Texas State Holds On To College Championship Lead On Green River

Evan Coleman (left) and Sam Stone of Texas State maintain their lead on Day 2 of the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops on Green River Lake out of Campbellsville, Ky., after catching a two-day total weight of 29 pounds, 2 ounces. 

July 29, 2016

Texas State Holds On To College Championship Lead On Green River

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CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. — Sam Stone and Evan Coleman of Texas State University managed only 8 pounds, 5 ounces on Day 2 of the 2016 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Championship, but they maintained their lead on Kentucky’s Green River Lake.

“It was definitely tougher today,” Stone said, after the pair caught an impressive 20 pounds, 13 ounces on Thursday. “And we only caught three today.”

Still, no one else in the 89-team field could catch up to them.

“The pressure ruined everything,” Coleman said. “There are so many boats on this lake right now and have been for days. We’re looking forward to tomorrow when there are fewer boats to worry about.”

Coleman is referring to Day 3 of the championship, when only the Top 12 boats in the competition will take to the water.

The anglers’ performance on the final day is extremely important. The Top 4 teams at the end of Saturday’s weigh-in advance to the 2016 Carhartt Bassmaster College Classic Bracket presented by Bass Pro Shops, Aug. 4-6, on Kentucky Lake in Tennessee. The best angler in that head-to-head competition earns a berth in the 2017 GEICO Bassmaster Classic.

Just mentioning the potential of a spot in the Classic brings a big smile to Coleman’s face.“That would be a dream,” he said. “I’ve been wanting to fish it my whole life. That’s the reason we’re here is to have a shot at that.”

To remain in the Top 4, the pair will have to reassess their game plan.

“We spent a lot more time moving around today,” Stone said. “We’ve got to adjust a little bit tomorrow to have another really good day.”

However, a penalty for fishing in an off-limits area will shorten their fishing time on Saturday.

“The Texas State team crossed into an area that is designated for handicap fishing and no boats are allowed,” said Hank Weldon, manager of the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series. “They called me as soon as they realized their error. They did not catch any fish in the off-limits area.”

Stone and Coleman will start Day 3 two hours later than the rest of the Top 12.

Right behind the Texas State team on the leaderboard is Hunter Louden who, like them, had a 20-pound-plus bag on Day 1 followed by a much smaller catch on Day 2. Louden, who fishes for Bethel University, brought in only one bass on Friday for 4 pounds, 13 ounces. He’s holding down second place with 25 pounds, 3 ounces.

In third place is the Kansas State University team of Kyle Alsop and Taylor Bivins with 25 pounds even. They remain in the lead for the Carhartt Big Bass prize of $500 for their Day 1 big bass that weighed 6-13.

The biggest bass caught on Friday weighed 5 pounds, 14 ounces, and there were two of them. Mitch Swanson and Thor Swanson, brothers who fish for Bemidji State University, and Luis McMurphy and MJ Vihnanek of University of South Alabama caught the same-size big bass.

The hot, muggy weather and overcast skies made for another tough day for much of the field. Of the 89 teams who are competing, 35 of them posted zeroes, compared to 14 for Day 1. The quality of fish was the same, averaging 2 pounds per bass, but the numbers were way down from Day 1, with half as many teams posting limits as the first day.

Many competitors in the field were planning to overhaul their game plan after a poor showing on Day 1. Some were able to make major jumps up the leaderboard, while others couldn’t make the progress they needed.

“On this lake, you can be the bug or the windshield,” said Justin Cooper of Northwestern State University. “We were the bug.” He and his partner, Johnny Ledet, finished in 38th place with 7 pounds, 11 ounces.

Those words reflected how several other competitors felt. For Maurice Hudson and Sean Cummins of Penn State, they were the ‘bug’ on Day 2 following a ‘windshield’ performance on Day 1. The pair zeroed on Day 2, but their Day 1 catch of 16-8 held their position in the Top 12, and they will advance to the final day of fishing on Saturday.

On the other hand, a couple of teams had big bags on Day 2 that moved them much farther up in the standings. Austin Handley and Caleb Wozniak of Auburn University moved into fourth place from 17th on Day 1 with a 17-pound, 2-ounce bag on Day 2. That’s the same weight brought in by Luis McMurphy and MJ Vihnanek of University of South Alabama — a team that zeroed on Day 1 but moved into ninth place going into the final day.

The college championship brings together the best college anglers in the country, as determined by their performance in any of five regionals or a single Wild Card event. More than 500 teams from 200-plus colleges competed for a chance to qualify for this tournament.

Campbellsville University is hosting the tournament on its campus in Campbellsville, Ky.“The staff and volunteers here have been so amazing,” said Weldon. “If we need it, they make it happen. Campbellsville has really showed out.”

As the leaders on Day 2, Stone and Coleman of Texas State win the Livingston Lures Day 2 Leader Award worth $250. They are also in the lead for the Bass Pro Shops Nitro Big Bag for $250, for their 20-13 bag on Day 1.

