The Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts High School Fishing State Championships were held at the Flat River Reservoir near Coventry, RI on Saturday, June 29. The Bass Federation of Rhode Island hosted the Student Angler Federation event.
Teams from every state competed. The Rhode Island Championship team of Stephen Winter/Thomas Mello from North Kingstown High School was crowned State Champions. They had a limit that weighed 7.48 lbs. Second place went to Chris Catucci/Aiden White – Bishop Hendricken Hawks with 6.92 lbs. Third place was Dillon Falardeau/Kevin Gorman-Smith – North Smithfield HS with 6.79 lbs. Fourth John Ryan/Connor Rana – Chariho Chargers with 6.21 lbs. Fifth place from Rhode Island was Nick Woodbine/Kelsey Woodbine – Bishop Hendricken HS Hawks with 6.18 lbs.
The Connecticut State Champions were Corey Horelick/Austin Bestwick of Ella T Grasso Tech; they had a limit that weighed 7.45lbs. Second place was Ryan Kusmit/Jake Budris – Sound School with 6.28 lbs.
Mass Champs and the overall tournament big bag was Kory Dominick/Jake Rowinsky with 11.33 lbs. Greg Carlson/Scott MacConnell – Worcester Technical HS Eagles finished 2nd with 8.38 lbs. Third was Brandon Carty/Warren Mcquaide with 7.58 lbs.
For more pictures check out the TBF RI Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Bass-Federation-of-RI/340999895945493
All 3 state champion teams will advance to a conference championship in the fall.
Students and parents can go to HighSchoolFishing.org for details on the Student Angler Federation (SAF) and to sign up. Cost is only $25/ year and includes full TBF and FLW benefits, including FLW Magazine e-Edition and insurance coverage for students and their club. The state champions from each state will advance to an FLW/TBF High School Fishing Conference Championship. Conference winners will advance to the FLW/TBF High School Fishing National Championship held in conjunction with the FLW College Fishing National Championship in the spring of 2014. All SAF members nationwide and all state championship participants automatically qualify for the largest event in high school fishing, the 2013 High School Fishing World Finals. At these events students will compete for thousands in college scholarships and prizes. Each team qualifying for a conference and/or national championship will receive a travel allowance to help offset expenses. The National Champions will also receive a $5,000 scholarship each to use at the university of their choice.
