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Ponca City,
Okla. (March 10, 2011) – The Bass Federation (TBF), in partnership with FLW
Outdoors, announced it will be hosting the inaugural Student Angler Federation Dual
Missouri and Nebraska High School Fishing State Championship, May 14 on Lake of
the Ozarks, Missouri. The state championship is a two person team event for
students in grades 9 -12. Registration for high school anglers and
their “coach,” who will provide the boat they compete in, is online at HighSchoolFishing.org or by calling 580.765.9031. Check-in begins
at 4:30pm on Friday, May 13 at the Inn at Grand Glaize, with a mandatory rules
briefing at 6pm. We highly encourage all teams to
pre-register online or by phone in advance to avoid
late registration fees.
“On behalf of the Lake of the Ozarks
Tri-County Lodging Association Board of Directors and the entire tourism family
at the Lake of the Ozarks, we’re honored to be considered for the first Missouri
State High School Fishing Tournament. Our Board is very motivated to
ensure the success of this tournament for many years to come. We’re also
very thankful we can offer your participants one of the best and most
productive fisheries anywhere in the country. Our central location
coupled with the many lodging options we offer will make it very convenient for
your tournament participants.”
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 Outdoors benefits, including access to the
all-new FLW Outdoors Magazine e-Edition and insurance coverage for students and
their club. The winning two-person team from each state championship will
advance to an FLW Outdoors/TBF High School Fishing Regional Championship held
in conjunction with a National Guard FLW College Fishing Regional Championship hosted
on a college campus this fall. Ranger boats will be provided for the high
school anglers to fish from at each regional championship, and the winners from
each regional will advance to the FLW Outdoors/TBF High School Fishing National
Championship held on a college campus in conjunction with the National Guard
FLW College Fishing National Championship in the spring of 2012. All SAF
members and state championship participants qualify for the largest event in
high school fishing, the 2011 High School Fishing World Finals, July 20-23 in
Russellville, Ark., to compete for thousands in college scholarships and
prizes. Start planning your vacation now! Each team that qualifies for a
regional and/or national championship will receive a travel allowance to help
offset expenses. The High School Fishing National Championship winner’s will
also each receive a $5,000 scholarship to use at the university of their
choice.
If you’re not
an SAF member, there’s a $25/per angler fee for the state championship, which
includes full TBF/FLW Outdoors membership benefits, and the onetime fee covers ALL
SAF sanctioned events all year!
“We’re very excited to be working with the Missouri
and Nebraska TBF Federations and the Tri-County Lodging Association to help produce
this event for the states young anglers,” TBF National President, Robert
Cartlidge, said. “Our affiliated state federations are the backbone of the
industry; they’re on the ground doing the work to put on these types of events
and give high school anglers in their home states a chance to grow their
skills, have some fun, compete to advance, and get involved with other programs
the Missouri and Nebraska TBF Federations have to offer.”
“High school
anglers in these states are very fortunate to have their home state’s TBF
Federations well established and eager to help with this event,” TBF National
Youth Director, Mark Gintert, stated. “Our Student Angler Federation has a
great start in Nebraska and Missouri with several students participating in our
High School Fishing World Finals last year held in Russellville, Arkansas. I’m
sure they’re ready to show everyone in the state how far they’ve come as
anglers.”
Another
unique feature of an SAF sanctioned event is the “angler testing” component. Anglers
can take a free online test at HighSchoolFishing.org about
boater safety, conservation and angler ethics, which makes them eligible for
contingency awards at their state championship. “It’s an industry first by TBF
and a tremendous way to emphasize the importance of education to these student
anglers,” Gintert commented. “The Federation is driven by our desire to promote
education through fishing and the testing component is designed to do exactly
that. Put this package together with our partnership with FLW Outdoors and the
sky is the limit. These young anglers
will have opportunities unlike anything the industry has ever seen.”
Event Details:
State Championship sign-up: PRE-REGISTER ONLINE at Highchoolfishing.org OR BY PHONE 580.765.9031. Questions? info@highschoolfishing.org or call 580.765.9031. If you have
to you can register at the Saturday Mandatory Check-in, HOWEVER, there will be
a $25/ per angler late fee. The
best way is to pre-register online at highschoolfishing.org.
Mandatory Check-in: Friday, May 13, 4:30-6:30pm CST, Inn
at Grand Glaize, 5142 Highway 54, Osage Beach, MO 65065; Rules briefing 6:30pm.
Takeoff & Weigh-in: Saturday, May 14, Lake of the Ozarks,
State Park, PB2, 6am and 2:30pm
Hotel reservations can be made by calling 800.348.4731,
ask for group code “Bass511”; Inn at Grand Glaize. They’re providing a
group rate of $69/per room plus tax.
About FLW Outdoors
FLW Outdoors is the largest fishing tournament
organization in the world offering anglers worldwide the opportunity to compete
for millions over the course of 191 tournaments in 2011. FLW Outdoors has taken fishing
mainstream with the world’s richest fantasy sports game, FLW Fantasy Fishing
presented by Straight Talk, where competitors can play for free, as well as,
sign up for Player’s Advantage to gain an edge. For more information about FLW
Outdoors and FLW Fantasy Fishing, visit FLWOutdoors.com or FantasyFishing.com.
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.
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TBF Press Release