Bethel University Holds Onto Lead In Bassmaster College Series National Championship

July 20, 2018

Bethel University Holds Onto Lead In Bassmaster College Series National Championship

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TAHLEQUAH, Okla. — One spot, two anglers, one giant lead, and an incredibly short period of time. That’s what the final day of the 2018 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops could come down to Saturday.

Or, maybe, that’s only what will have worked for Days 1 and 2.

“We had ’em all by 7:30 [a.m.] today,” Cody Huff said of the five-fish bag that kept Huff and his Bethel University teammate Garrett Enders on top of the pack Friday with 15 pounds, 10 ounces to compliment their Day 1 hit for a total 32-4 and 6-2 lead over their nearest competitors.

The field for Saturday is narrowed to 12 teams who will face off for the Championship title and a Top 4 ranking, which will move them on to the College Bracket set for Aug. 14-16 on Milford Lake out of Junction City, Kan. That’s where they will split up to compete individually in a bracket-style, catch-and-release competition where eight will be cut down to the one who will be awarded a berth in the 2019 Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods, set for March 15-17 on the Tennessee River hosted at Knoxville.

Tenkiller Lake continued to test teams with searing heat, no wind and finicky fish as the Bethel seniors repeated their performance in front of the crowd in the tournament hosted by Northeastern State University and Tour Tahlequah.

“Moving day” did seem some swings but the Top 7 from Day 1 all made it through to the finale. Big movers who made the Top 12 include Tanner Ward of Kent State, fishing singly and filling the 12th spot after a move from 45th place on Day 1 with a bag of 12-2 for a total of 16-9. Right along with him from 44th place came Thad Simerly and Ethan Shaw of Bryan College with 12-3 for a 16-11 total.

The heartbreaker of the day saw home Northeastern State University team Taylor Hamburger and Carson Smith draw a blank and drop from fourth to 15th place and out of the running.

Swings both big and little will be on the minds of the top duo from Bethel as they launch Saturday with 11 bulls-eyes on their backs and a near miss from 2017 Championship, when they missed the Top 4 by a few ounces.

“We’re just going to go out and fish,” Enders said.

An early morning bite and teamwork have carried them this far. Thursday they filled their livewell early and spent the rest of the day watching others pull in their fish. When the boys hit their hot spot first thing on a clear, 72-degree morning Friday they caught a fish on their second cast and kept the action going.

Teamwork was key, said Enders.

“Cody flipped into a brushpile and caught one and he went back and pulled off his fish, and I flipped in there and by the time I took care of mine he was ready and we caught three just like that,” he said. “If it wasn’t for the partnership deal I don’t know if we would have been able to keep them going like that.”

The pair pulled six off their morning spot, moved on, and again sweated out the rest of the day targeting similar types of cover without another bite.

Miserably hot weather continued with a 106-degree high (and 112 heat index) on Tenkiller Friday with just enough breezes to raise hopes for a minor respite that never came.

Saturday’s forecast calls for a few more clouds and a little less heat with a high in the mid 90s. It’s a minor weather change, and Huff and Enders don’t expect their fish to move.

“They’ve been there for a month and a half,” Huff said. “We know they’re around there.

“If they don’t hit early we’ll just stay on it, slow down, try different things. We’ll sit there and try to scrounge them out.”

Second-place anglers Cole Burdeshaw and Peyton McCord of Auburn University said they are confident about pulling in another five and they will let the cards fall from there.

“They have a pretty big lead, but we’ll get a limit and just see what happens,” Burdeshaw said. “We’ll be alright.”

Rounding out the Top 5 are Lucas Murphy and Nolan Hitt of Grand Valley State University, brothers Thor and Mitch Swanson of Bemidji State in fourth and Bradley Dunagan and Nick Ratliff of Campbellsville University in fifth.

Carhartt Big Bass moved up from 5-9 to a 6-3 that came to the boat for sophomore Hayden Bartee of Alabama’s Jefferson State University. It was caught off an offshore brushpile on a Strike King Structure Head with a Big Bite Baits Fighting Frog.