Schools represented in the Top 12 competing on the final day are Texas State, Bethel University, Kansas State, Auburn, Daytona State, Nicholls State, University of South Alabama, LSU Shreveport, Penn State and University of North Georgia. Bethel has three teams vying for the top spot on Day 3.

The tournament resumes Saturday at 6:30 a.m. ET when the Top 12 take off from Green River Marina, located at 289 Lone Valley Road, in Campbellsville. The weigh-in will be held at 3:30 p.m. ET on Stapp Lawn on the Campbellsville University campus. A fan expo will open at 1 p.m. and will continue through the weigh-in. All events are free and open to the public.

The weigh-in will be streamed live at Bassmaster.com.

Today’s Activity# Fish Lbs – OzAccumulativeName # Live # Fish # Live Lbs – Oz1 Sam Stone – Evan Coleman Texas State University 3 3 8- 5 8 8 29- 22 Hunter Louden – Bethel University 1 1 4-13 6 5 25- 33 Kyle Alsop – Taylor Bivins Kansas State University 3 3 11- 1 8 8 25- 04 Austin Handley – Caleb Wozniak Auburn University 5 5 17- 2 9 9 24-125 Brian Pahl – John Garrett Bethel University 4 4 5- 5 9 9 22- 96 Thomas Oltorik III – James Oltorik Daytona State College 3 3 4-12 8 8 20- 27 KJ Queen – Evan Owrey Bethel University 2 2 7- 9 5 5 19- 18 Tyler Rivet – Jess Robertson Nicholls State University 2 2 10-12 7 7 18-109 Luis McMurphy – MJ Vihnanek U. of South Alabama 5 2 17- 2 5 2 17- 210 JP Kimbrough – Jared Rascoe LSU Shreveport 5 5 7-12 10 10 17- 111 Maurice Hudson – Sean Cummins Penn State University 0 0 0- 0 5 5 16- 812 Levi Baker – Bayne Miller U. of North Georgia 2 2 4- 8 6 6 16- 013 Brandon Simoneaux – Colby Ogden Lamar University 5 3 8-10 9 7 15- 714 Josh Cannon – Alex Frazier Western Carolina University 5 5 9- 4 8 8 14-1515 Andrew Mlotek – Calvin Vang U. of Wisconsin Whitewater 3 3 5-13 7 6 14- 816 Zeke Gossett – Hayden Bartee Faulkner University 5 5 8- 5 6 6 14- 717 Chayse Freeman – Ryan Shields Wallace State Comm College 3 3 7-12 8 8 13-1218 Phillip Germagliotti – Shane Campbell McKendree University 1 1 1- 1 5 3 13- 719 Brandon Koon – Kenneth Parks UT Martin 0 0 0- 0 5 5 13- 620 Mitch Swanson – Thor Swanson Bemidji State University 3 3 10-11 4 4 13- 421 Patrick Walters – Brian Sweeney University of South Carolina 4 3 5-15 9 8 12-1322 Trent Newman – Nathan Wood Dallas Baptist University 5 5 7- 3 10 10 12-1123 Lance Freeman – Chandler Christian Murray State University 2 1 7-13 4 3 11-1324 Bradley Fleming – Clark Mannas Texas A&M University 5 5 6-10 10 10 11-1325 Sam Glenn – Cameron Baker UNC Charlotte 4 3 7-15 6 5 11- 826 Justin Singleton – Ryan Stewart Georgia College 5 5 5-12 8 8 11- 527 Cole Burdeshaw – Travis Culbreth Auburn University 2 2 2-13 7 7 10-1328 Reed Foster – Zackery Hines Dallas Baptist University 2 2 4- 8 5 5 10-1329 Jacob Miller – Kyle Waller Ohio State University 1 1 2- 4 5 5 10-1030 Jordan Wise – Chris Phinney East Carolina University 2 2 4- 8 6 6 10- 731 Ronnie Gray – Ladd Owens Arkansas Tech University 1 1 4- 7 3 3 10- 332 Ryan Hayse – Jake Staley U. of North Alabama 0 0 0- 0 5 4 9- 533 Zach Ziober – Dakota Ebare Tarleton State University 3 3 3- 4 6 6 8-1134 Austin Chapman – Curtis Lilly McKendree University 3 3 2-13 8 8 8- 735 Travis Harriman – Chaz Miller University of Arkansas 2 2 4-13 5 4 8- 336 Sheldon Rogge – Parker Davis Kansas State University 1 1 4- 5 4 4 8- 237 Brennan Fertig – Evan Cook Texas A&M University 3 3 6- 7 4 4 7-1338 John Ledet – Justin Cooper Northwestern State University 2 2 2- 8 7 7 7-1139 Carson Orellana – Strayer University 0 0 0- 0 3 3 7- 840 Justin St Onge – Ryan McLaughlin Haywood Community College 3 3 4-14 5 5 7- 641 Josh Bensema – Tyler Anderson Texas A&M University 0 0 0- 0 5 5 7- 342 Caiden Sinclair – Hunter Gibson University of Alabama 1 1 0-13 6 6 7- 343 Josh Oliver – Chase Chastain Jacksonville State University 0 0 0- 0 3 3 6-1244 