State Finalists Will Compete in Bassmaster CastingKids National Semifinals
After nearly 900 events so far this season, finalists from 46 state BASS Federation Nations, as well as Ontario, Canada, will compete in the 2007-2008 Bassmaster CastingKids National Semifinals for a chance to move on to the Bassmaster CastingKids National Finals.
On Nov. 10, from 10:30 a.m. to noon ET, 92 state finalists will converge at the Orlando Sun Resort Convention Center in Kissimmee, Fla. Only 12 competitors – one from each of two age groups, 7-10 and 11-14, among six divisions – will advance to the National CastingKids Finals, set for Feb. 23 and held in conjunction with the 2008 Bassmaster Classic in Greenville, S.C.
The Bassmaster CastingKids program helps children develop fishing skills. Since 1991, CastingKids has more held more than 18,000 events and awarded more than $3.3 million in cash, prizes and scholarships.
“Similar to the way NFL volunteers teach youth the basics of football through their Punt, Pass & Kick program, BASS and BASS Federation Nation volunteers teach youngsters how to ‘Flip, Pitch & Cast,” said Stacy Twiggs, senior manager, Federation Nation Youth. “The friendly spirit of competition in the CastingKids program is wonderful, and it’s very rewarding to see a child’s self-esteem thrive and self-confidence flourish from what this program teaches.”
Earlier this year, two CastingKids champions were crowned in Birmingham, Ala., site of the 2007 Bassmaster Classic on Lay Lake. Eight-year-old Sierra Voisin, from Teeswater, Ontario, Canada, won the 7-10 age group, and 13-year-old Nicholas Neidige from Seymour, Ind., took top honors in the 11-14 age group. Both winners were awarded $5,000 academic scholarships, with the runners-up receiving $2,000 scholarships.
The same prizes will be available at the 2008 competition. A full list of competitors can be found below.
Local sponsors of the Bassmaster CastingKids National Semifinals are the Central Florida Sports Commission and Kissimmee Convention and Visitors Bureau.
National supporting sponsors for Bassmaster CastingKids include Cabela’s, Toyota Tundra, Purolator, Triton Boats, Mercury Marine, Berkley, Advance Auto Parts, Lowrance Electronics, Motorguide and Zebco
About BASS
BASS is the worldwide authority on bass fishing, sanctioning more than 20,000 events through the BASS Federation Nation annually. Guided by its mission to serve all fishing fans, BASS sets the standard for credibility, professionalism, sportsmanship and conservation, as it has for nearly 40 years.
BASS stages and sanctions bass fishing tournaments for every skill level and culminates with the Bassmaster Classic. Through its clubs, youth programs, aquatic resource advocacy, magazine publishing and multimedia platforms, BASS offers the industry’s widest array of services and support to its nearly 530,000 members. The organization is headquartered in Celebration, Fla.
For more information, contact BASS Communications at (407) 566-2208 or visit http://www.bassmaster.com. Visit http://www.espnmediazone.com for ESPN’s latest releases, schedules and other news, plus photos, video and audio clips and more.