“She come up and jumped once and about gave me a heart attack,” Bartee said.

Overall Big Bass, determined after Saturday, will land a $500 Carhartt gift certificate.

The contest continues Saturday with takeoff at 6 a.m. CT from Cherokee Landing State Park. The final weigh-in begins at 3 p.m. at Northeastern State University Beta Field in Tahlequah. Fans are encouraged to come early and enjoy the Bassmaster Outdoors Expo featuring interactive sponsor displays and free giveaways from 1-5 p.m. All activities are free and open to the public.

Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops7/19/2018 – 7/21/2018Tenkiller Lake – Cherokee Landing State Park – Tahlequah, OKSTANDINGS BOATER DAY 2

Name # Fish # Live Lbs – Oz # Fish # Live Lbs-Oz PTS1 Garrett Enders – Cody Huff Bethel University 5 4 15-10 10 9 32- 4 500.002 Cole Burdeshaw – Peyton McCord Auburn University 5 4 15- 0 8 6 26- 2 496.323 Lucas Murphy – Nolan Hitt Grand Valley State University 4 4 13- 3 9 9 25-10 492.654 Thor Swanson – Mitch Swanson Bemidji State University 5 4 11-13 9 8 21-12 488.975 Bradley Dunagan – Nick Ratliff Campbellsville University 3 2 6-14 8 7 21- 5 485.296 Ty Cox – Alden Keel Jr Blue Mountain College 2 2 6- 7 7 7 21- 3 481.627 Dustin Nash – Gregory Green Northwestern State University 5 5 13- 5 8 8 20-14 477.948 Dillon Harrell – Colby Bryant Sam Houston State University 2 2 4- 6 7 7 20- 4 474.269 Nolan Minor – Casey Lanier West Virginia University 4 4 11- 5 6 6 17- 9 470.5910 Hunter Louden – Seth Roberts Bethel University 1 1 1-10 5 5 17- 6 466.9111 Thad Simerly – Ethan Shaw Bryan College 5 5 12- 3 7 7 16-11 463.2412 Tanner Ward – Kent State University 5 5 12- 2 7 7 16- 9 459.5613 Carter McNeil – Cole Floyd Bethel University 4 4 9- 6 7 7 15- 6 455.8814 Conner Choate – Hunter DeSplinter UW – Platteville 3 3 8- 6 5 5 15- 3 452.2115 Taylor Hamburger – Carson Smith Northeastern State University 0 0 0- 0 5 5 14-15 448.5316 Lee Mattox – Anderson Aldag University of Alabama 4 3 8-15 6 5 14-14 444.8517 Hunter Sales – Tristan Stalsworth Carson-Newman University 2 2 4- 7 6 6 14- 7 441.1818 Nick Marsh – Jarrod Layton Adrian College 2 2 5-10 4 4 14- 1 437.5019 Kory England – Matt Baker Arkansas Tech University 3 3 7-14 5 5 14- 0 433.8220 Logan Parks – Lucas Lindsay Auburn University 5 5 11-10 6 6 13-14 430.1521 Zeke Gossett – Hayden Bartee Jefferson State 2 2 9- 1 4 4 13-13 426.4722 JP Kimbrough – Ryan Antee LSU Shreveport 1 1 3- 6 4 3 13-11 422.7923 Justin Barnes – Adam Carroll University of Montevallo 2 2 6- 2 4 4 13- 8 419.1224 Jacob Daily – Andrew Deloney University of Alabama 2 1 6- 2 4 2 13- 3 415.4425 Tyler Rivet – Jared Bascle Nicholls State University 5 5 12-10 5 5 12-10 411.7626 Tyler Craig – Spencer Lambert U. of Louisiana at Monroe 3 3 8- 3 5 4 12-10 408.0927 Jordan Hartman – Hunter McKinley Murray State University 1 1 2- 5 6 5 12- 7 404.4128 Hunter Reifschneider – Jonathan Klaes University of Dubuque 4 4 9-11 5 5 11-15 400.7429 Miller Spivey – Chandler Sickafoose Wallace State Hanceville 2 1 9- 0 3 2 11-15 397.0630 Gavin Lagle – Atom Ward Indiana