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| FishTails |
Top amateur bass anglers Tuscaloosa bound
WVBF Member Robbie Fleshman will represent West Virginia in Alabama
2003 CITGO BASS Federation Championship
[May 13, 2003] - BASS Communications
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| Robby Fleshman |
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Top amateur anglers from around the world will converge on Tuscaloosa, Ala. May 12-17 to compete
in the 2003 CITGO BASS Federation Championship presented by Busch Beer.
"We're very excited to be back in Tuscaloosa; it's kind of like a homecoming," said BASS Federation Director
Al Smith. "We were here back in 1989, which was the first year we held the championship in its current format.
So, it's kind of like coming home again and we can't wait."
The 54 anglers qualified to represent their state or national Federations at the Championship through a series
of tournaments. The field comes from 46 states, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Italy, Canada and Japan. The champion of
the Paralyzed Veterans of America Grand National tournament is also invited to fish for the top spot and one of
five amateur berths in the CITGO Bassmaster Classic presented by Busch Beer. For the first time in Federation history,
the previous year's champion, Ken Christ of Illinois, has also been invited to return and defend his title.
Anglers will launch at 5:30 a.m. from the Rock Quarry launch site. Weigh-ins will begin at 3 p.m. daily at Jenkins
Arena.
Television
The CITGO BASS Federation Championship will air on ESPN2 May 24 at 10:30 a.m. (ET).
Schedule of events for the CITGO BASS Federation Championship
Briefing: Mon., May 12, 4:15 p.m. Four Points Sheraton
First Practice Day: Tues., May 13
Second Practice Day: Wed., May 14
First day launch: Thurs., May 15, 5:30 a.m. Rock Quarry
BASS Sponsor Expo: Thurs., May 15, 1:00 to 5:00 Jenkins Arena
Day 1 weigh-in: Thurs., May 15, 3:00 p.m. Jenkins Arena
Second day launch: Fri., May 16, 5:30 a.m. Rock Quarry
BASS Sponsor Expo: Fri., May 16, 1:00 to 5:00 Jenkins Arena
Day 2 weigh-in: Fri., May 16, 3:00 p.m. Jenkins Arena
Final Day launch: Sat., May 17, 5:30 a.m.
BASS Sponsor Expo: Sat., May 17, Noon to 5 Jenkins Arena
CastingKids: Semi-Finals Sat., May 17, 8:45 a.m. Jenkins Arena
Final Weigh-in: Sat., May 17, 3:00 p.m. Jenkins Arena
Past CITGO BASS Federation Champions
1988 - Danny Joe Humphrey (N.C.) -Chickamauga & Nickajack lakes, Chattanooga, TN
1989 - Frank Lee Haught (W.V.) - Lake Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa, AL
1990 - Lee Byrd (Ga.) - Smith Mountain Lake, Roanoke, VA
1991 - Ed Cowan (N.Y.) - Smith Mountain Lake, Roanoke, VA
1992 - Larry Jacobs (N.C.) - Lake Neely Henry, Gadsden, AL
1993 - Mike Holt (Tenn.) - Arkansas River, Pine Bluff, AR
1994 - Bryan Kerchal (Conn.) - Arkansas River, Pine Bluff, AR
1995 - John Parks (N.M.) - Mississippi River, Quincy, IL
1996 - Craig Schuff (Texas) - Mississippi River, Quincy, IL
1997 - Dalton Bobo (Ala.) - Red River, Shreveport, LA
1998 - Mark Hickenbottom (Ohio) - Ft. Loudoun & Tellico lakes, Knoxville, TN
1999 - Michael Iaconelli (N.J.) - Red River, Shreveport, LA
2000 - Rickie Harp (Ala.) - Ft. Loudoun & Tellico lakes, Knoxville, TN
2001 - Mike Holt (Tenn.) - Mobile Bay, Mobile, AL
2002 - Ken Christ (Mo.)- Red River, Shreveport, LA
BASS sponsor expo
A component of the CITGO BASS Federation Championship this year is the interactive BASS Sponsor Expo area. Sponsors
present exhibits, many of which are interactive and provide an enjoyable experience for all family members. The
Expos are free to those attending.
