION HIGH SCHOOL FISHING GRANTS

FLW fishing league worldwide

Funds help establish new or expand existing High School Fishing clubs

MINNEAPOLIS (June 7, 2016) – In celebration of National Fishing and Boating Week (June 4-12), Fishing League Worldwide (FLW) is proud to announce the first five awards as part of the FLW Foundation Florida High School Fishing grant program.

The first five grant recipients are:

  • Academy of Environmental Science, Crystal River, Fla.
  • Lake Wales Senior High School, Lake Wales, Fla.
  • Pasco Middle School, Dade City, Fla.
  • South Dade Senior High School, Homestead, Fla.
  • Space Coast Junior/Senior High School, Cocoa, Fla.

The grants, offered through a two-year initiative with the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF) and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), are available to Student Angler Federation (SAF)-affiliated high school fishing clubs in Florida in the amount of up to $500 per school to establish new or expand existing clubs.

“High School Fishing is a great opportunity for kids to experience the outdoors and this money will certainly help us build the club for next season,” said Leroy Owens, co-sponsor of the South Dade Senior High School fishing team. “We’re going to purchase some fishing rods and small tackle boxes for some of our anglers who are just starting, and we’re also going to buy some banners and signage to promote the club and develop the program. These kids want to do this and are very excited.”

The Florida High School Fishing grant initiative will help recruit new anglers, retain existing anglers during a critical developmental period and reactivate lapsed anglers, including parents and grandparents, eager to support fishing as a high school sport. Florida High School Fishing clubs that have at least 10 SAF members or are interested in becoming an SAF-affiliated club and are recognized by their school are eligible and encouraged to apply for the grants.

“Our program just finished our first year, and I think High School Fishing is a great way to reach students that did not want to participate in traditional sports but still want to be involved in school activities,” said Jennifer Cotton, sponsor of the Space Coast Senior/Junior High School fishing team. “We plan to use these funds to purchase jerseys and hats for the team to have a more official uniform. We hope to expand the club to participating in tournaments this year and looking the part will help boost the kids’ confidence.”

The Florida High School Fishing Grant Application is available at FLWFishing.com/Foundation. Applications are generally reviewed within three to five business days, but may be as long as four weeks. School sponsors are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

More information on the FLW Foundation is available at FLWFishing.com/Foundation.

About Fishing League Worldwide (FLW)

FLW is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, providing anglers of all skill levels the opportunity to compete for millions in prize money in 2016 across five tournament circuits. Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, with offices in Minneapolis, FLW conducts more than 235 bass-fishing tournaments annually across the United States and sanctions tournaments in Canada, China, Mexico and South Korea. FLW tournament fishing can be seen on the Emmy-nominated “FLW” television show, broadcast to more than 564 million households worldwide, while FLW Bass Fishing magazine delivers cutting-edge tips from top pros. For more information visit FLWFishing.com and follow FLW at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Periscope: @FLWFishing.

About the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF)

RBFF is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to increase participation in recreational angling and boating, thereby protecting and restoring the nation’s aquatic natural resources. RBFF developed the award-winning Take Me Fishing™ and Vamos A Pescar™ campaigns to create awareness around boating, fishing and conservation, and educate people about the benefits of participation. Take Me Fishing and Vamos A Pescar help boaters and anglers of all ages and experience levels learn, plan and equip for a day on the water. The campaign websites, TakeMeFishing.org, and VamosAPescar.org, feature how-to videos, information on how to get a fishing license and boat registration, and an interactive state-by-state map that allows visitors to find local boating and fishing spots.

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