University Southeast 0 0 0- 0 4 4 11-14 393.3831 Brian Pahl – John Garrett Bethel University 3 3 7- 1 5 5 11-12 389.7132 Josh Dugger – Jake Dugger Arkansas Tech University 1 1 3- 7 3 2 11- 5 386.0333 Nick Inzeo – Nick Montilino Murray State University 2 2 6- 0 4 4 11- 3 382.3534 Ben Stone – Greyson Williams Lander University 2 2 5- 4 4 4 10-15 378.6835 Nathan Bell – Cole Sands Bryan College 1 1 2-13 3 3 10-11 375.0036 Mitchell Jennings – Roy Zhang Auburn University 2 2 4- 8 5 4 10- 9 371.3237 Jarred Jones – Devin Mobbs Jacksonville State University 1 1 1-13 4 4 10- 6 367.6538 Bennett Pierce – Austin Phillips Arkansas Tech University 4 4 9-14 4 4 9-14 363.9739 Cully Scroggins – Nathon Portch Bethel University 1 1 2- 1 4 3 9-14 360.2940 Alex Murray – Trent Manuel McNeese State University 2 2 5- 9 4 4 9- 9 356.6241 Evan Slentz – Colin Slentz Lander University 4 4 9- 7 4 4 9- 7 352.9442 Austin Miles – Cooper Brown Colorado State University, Pueblo 2 2 5- 0 4 4 9- 7 349.2643 Matthew Cross – Mekiah Jack Middle Tennessee State University 4 4 9- 6 4 4 9- 6 345.5944 Caiden Sinclair – Hunter Gibson University of Alabama 1 1 2- 6 4 4 9- 3 341.9145 Cody Stahl – Reese Kingston SCAD 1 1 2-12 3 3 9- 2 338.2446 Dakota Cantrell – Austin Moore Campbellsville University 0 0 0- 0 3 3 8-11 334.5647 Spencer Hahn – Ben Wanke University of Wisconsin 2 2 4- 1 4 4 8-10 330.8848 Jake Biram – Rhett Meyer Oklahoma State University 0 0 0- 0 3 3 8- 7 327.2149 Patrick Pelt – Logan McEwen Auburn University 1 1 2- 2 4 4 8- 7 323.5350 Dalton Childers – Blake Spradlin Auburn University 2 2 5-15 3 3 8- 6 319.8551 Cullen Lamm-Hoover – Jules Williams Hampden-Sydney College 1 1 2- 0 4 3 8- 3 316.1852 Dustin Jones – Dalton Smith Campbellsville University 1 1 3-10 3 3 7-10 312.5053 Dillon Bryant – Dustin Wagner Patrick Henry Comm College 2 2 3- 8 3 2 7- 5 308.8254 Carson Leber – Tyler Bounds Chico State 1 1 4-11 2 2 7- 3 305.1555 John-Michael Brattlof-Cody Barchenger Stephen F Austin State University 1 1 1-10 3 3 7- 2 301.4756 Ben Barrus – Tyler VanBrandt Adrian College 2 2 4-12 3 3 7- 0 297.7957 Joseph Bruener – Nathan Doty McKendree University 0 0 0- 0 2 2 6-14 294.1258 Jackson Carrell – Kyle Pasket Sam Houston State University 2 2 4-15 3 3 6-12 290.4459 Daniel Smathers – Jack Reed Liberty University 3 2 6-11 3 2 6-11 286.7660 Adam Forester – Scott McClellan Louisiana Tech 1 0 1-11 3 2 6- 7 283.0961 Cole Walker – Wilson Smith Bethel University 1 1 3- 2 2 2 6- 3 279.4162 Jacob Shannon – Brandon Murphy University of Texas at Tyler 2 2 6- 2 2 2 6- 2 275.7463 Connor Whisenant – Carter Henderson Texas A&M University 2 2 3-15 3 3 5-15 272.0664 Brennan Soileau – Garrett McDonald Louisiana Tech 2 2 3-12 3 3 5- 9 268.3865 Reid Conner – Joshua Butts Wallace State Hanceville 2 2 5- 7 2 2 5- 7 264.7166 Travis Blenn – Jake Hoselton Kansas State 0 0 0- 0 2 2 5- 4 261.0367 Joe McClosky – John-Austin Welch Bethel University 2 2 3- 7 3 3 5- 4 257.3568 KJ Queen – Brad Ableman Bethel University 1 1 2- 7 2 2 5- 4 253.6869 Chris Walter – Jacob Gress Indiana University 0 0 0- 0 2 2 4-14 250.0070 Travis