University of Florida mascots Albert and Alberta jump on with University of Florida student Jake Gipson, in the driver’s seat and University of Florida student Matt Wercinski as FLW Outdoors President and CEO Charlie Evans, and Staff Sgt. Darrell Wilkes look on.
WHAT: The University of Florida team of Jake Gipson and Matthew Wercinski, received their National Guard FLW College Fishing National Championship award today in front of family, friends, and University of Florida faculty including the President, Dr. Bernie Machen. The $100,000 award included $50,000 for the University of Florida, and $25,000 and a 177TR Ranger boat with a 90 horsepower engine wrapped in school colors for the Gator Bassmaster Club.
WHO: Jake Gipson, Niceville, Fla., is a senior in industrial and systems engineering and Mattthew Wercinski, Niceville, Fla., is a junior finance major.
WHEN: Friday, April 30, 2010 at 11 a.m.
WHERE: University of Florida, J. Wayne Reitz Union, Gainesville, Fla.
NOTES: The University of Florida was victorious in the first ever National Guard FLW College National Championship which was held at Ft. Loudoun Lake in Knoxville, Tenn., April 10-12. They earned a $100,000 prize package which included $50,000 for the University of Florida, and $25,000 and a 177TR Ranger boat with a 90 horsepower engine wrapped in school colors for the Gator Bassmaster Club. The team also earned a spot in the upcoming Forrest Wood Cup, the professional bass fishing championship, which will be held in Atlanta, Ga., where they will face the world’s top professional anglers and earn as much as $600,000 in the pro division and $60,000 in the co-angler division.
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. For more information about FLW Outdoors and its tournaments, call (270) 252-1000.By: Julie Huber,
