Nicholls State Grabs Lead In College Bass Championship

July 10, 2015

Nicholls State Grabs Lead In College Bass Championship

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STEVENS POINT, Wis. — Tyler Rivet and Allyson Marcel of Nicholls State University hauled in 8 pounds, 7 ounces on Friday to vault from eighth place and into the second-round lead of the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops.

The Louisiana college’s team ground out a three-bass limit heavy enough to claim a 6-ounce lead heading into the final day of team competition Saturday on Lake DuBay.

While catches for most of the 81 teams in the championship were smaller on the second day, Rivet and Marcel stayed with the tactics and locations that had them among the leaders in the first round.

“We did exactly the same thing today and fished the exact same spots,” Rivet said. “It’s an undercut bank in a small canal, and it reminds us of how we fish back in Louisiana. We had to hit the bank with our baits, or we wouldn’t have a chance to catch a bass.”

Consistency has been the key for Nicholls State, but with increased fishing pressure on Lake DuBay this week, fish catches are expected to decline even more in Saturday’s final round.

“I think we will be fine,” Marcel said. “I don’t want to jinx us, but we missed two fish today, and I think they could bite again tomorrow at some point.”

The first-round leaders from Texas A&M University, Josh Bensema and Matthew McArdle, checked in with 6 pounds, 9 ounces of DuBay bass to stay within striking distance of the lead and a possible National Championship title.

Bensema and McArdle started quickly Thursday, catching a limit before 7 a.m., but Friday was much different. The Texas duo didn’t land a keeper bass until around 9:30 a.m. After a slow start, however, they began to figure out where the fish were positioning and when they might expect to get a bite from a keeper bass.

“The water level came up some in our area, and the fish seemed to farther into the cover,” McArdle said. “We just had to fish our baits a little deeper in the cover to get bit.”

Bensema and McArdle used a one-two punch of lures the first day but switched to a topwater bait to boat their three bass Friday.

“Later today, Matt picked up a frog and caught our final keeper,” Bensema said. “I think on Saturday we will throw that for at least 90 percent of the day.”

The University of North Carolina-Charlotte team of Jake Whitaker and Andrew Helms — defending national champions from 2014 — moved into third, less than 2 pounds behind the leaders.

Whitaker and Helms have been concentrating on a specific area of DuBay the first two days and don’t plan to change locations. Their hope is to be the first collegiate anglers to claim back-to-back titles in the Carhartt Bassmaster College championship.

“Our first goal is to get three fish in the boat,” Whitaker said. “Depending on what time we can get our limit, we will go big and swing for the fences because we want to win. We know what it feels like, and we know a big fish can do it.”

Whitaker and Helms made passes along a specific stretch of bank throughout the first two days of competition, switching up baits as they went along to see what baits were key during different parts of the day.

Trevor Lo and Chris Burgan from the University of Minnesota weighed in two smallmouth for 3 pounds, 13 ounces to slip into the Top 5 and are currently in fourth heading into the final day.

Frank Appaluccio and Logan Shaddix of the University of Alabama squeezed into the Top 5 finals after winning a tiebreaker provision over East Carolina’s Zach Blalock and Mike Corbishley. Both teams had 11-11 after two rounds of fishing.

Tyler Rivet and Allyson Marcel of Nicholls State weighed in the Bass Pro Shops/Nitro Big Bag of the tournament (8-7) so far with one day remaining; the winner of this award also receives a $250 Bass Pro Shops gift card.

Rivet and Marcel also earned the Livingston Lures Leader Award, which is given to the team leading after two days. Both members will receive a $250 Livingston Lures gift card.

John Garrent and Brian Pahl of Bethel University currently hold the Carhartt Big Bass award with a 3-11 bass from Day 1. A $500 Carhartt gift card goes to the tournament’s biggest bass.

Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Presented by Bass Pro Shops National Championship7/9/2015 – 7/11/2015Lake DuBay – Tiki Beach Bar & Grill – Stevens Point, WISTANDINGS BOATER DAY 2

Today’s Activity# Fish Lbs – OzAccumulativeName # Live # Fish # Live Lbs – Oz1 Tyler Rivet – Allyson Marcel Nicholls State University 3 3 8- 7 6 6 15- 02 Josh Bensema – Matthew McArdle Texas A&M University 3 3 6- 9 6 6 14-103 Jake Whitaker – Andrew Helms UNC Charlotte 3 3 5-13 6 6 13- 34 Trevor Lo – Chris Burgan University of Minnesota 2 2 3-13 5 5 11-125 Frankie Appaluccio – Logan Shaddix University of Alabama 2 2 4- 3 5 5 11-116 Zachary Blalock – Mike Corbishley East Carolina University 3 3 6-15 5 5 11-117 Austin Brimeyer – Anthony Riesberg University of Dubuque 3 3 6-13 5 5 9- 98 Hunter Gibson – Caiden Sinclair University of Alabama 2 2 4-15 5 5 9- 49 Kelly Johnson – Jeremy Gilley Appalachian State University 3 3 8- 1 3 3 8- 110 Zack Bodford – Matthew Hinkle NC State University 1 1 2- 6 4 4 8- 111 JP Kimbrough – Jared Rascoe LSU Shreveport 0 0 0- 0 3 3 7-1512 Hunter Hill – Ethan Howell Appalachian State University 0 0 0- 0 3 3 7-1413 Ross Burns – Richard Nesbitt Clemson University 1 1 2- 7 4 4 7-1214 Justin Singleton – Zac Bennett Georgia College & State University 1 1 1-11 4 4 7- 815 Patrick Walters – Josh Rennebaum University of South Carolina 3 3 4-15 4 4 7- 716 Cade Laufenberg – Wyatt Stout Winona State University 0 0 0- 0 3 3 7- 617 Tyler Stewart – Nick Joiner La Monroe 2 2 3- 2 4 4 7- 618 Josh Oliver – Nathan George Gadsden State Community College 3 3 4-13 4 4 7- 319 Kyle Winstead – Brandon Koon UT Martin 2 2 3- 5 4 4 6-1520 Taylor Bivins – Kyle Alsop Kansas State University 3 3 4- 7 4 4 6-1021 John Duarte – Jonathan Kelley Coastal Carolina University 2 2 4- 1 4 4 6- 622 Jared Mataczynski – Steve Nebel University of Wisconsin-Whitewater 3 3 6- 5 3 3 6- 523 Phillip Germagliotti – Shane Campbell McKendree University 3 3 4-11 4 4 6- 224 Brock Enmeier – Colten Hutson University of Central Oklahoma 0 0 0- 0 3 3 5-1125 Cody Spears – Justin Mahon Florida State University 0 0 0- 0 2 2 5- 826 John Ledet – Justin Cooper Northwestern State University 1 1 1- 5 4 4 5- 627 Tanner Austin – Ethan Clark Sacramento State 2 2 5- 4 2 2 5- 428 Murphy Klumpp – Lucas Brown Auburn University 1 1 2- 7 3 3 5- 429 Baylor Ronemus – Cole Tinsley Clemson University 0 0 0- 0 3 3 5- 230 Anderson Aldag – Lee Mattox University of Alabama 2 2 4- 9 2 2 4- 931 Justin Brown – Brandon Bissell Northern Michigan University 0 0 0- 0 3 3 4- 332 Cole Atkinson – St Ambrose University 0 0 0- 0 2 2 4- 333 Edward Rude III – Matthew Combs West Virginia University 2 2 2-13 3 3 4- 334 Easton Ramsey – Chris Zins University of Central Oklahoma 1 1 2- 1 2 2 3-1535 Grayson Barber – Hiroto Kinoshita NC State University 1 1 2-11 2 2 3-1436 Sheldon Rogge – Lance Maldonado Kansas State University 0 0 0- 0 2 2 3-1237 John Garrett – Brian Pahl Bethel University 0 0 0- 0 1 1 3-1138 Joshua Butts – Justin Rivers Wallace State CC Hanceville 2 2 3-10 2 2 3-1039 Kevin Lucas – Kyle Stafford U. of Central Florida 0 0 0- 0 2 2 3- 840 Aaron Belgard – Logan Laprarie Northwestern State University 1 1 1- 5 2 2 3- 841 Tyler Craig – Blake Alford La Monroe 2 2 3- 3 2 2 3- 342 Evan Smith – Aaron Sarna Arkansas Tech University 0 0 0- 0 2 2 3- 143 Evan Horne – Dawson Lenz University of North Alabama 1 1 1- 6 2 2 2-1544 Taylor Minick – Michael Harbach Valdosta State University 1 1 1-11 2 2 2-1445 Tyler Rocke – Justin Schick Illinois Central College 0 0 0- 0 2 2 2-1346 Jacob Wall – University of Oregon 0 0 0- 0 1 1 2-1247 Ross Dove – Richie Young Emmanuel College 0 0 0- 0 2 2 2-1148 Cole Blythe – John Auten UNC Charlotte 0 0 0- 0 1 1 2-1149 Samuel Moore – Ross Kellermeier Bemidji State University 0 0 0- 0 2 2 2-10Today’s Activity# Fish Lbs – OzAccumulativeName # Live # Fish # Live Lbs – Oz50 Alex Klein – Chico State 0 0 0- 0 1 1 2- 551 Ethan Snyder – Shaw Owens Eastern Kentucky University 1 1 2- 4 1 1 2- 452 Matt Allen – Zach Youngblood Tennessee Tech University 1 1 2- 2 1 1 2- 253 CJ Knight – Tim Ward Auburn University 1 1 2- 1 1 1 2- 154 Dwight Camp – Jonathan Furlong Southeastern Oklahoma University 0 0 0- 0 1 1 1-1154 Laj Tripp – Kyle Sittman Eastern Washington University 0 0 0- 0 1 1 1-1156 Thomas Oltorik III – James Oltorik Daytona State College 0 0 0- 0 1 1 1-1057 Jay Emmert – Christian Peake U. of Tennessee 0 0 0- 0 1 1 1- 958 Chelsey Queen – Kristopher Queen Bethel University 0 0 0- 0 1 1 1- 859 Benjamin Freeman – Dillon McGee Bethel University 0 0 0- 0 1 1 1- 660 Justin Bruno – Brody Anderson Grand Valley State University 0 0 0- 0 1 1 1- 560 Austin Neary – Alex Frazier Western Carolina University 1 1 1- 5 1 1 1- 560 Jonathan Peck – Devin Wallis Bryan College 1 1 1- 5 1 1 1- 560 Michael Woods – Chas Brannon Chico State 0 0 0- 0 1 1 1- 564 Jacob Reome – Matthew Garvin Clemson University 0 0 0- 0 1 1 1- 465 Austin Littrell – Ben Wall Auburn University 0 0 0- 0 1 1 1- 366 Kit Benson – Wes Lashmett Western Illinois University 0 0 0- 0 1 0 1- 367 Grant Ehlenfeldt – Brett Stanek University of Wisconsin-Platteville 1 1 1- 2 1 1 1- 267 Cy Floyd – Travis Opel Eastern Washington University 0 0 0- 0 1 1 1- 267 Lance Freeman – Seth Brock Murray State University 0 0 0- 0 1 1 1- 270 Alec Castonguay – Garret Whitley Stephen F Austin State University 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 070 Brian Eaton – Slade Daniel La Monroe 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 070 Grant Galloway – Joe Marty Mississippi State University 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 070 Justin Gaskin – James Avant LSU Shreveport 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 070 Clayton Godfrey – Garret Lindsey Stephen F Austin State University 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 070 Darrell Henson Jr. – Brent Rome LSU 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 070 Shelby Hutchens – Brian Blades Stephen F Austin State University 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 070 Jordan Ledbetter – Trent Robinson McKendree University 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 070 Zander Monk – Taylor Thomas UNC Charlotte 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 070 Colby Ogden – Brandon Simoneaux Lamar University 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 070 Carson Orellana – Strayer University 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 070 John Zeolla – Clayton Lauchland Cal Poly 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0Name City,State Lbs-OzBIG BASSDay1 John Garrett – Brian Pahl Union City, TN 3-112 Hunter Gibson – Caiden SincHlaoirover, AL 3- 8Day # Live Lbs-Oz # LimitsTOTALS# Fish1 103 102 196-11 162 71 71 140- 4 11

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