Bassmaster CastingKids Participants
7-10 Age Division
Northern Division
1. Breanne McWilliams, Downer’s Grove, Ill.
2. Conner Choate, Swisher, Iowa
3. Dylan Caudill, Franklin, Ind.
4. Michael Lipinski, Roseville, Mich.
5. Jacob Saterbak, Maple Grove, Minn.
6. Timothy Krapfel, Miamisburg, Ohio
7. Riley Portwood, Canistota, S.D.
8. Riley Kaiser, Cuba City, Wis.
Southern Division
1. Garrett Isbell, Ragland, Ala.
2. Katie Adams, Lehigh Acres, Fla.
3. Hunter Burdette, Evans, Ga.
4. Nathan Dodge, Louisville, Ky.
5. Christopher Guest, Shelby, N.C.
6. Tanner Lindler, Lexington, S.C.
7. Izak Graham, Cleveland, Tenn.
Eastern Division
1. Ryan Kusmit, Northford, Conn.
2. Hunter Beyea, Arundel, Maine
3. Jacob Rozak, Medway, Mass.
4. Drew Ingoldsby, Alton Bay, N.H.
5. Jacob Love, Ogdensburg, N.Y.
6. Sierra Voisin, Teeswater, Ontario, Canada
7. Ben Dufault, East Greenwich, R.I.
Mid-Atlantic Division
1. Kristin McCoy, Newark, Del.
2. Logan Kuhrmann, Baltimore, Md.
3. Austin Scrivani, Layton, N.J.
4. Brent Engleman, Milton, Penn.
5. Jacob Bush, Big Stone Gap, Va.
6. Bradley Maine, Conover, N.C.
Western Division
1. Travis Pollay, Wickenburg, Ariz.
2. Justin Bond, Modesto, Calif.
3. Isaiah Bowsher, Fort Collins, Colo.
4. Silas Callaway, Boise, Idaho
5. Dallas Baines, Stevensville, Mo.
6. Jacob Lescenski, Las Vegas, N.V.
7. Courtnie Reynolds, Belen, N.M.
8. Michael Dean Wing, Seaside, Ore.
9. Cameron Wise, Utah
10. Kelsey Shaber, Spokane Valley, Wash.
Central Division
1. Hunter Jones, Roland, Ark.
2. Tyler Starks, Conway Springs, Kan.
3. Alex Eubanks, Louisville, Miss.
4. Andrew Diehl, St. Charles, Mo.
5. Bayley Schuman, Lincoln, Neb.
6. Sheldon Collings, Grove, Okla.
7. Isaiah “Zay” Ridgle, Brownsboro, Texas
11-14 Age Group
Northern Division
1. Noah Garnica, Potomac, Ill.
2. Zachary Caudill, Franklin, Ind.
3. Nick Zirkelbach, Center Junction, Iowa
4. Matthew Heyer, Grand Haven, Mich.
5. Jake Erickson, Grant, Minn.
6. Anthony Jones, Columbus, Ohio
7. Payton Monson, Parkston, S.D.
8. Jared LaRue, LaCrosse, Wis.
Southern Division
1. Hayden Pike, Albertville, Ala.
2. Jeffrey Adams, Lehigh Acres, Fla.
3. Sterling Banks, Beech Island, S.C.
4. Jared Raymer, Brandenburg, Ky.
5. Crystal Culley, Hiddenite, N.C.
6. Dillon Bailey, Inman, S.C.
7. Caleb Luzader, Cleveland, Tenn.
Eastern Division
1. Chris Klepinger, Wethersfield, Conn.
2. Amanda Kimball, Biddeford, Maine
3. Richard Vespa, Millis, Mass.
4. Jeffrey Roy, Fitzwilliam, N.H.
5. Joey Kiah, Ogdensburg, N.Y.
6. Shauni Voisin, Teeswater, Ontario, Canada
7. Shawn Correia, West Warwick, R.I.
Mid-Atlantic Division
1. Cole Hutchison, Middletown, Del.
2. Austin Neary, Crofton, Md.
3. Richard Pennacchio, Hillsborough, N.J.
4. Bryce Bason, Mill Hall, Pa.
5. Ryan Bush, Big Stone Gap, Va.
6. Taylor Sias, Weston, W.Va.
Western Division
1. Chance Kohnke, Wickenburg, Ariz.
2. Forrest Kerr, Bakersfield, Calif.
3. Rusty Fields, Bennett, Colo.
4. David Ashton, Boise, Idaho
5. Blaine Newman, Kalispell, Mont.
6. Kyle Bushell, Las Vegas, N.V.
7. Clint Garrett Wilkinson, Socorro, N.M.
8. Jacob Wall, Jacksonville, Ore.
9. Dustin Dickerson, Sandy, Utah
10. Kiana Clark, Richland, Wash.
Central Divisional
1. Kiera Longing, Smackover, Ark.
2. Dayton Allen, Maple Hill, Kan.
3. Jordan Rodrigue, Houma, La.
4. Chad Babin, Mandevile, La.
5. Adam Eubanks, Louisville, Miss.
6. Nathaniel Kauffmann, House Springs, Mo.
7. Shea Baumgartner, North Platte, Neb.
8. Hunter Stanley, Yukon, Okla.
9. Issac Ridgle, Brownsboro, Texas
