FLW Outdoors announced Wednesday the first National Guard FLW College Fishing All-America Team. The team, selected by FLW Outdoors Magazine Editor Colin Moore and staff, represents the best of the best among the nation’s college anglers. The list of 20 anglers, headed by the 2010 national champions from the University of Florida, Jake Gipson and Matthew Wercinski, was compiled based on individual efforts and team contribution during the 2009 FLW College Fishing season.
The team, listed in alphabetical order, includes:
Name | City, State | School |
---|---|---|
Eric Andersen | San Jose, Calif. | San Jose State University |
John Anderson | Stephenville, Texas | Tarleton State University |
Shaye Baker | Reeltown, Ala | Auburn University |
Wyatt Blevins | Pulaski, Va. | Virginia Tech |
Alec Brassington | Roseville, Calif. | Sacramento State University |
David Cosner | Austin, Texas | Texas State University |
Sark Davidian | Cutler, Calif. | Fresno State |
Ben Dziwulski | Woodbine, Md. | North Carolina State University |
Reed Frazier | Eugene, Ore. | University of Oregon |
Jake Gipson | Niceville, Fla. | University of Florida |
Paul Manley | College Station, Texas | Texas A&M |
Jay McCollum | San Marcos, Texas | Texas State University |
Tyler Moberly | Berea, Ky. | Eastern Kentucky University |
Kevin Moeller | Cincinnati, Ohio | Ohio State University |
Dennis Parker | Homewood, Ala. | Auburn University |
Jesse Schultz | Bloomington, Ind. | Indiana University |
Andrew Shafer | Bryan, Texas | Texas A&M |
Kalem Tippett | Hanson, Ky. | Murray State University |
Dustin Vaal | Bloomington, Ind. | Indiana University |
Matthew Wercinski | Gainesville, Fla. | University of Florida |
The All-America team is featured in the August/September issue of FLW Outdoors magazine, which is currently available on newsstands.
College Fishing anglers compete in five divisions – Central, Northern, Southeast, Texas and Western – and fish four regular-season events in each division. The top five teams in each qualifying event advance to one of five three-day National Guard FLW College Fishing Regional Championships. The top five teams from each of those regional tournaments compete for the title of National Guard FLW Collegiate National Champion. The collegiate national champion receives a berth in the Forrest Wood Cup, the world championship of bass fishing, and the use of a wrapped Ranger boat and Chevy truck for Cup competition.
College Fishing events are free to enter, boats and drivers are provided by FLW Outdoors and all collegiate teams receive a travel allowance. Each team that competed in the national championship sported jerseys and fished out of wrapped Ranger boats towed by Chevy trucks for the competition.
Each regular-season College Fishing event boasts a top cash award of $10,000 to be split evenly between the university and the university’s bass-fishing club. Regional events tout a top award of a Ranger 177TR with a 90-horsepower engine wrapped in school colors for their school’s bass club and $25,000 for the school they represent. The national championship awards the top team with $25,000 cash, a Ranger 177TR with a 90-horsepower engine wrapped in school colors for their school’s bass club and $50,000 for the school they represent.
ABOUT FLW OUTDOORS
FLW Outdoors, named after Forrest L. Wood, the legendary founder of Ranger Boats, is the largest fishing tournament organization in the world offering anglers worldwide the opportunity to compete for millions over the course of 189 tournaments in 2010. FLW Outdoors has also taken fishing mainstream with FLW Fantasy Fishing awarding the largest prizes in the history of fantasy sports. FLW Outdoors memberships are available featuring numerous benefits including Player’s Advantage. For more information about FLW Outdoors and its tournaments, call (270) 252-1000.By: Chad Gay, Public Relations Manager