Austin Niggli – Derrik Starrett McKendree University 0 0 0- 0 1 1 6-1145 Tyler Stewart – Nick Joiner La Monroe 0 0 0- 0 5 5 6- 546 Zachary Castano – Aaron Sollenberger UNC Charlotte 0 0 0- 0 2 2 6- 447 Charlie Sterrett – Nicholas Schneider University of Illinois 3 3 3-13 4 4 6- 148 John Davis – Payton McGinnis University of Alabama 2 2 3- 2 4 3 6- 049 Tyler Woolcott – Cody Wilson Emby-Riddle Aeronoautical University 1 1 1- 7 2 2 5-1050 Jesse Hill – Cody Whisenhunt Jefferson State Community College 3 3 5- 9 3 3 5- 951 Garrett Paquette – Zak Fadden Schoolcraft College 0 0 0- 0 3 3 5- 152 Matthew Benoits – Matthew Leblanc Nicholls State 1 1 1- 2 2 1 5- 153 Chris Blanchette – Dylan Allison University of South Carolina 0 0 0- 0 4 4 4-1454 Aaron Belgard – Logan Laprarie Northwestern State University 1 1 1- 3 3 3 4- 955 Hunter Whitman – Alec Lower NC State University 3 3 3- 6 4 4 4- 656 Gunner Durrett – Austin Watkins LA Tech 2 2 3- 5 3 3 4- 457 Tanner Mort – Austin Turpin University of Idaho 0 0 0- 0 3 3 4- 358 Josh Worth – Kennedy Kinkade Colorado Mesa University 0 0 0- 0 2 2 4- 359 Zach Hurst – Austyn Fowler Tarleton State University 0 0 0- 0 1 1 4- 160 Shawn Callahan – Tom Brewbaker University of South Carolina 1 1 2-10 2 2 3-1461 Steve Nebel – Jared Mataczynski U. of Wisconsin Whitewater 2 2 2-13 3 2 3-1362 Anderson Aldag – Lee Mattox University of Alabama 0 0 0- 0 3 3 3-1263 Nicholas Kirkton – Seth Becker Illinois State University 0 0 0- 0 4 3 3-1064 John Authement – Cameron Naquin Nicholls State 1 1 0-15 4 3 3- 465 Ty Cox – Jake Houston Itawamba Community College 2 2 1-14 3 3 3- 166 Michael Chambliss – Turner Carlisle Columbus State University 1 1 1- 0 2 2 2-1567 Shane Haas – Reid Hammil University of Florida 0 0 0- 0 2 2 2- 868 Tanner Malone – Kyle Alford Mississippi State University 0 0 0- 0 2 2 2- 069 Austin Butler – Ryan Kirkpatrick Murray State University 0 0 0- 0 1 1 1-1470 Travis Bounds – Andrew Loberg Chico State 0 0 0- 0 2 2 1-1271 Chase Johnson – Eric Leifheit East Carolina University 0 0 0- 0 1 1 1- 972 Jacob Wall – University of Oregon 1 1 1- 8 1 1 1- 873 Zach Clisch – Adam Neu U. of Wisconsin Platteville 0 0 0- 0 1 1 1- 674 Russ Johnson – Hunter Schrock Itawamba Community College 0 0 0- 0 1 1 1- 375 Rudy Directo – Humboldt State 0 0 0- 0 1 1 1- 175 Ben Stone – Collin Smith Lander University 1 1 1- 1 1 1 1- 177 Hunter McKamey – Kyle Oliver U. of Central Florida 1 1 1- 0 1 1 1- 077 Zander Monk – Kolton Hawks UNC Charlotte 1 1 1- 0 1 1 1- 077 Stetson Overton – Justin Seeton Tarleton State University 0 0 0- 0 1 1 1- 080 JC Adams – Darius Williams University of West Georgia 0 0 0- 0 1 1 0-1580 Chad Matthews – Austin Wingard Auburn University 0 0 0- 0 1 1 0-1582 Dylan Brown – Hunter Franklin U. of South Alabama 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 082 Garrett Cates – Tyler Nekolny Kansas State University 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 082 Adam Deakin – Alex Stuart Colorado State University 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 082 Adam Forester – Scott McClellan LA Tech 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 082 Marcus Kliebert – Francis Robichaux Nicholls State 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 082 Travis McGuire – Layne Bynum Texas Tech University 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 082 Dan Scott – U. of Wisconsin Stevens Point 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 082 Gunnar Stanton – Northern Arizona University 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0Name City,State Lbs-OzBIG BASSDay1 Kyle Alsop – Taylor Bivins Overland Park, KS 6-132 Luis McMurphy – MJ VihnanekMobile, AL 5-142 Mitch Swanson – Thor Swanson Blaine, MN 5-14Day # Live Lbs-Oz # LimitsTOTALS# Fish1 219 208 434-10 202 138 130 276-14 9

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