Howard – Sam Carris Tennessee Tech University 2 2 4-11 2 2 4-11 246.3271 Cade Reeder – Will Harding Wallace State Hanceville 2 2 4-10 2 2 4-10 242.6572 Zachariah Edwards – Drew Douglas University of Central Oklahoma 2 0 4- 8 2 0 4- 8 238.9773 Branden Newcome – Michael Shughart West Virginia University 1 1 4- 8 1 1 4- 8 235.2974 Caleb Dennis – Hunter Presley Central Alabama Comm College 0 0 0- 0 2 2 4- 7 231.6275 Shane Campbell – Ethan Jones McKendree University 2 2 4- 4 2 2 4- 4 227.9475 Hunter Stewart – Luke Slaton U. of North Georgia 0 0 0- 0 2 2 4- 4 227.9477 John Moore – Clark Mannas Texas A&M University 1 1 4- 4 1 1 4- 4 220.5978 Ryan Fox – Stephen Jesso Penn State 0 0 0- 0 2 1 4- 2 216.9179 Mark Moran – Brandon Robinson Glenville State College 0 0 0- 0 2 2 4- 1 213.2480 Nathan Ragsdale – Jerimiah Freelund University of Georgia 0 0 0- 0 2 2 4- 0 209.5681 Chad Sweitzer – Matthew Featherston Chico State 1 1 4- 0 1 1 4- 0 205.8882 Ryan Nevil – Nathan Wood Dallas Baptist University 1 1 2- 2 2 2 3-15 202.2183 Kyler Chelminiak – Ricky Harris Bethel University 1 1 3-13 1 1 3-13 198.5384 Luke Potter – Stephen Thomas Lamar University 0 0 0- 0 1 0 3-12 194.8585 Conner Fogg – Chandler Fogg Bryan College 1 1 3- 3 1 1 3- 3 191.1885 Parker Humber – Carlos Welch Itawamba Comm College 1 1 3- 3 1 1 3- 3 191.1887 Thomas Robbins – Kevin Lukens Michigan State University 1 1 3- 2 1 1 3- 2 183.8288 Crosley Welch – Hayden Lee Missouri State University 0 0 0- 0 1 1 2-15 180.1589 Michael Whiteacre – Romolo Rabasi Ohio State University 0 0 0- 0 1 1 2-14 176.4790 Johnny Ledet – Logan Laprarie Northwestern State University 0 0 0- 0 1 1 2-10 172.7990 Trevor McKinney – Curtis Lilly McKendree University 1 1 2-10 1 1 2-10 172.7992 Mason Beatty – Jacob Keith East Texas Baptist University 0 0 0- 0 1 1 2- 8 165.4492 Tristan McCormick – Dakota Pierce Bethel University 0 0 0- 0 1 1 2- 8 165.4492 Taylor Morten – Austin Porter Arkansas Tech University 0 0 0- 0 1 1 2- 8 165.4495 Drew Elrod – Luke Byerly U. of Tennessee 0 0 0- 0 1 1 2- 5 154.4195 Micah Speights – Clay Kepley UNC Charlotte 0 0 0- 0 1 1 2- 5 154.4195 Trent Turner – Kyle Weems Louisiana Tech 1 1 2- 5 1 1 2- 5 154.4198 Thomas Milstead – Jared Turnbloom University of Alabama 0 0 0- 0 1 1 2- 4 143.3898 Zach Vielhauer – Will Andrie Kansas State 1 1 2- 4 1 1 2- 4 143.38100 Tyler Robinson – Ben Seaman Clarkson University 1 1 2- 3 1 1 2- 3 136.03101 Cole Buser – Marquz Perez New Mexico State University 0 0 0- 0 1 1 2- 2 132.35101 Ryan Kent – David Brashear Georgia Southern 0 0 0- 0 1 1 2- 2 132.35103 Caleb Gibson – Tyler Winn Northeastern State University 1 1 2- 1 1 1 2- 1 125.00103 Denver Satterlee – Landon Smith Calhoun Community College 1 1 2- 1 1 1 2- 1 125.00103 Kyle Stafford – Evan Wieber Polk State College 0 0 0- 0 1 1 2- 1 125.00106 Blake Albertson – Adam Puckett Murray State University 0 0 0- 0 1 1 1-15 113.97106 Josh Bean – Caden Watson Tennessee Tech University 0 0 0- 0 1 1 1-15 113.97106 Jonathan Kelley – Joseph Castelluccio Coastal Carolina 0 0 0- 0 1 1 1-15 113.97106 Jarrett Robertson – Brandon Smith