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| FishTails |
 BASS FISHING'S JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPION TO BE CROWNED AUG. 16 IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE FORREST
WOOD CUP
West Virginia's Wil Dieffenbauch and Zach Whitten represented The West Virginia BASS Federation
Youth anglers representing 46 TBF states will compete for $30,000 in scholarships, $12,000 in youth-program
grants
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| West Virginia’s Wil Dieffenbauch
(Above) and Zach Whitten represented The West Virginia BASS Federation. |
COLUMBIA, S.C. (Dec. 19, 2007) - The Bass Federation announced today that its 2008 National Guard Junior World
Championship will be held on Lake Monticello in Columbia, S.C., Aug. 15-16 in conjunction with the $2 million Forrest
Wood Cup - the nation's most lucrative bass-fishing championship. Not only will daily weigh-ins be held alongside
the world's top professional anglers on the main FLW stage at the Colonial Center, but results will be streamed
live along with video and audio to fans around the world watching "FLW Live" on FLWOutdoors.com.
The TBF National Guard Junior World Championship will feature youth anglers from as many as 46 states fishing for
$30,000 in scholarships plus $12,000 in youth-program grants. Each participating state will be represented by two
junior anglers: one in the 11 to 14 age bracket and another in the 15 to 18 age bracket, both of whom will receive
travel assistance to Columbia. Every youth angler will also be treated to a world championship-caliber pizza party
served up by the National Guard pro team and featuring high-energy games, entertainment and sponsor prizes.
"This is the third year for the National Guard Junior World Championship, and every year the bar is raised
in terms of exposure, participation and excitement," said TBF President Robert Cartlidge. "The young
anglers who qualify represent the future of our sport, which I'm glad to say is in good shape based on the 23 percent
growth our TBF junior angler program has experienced in past year. More children than ever before are now learning
to fish through local TBF clubs, and this is a direct reflection of the awesome support provided by FLW Outdoors
and the National Guard."
The junior anglers will each be paired with an FLW Outdoors pro for competition on Lake Monticello. There will
be three anglers to a boat: a junior angler from each age group plus an FLW Outdoors pro who will assist the junior
anglers but will not fish. The two junior anglers will share control of the boat for the day but will compete in
their respective age groups. The full field of junior anglers will compete Aug. 15 then be cut to the top angler
in each age bracket from each of the TBF's six geographic divisions. Weights will be zeroed Aug. 16 as six anglers
in the 11 to 14 age bracket and six anglers in the 15 to 18 age bracket continue competition, with the winners
determined by the heaviest catch from that day.
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| West Virginia’s Wil Dieffenbauch and Zach
Whitten (Above) represented The West Virginia BASS Federation. |
Qualifying for the 2008 TBF National Guard Junior World Championship will take place between January and July,
2008.
"The National Guard Junior World Championship allows The Bass Federation's brightest upcoming anglers to elevate
their game and be spotlighted during the Forrest Wood Cup, which drew a record crowd of more than 60,000 people
over the course of the event in 2007," said FLW/TBF Programs Manager David Simmons. "It's such a great
way to enhance the FLW Outdoors/TBF partnership and provide an experience of a lifetime for the next generation
of anglers and their families. Of course, none of this would be possible without the hard work and support of TBF
youth directors and parents nationwide."
First-place finishers in each age bracket will receive a $5,000 scholarship in addition to a sponsor merchandise
package. Second-place finishers will receive $3,000 scholarships plus sponsor packages. Third-place finishers will
receive $2,500 scholarships plus sponsor packages. Fourth-place finishers will receive $2,000 scholarships plus
sponsor packages. Fifth-place finishers will receive $1,500 scholarships plus sponsor packages. Sixth-place finishers
will receive $1,000 scholarships plus sponsor packages.
Additionally, FLW Outdoors, on behalf of the National Guard, will award $1,000 to each of the state TBF chapters
represented by the six finalists in each age bracket. This money, totaling $12,000, will benefit each chapter's
youth program. The eventual champions will also be featured in an episode of "FLW Outdoors," which airs
nationwide on FSN (Fox Sport Net), in Canada on WFN (World Fishing Network) and to more than 429 million households
in the United Kingdom, Europe, Russia, Australia, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East through a broadcasting agreement
with Matchroom Sport. "FLW Outdoors" is also broadcast to more than 800,000 servicemembers stationed
around the world in 177 countries and aboard Navy ships by the American Forces Network. Check local listings for
show times.
"It's a thrill for me to work with our youth directors and children nationwide on the National Guard Junior
World Championship, which provides much needed international recognition for the positive activities, like fishing,
pursued by America's youth," said TBF National Youth Director Mark Gintert. "Nothing less than the best
is good enough for our young anglers, and that is exactly what we intend to provide in 2008 and for many years
to come."
Past National Guard Junior World Championship winners Josh Wagy of Dewitt, Va., and Shane Lehew of Charlotte, N.C.,
have gone on to compete successfully in the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League and the Stren Series.
For more information about TBF Junior Angler programs, contact your state's TBF chapter. A list of chapters can
be found at www.bassfederation.com. For more information about FLW Outdoors and the Forrest Wood Cup, visit www.flwoutdoors.com or call (270) 252-1000.
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Editors: Visit the FLW Outdoors Media Center at http://mc.flwoutdoors.com
for additional information and photos.
For additional information, please contact:
Dave Washburn, FLW Outdoors vice president of communications, 270.252.1607
Dave Simmons, FLW Outdoors/TBF programs manager, 270.252.1565
Robert Cartlidge, TBF president, 580.765.9031 |
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