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.
“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.
Kaleb Tweite and Kyler Bauer brought in a five bass limit weighing 13 pounds, 8 ounces, to win the TBF/FLW Iowa High School Fishing State Championship on the Mississippi River. The win earned them the championship titles, trophies and slots in a Conference Regional Championship to be held in the Fall.
A special thanks goes out to Scott Anderson and the IA TBF for providing manpower for the event.