CastingKids
The CastingKids National Semi-Finals presented by Chevy Trucks and CITGO will be held Saturday, May 17 from 8:45
a.m. to noon at Jenkins Arena. The top five finalists in both the 7-10 and 11-14 age group will advance to the
2003 CastingKids National Championship Aug. 2 in New Orleans, La.
The participants will have a chance to get to know one another at the CastingKids Cookout, Friday, May 16 at 7
p.m. in the Bryant Conference Center.
Repeat performance
For the first time in the 16-year history of the CITGO BASS Federation Championship, the previous year's winner
will get an opportunity to defend his crown. Ken Christ had a phenomenal season last year, winning the Championship,
finishing fifth at the ESPN Great Outdoor Games and sixth at the CITGO Bassmaster Classic.
"It was a complete, unexpected thrill to have the invitation extended to return," Christ said. "I
feel about as ready as I can get. … It could be a tough tournament. There's a lot of fish there and I think it's
going to come down to who gets the big ones to bite."
Sibling rivalry
This year's Bassmaster CastingKids National Semi-final presented by Chevy Trucks and CITGO will definitely have
a strong taste of sibling rivalry with seven sets of siblings competing. Fortunately for their parents, none of
the dynamic duos is entered in the same age group.
Sibling combinations qualified for the semi-finals
Ark. - David (10) and Michael (14) Bates
Calif. - Travis (8) and Billy (14) Goodwin
Del. - Kyle (8) and Ashley (13) Rodriguez
Iowa - Alix (10) and Wells (11) Kaiser
Mont. - Blaine Newman (7) and Drew Forster (14)
Ore. - Josh (9) and Jessica (11) Abernathy
Wash. - Kiana (7) and Jori (11) Clark
Federation awards
The annual BASS Federation awards banquet will be Saturday, May 17 at 7:30 p.m. in the Four Points Sheraton Ballroom.
The Federations will honor the 2003 Champion, all 54 competitors, and the Federation Man of the Year.
Classic qualifiers
The top angler in each geographical division will earn a berth to this summer's CITGO Bassmaster Classic presented
by Busch Beer. They will be a part of a gathering of the top 61 anglers in the world, made up of 40 anglers from
the CITGO Bassmaster Tour, 15 anglers from the CITGO Bassmaster Open series and last season's Busch BASS Angler
of the Year Davy Hite.
The following list of anglers have already qualified for this August's CITGO Bassmaster Classic in New Orleans,
La. through the CITGO Bassmaster Open series which took place last fall.
From the CITGO BASSMASTER Northern Division:
Koby Kreiger
Lee Bailey
Michael Iaconelli
Randall Romig
David LeFebre
From the CITGO BASSMASTER Central Division:
Greg Hackney
Edwin Evers
Mike Gough
Homer Humphreys
Chad Morganthaler
From the CITGO BASSMASTER Southern Division:
Jason Quinn
Wesley Strader
Todd Auten
Michael Johnson
Tom Hamlin
Additionally, 2002 Busch BASS Angler of the Year Davy Hite receives a berth in the Classic. Should 2002 CITGO Bassmaster
Classic Champion Jay Yelas not qualify based on his 2003 performance, he would also receive an automatic bid.
BASS sponsors
Sponsors of the CITGO BASS Federation Championship presented by Busch Beer include CITGO Petroleum Corp., Busch
Beer, Chevrolet Trucks, Yamaha Outboards, Mercury Marine, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Lowrance Electronics, Flowmaster
Exhaust Systems, Kumho Tires, Progressive Boat Insurance, Abu Garcia, Berkley, Diamond Cut Jeans, MotorGuide Trolling
Motors, Bass Pro Shops, Armstrong Industrial Hand Tools, BankOne and Quantum.
Associate Sponsor Bryant Heating and Cooli |
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