Tarleton State University 1 1 1-15 1 1 1-15 113.97110 Jacob Anderson – Christopher Lewis University of Wisconsin 0 0 0- 0 1 1 1-14 99.26110 Logan Brewster – Chase Dawson U. of Tennessee 1 1 1-14 1 1 1-14 99.26112 Andrew Wolfe – Colin Steck University of Wisconsin 1 1 1-13 1 1 1-13 91.91113 Noah Garnett – Tyler Pendergrass Wallace State Hanceville 0 0 0- 0 1 1 1-12 88.24114 Jeffrey Hopkins – Austin Handley Auburn University 0 0 0- 0 1 1 1-11 84.56115 Hunter Freeman – Wesley Banks U. of Louisiana at Monroe 0 0 0- 0 1 1 1-10 80.88115 Jack Hippe – Nick Czajka Adrian College 1 1 1-10 1 1 1-10 80.88117 Mike Anderson – Zachary Schnepf UW-Oshkosh 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0 0.00117 Collin Bode – Josh Perrin Sam Houston State University 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0 0.00117 Will Brown – Chase Chastain Jacksonville State University 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0 0.00117 Coleton Caldwell – Chandler Robertson UMKC School of Dentistry 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0 0.00117 Drew Coker – Clayton Childs U. of North Georgia 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0 0.00117 Evan Coleman – Josh Soroka Texas State University 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0 0.00117 Jacob Foutz – Jake Lee Bryan College 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0 0.00117 Matt Garfield – Zack St John University of Minnesota Duluth 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0 0.00117 Luke Gillund – Jack Kons Bemidji State University 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0 0.00117 Wesley Griner – Justin Sisavath University of Georgia 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0 0.00117 Spencer Guthrie – Ryan Kennedy Kennesaw State University 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0 0.00117 Josh Hart – Ben Dominque Clemson University 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0 0.00117 Cantley Krafft – Ethan Morrison Virginia Tech 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0 0.00117 Jonathan Linder – Dallas Baptist University 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0 0.00117 Harbor Lovin – Evan Bramhill Murray State University 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0 0.00117 Johnathan Peck – Griffin Heffington Bryan College 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0 0.00117 Sloan Pennington – Hunter McCarty U. of North Alabama 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0 0.00117 Dalton Price – Bryan College 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0 0.00117 Brian Volkernick – University of Maine 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0 0.00117 Rickey Wood Jr – Coastal Carolina 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0 0.00

BIG BASSDay Name City,State Lbs-Oz1 JP Kimbrough – Ryan Antee Bossier City, LA 5- 92 Zeke Gossett – Hayden BarteeCROPWELL, AL 6- 3

TOTALSDay # Fish # Live Lbs-Oz # Limits1 183 171 488-12 72 179 168 464-13 8

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