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 Virginia and North Carolina High School Fishing State
Championship, May 21 on John H Kerr Reservoir aka., Bugg’s Island, of South
Hill, VA. 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 May 20 in the meeting room of the
host motel, Days Inn South Hill, mandatory rules briefing follows at 6:30pm. We
highly encourage all teams to pre-register online or by phone in advance to
avoid late registration fees.
"The
North Carolina Bass Federation is very excited to be working with our neighbors
to the north in the Virginia Bass Federation to offer a Dual State Championship
Bass Fishing event to every High School student in both states,” North Carolina
Federation President, Phillip Sain, said. “Both the North Carolina and Virginia
State championship will be crowned at the weigh-in. This is a great opportunity
for students in our region to get involved with a clean family activity like
the sport of fishing."
“The
Virginia Bass Federation is absolutely thrilled to be co-hosting a Dual State
High School Championship for the student anglers of both Virginia and North
Carolina," Virginia TBF President, Scotty Stephenson, stated. "This
is a great way for TBF members from both states to get involved with this great
program and get these young anglers out on the water in a championship
setting."
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
proud to have federations like North Carolina and Virginia leading the way to
bring this event to the area,” 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 a chance to grow their skills, have some fun, compete to advance, and
get involved with other programs the federations have to offer. Bugg’s Island
is the perfect “border” location for high school anglers from Virginia and
North Carolina to come and compete. We will be crowning both the Virginia and
North Carolina High School State Champions in this dual state event.”
“Our
Student Angler Federation has a great start in both states,” TBF National Youth
Director, Mark Gintert, commented. “Several students participated in our High
School Fishing World Finals last year held in Russellville, AR. I’m sure
they’re ready to show everyone in their home states 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.com
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: May 20, Days Inn South Hill Meeting Room,
4:30pm -6:30 pm EST, 911 E. Atlantic St, South Hill, VA. 23970, 434-447-3123
Rules briefing 6:30pm
·
Takeoff & Weigh-in: Saturday May 21,
North Bend State Park, 1930 Mays Chapel Rd. Boydton, VA. 23917, 7am to 3pm
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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