PITTSBURGH – With the 35th annual Bassmaster Classic quickly approaching, the Junior Bassmaster World Championship provides an opportunity for young anglers to shine while the pros take a back seat – literally.
Earlier today, junior anglers in two age groups were paired with a Classic competitor. They launched from John P. Murtha Park in Kittanning and fished the Allegheny River. And at the end of competition, Scott Gettings, 17, of West Warwick, R.I., and 14-year-old Joey Nania of Liberty Lake, Wash., overcame tough conditions to win the tournament in their respective age group.
Gettings, in the 15 -18 age group, was paired with Arkansas' Jimmy Mize while Nania, in the 11-14 age group, was paired with 2001 Classic champ Kevin VanDam.
Nania won the tournament with a total weight of 1 pound, 4 ounces, weighing in one fish. On a day when the conditions were extremely tough, Nania said his never-give-up mentality helped him clinch the win.
"I caught that fish in the last five minutes before I had to check in," Nania said. "I was so happy when I caught it that I started screaming and then Kevin joined in screaming. It was amazing."
Nania's fishing partner appeared proud following the competition.
"Joey did a phenomenal job," VanDam said. "He came in with a game plan and he fished extremely efficiently."
Nania's lone fish struck a Strike King purple spinnerbait. Plus, the 1 pound, 4 ounce bass was good enough for Big Bass honors and an extra $1,000. In the 15 -18 age division, Anthony Stence of Taylorsville, Utah, was the Big Bass winner with a 1 pound, 9 ounce bass.
Meanwhile, Gettings was the only angler in the field to catch more than one bass. His two bass weighed in at 2 pounds, 13 ounces. He caught both on a black and blue 4-inch Senko.
The two winners each receive a $5,000 scholarship in addition to a Triton boat with a Mercury motor valued at $8,000 and a family trip to Walt Disney World in Central Florida.
"I'm so psyched to win," Gettings said. "The scholarship comes in handy because I will be attending the New England Institute of Technology next year."
Rounding out the top five in the 15-18 age group were Stence; Sterling Pfundheller of Phoenix; Clear Spring, Maryland's Jessey Flowers; and Daniel Suttles of Cambridge City, Ind.
In the 11-14 age group, Scott Maestre of Palm City, Fla., took second place followed by Frederica, Delaware's Jacob Coverdale. Adam Nelson of Stonewood, W. Va. and Dubuque, Iowa's Brandon Brimeyer tied for fourth place. Those anglers also receive scholarship money.
2005 Bassmaster Junior Championship
July 25
Pittsburgh, Pa.
Standings
Age 11 -14
Name City # of bass Weight
1. Joey Nania Liberty Lake, Wash. 1 1-4
2. Scott Maestre Palm City, Fla. 1 1-0
3. Jacob Coverdale Frederica, Del. 1 0-15
4. Adam Nelson Stonewood, W. Va.1 1 0-13
4. Brandon Brimeyer Dubuque, Iowa 1 0-13
6. Adam Grube Rimersburg, Pa. 1 0-12
7. Christopher Baksay Monroe, Conn. 0 0
7. Ben Cayer Bethel, Vt. 0 0 0
7. Chucky Culley Hiddenite, NC 0 0
7. Cody Blackstone Choctaw, Okla. 0 0
7. David MacInnis Jackson's Point, 0 0
Ontario, Canada 0 0
7. Jessica Abernathy Estacada, Ore. 0 0
7. Chris Charpentier Chepachet, RI 0 0
7. Russell Minter Summerville, S.C. 0 0
7. Matt Peed Tyndall, S.D. 0 0
7. David Kaldenberg Georgetown, Tenn. 0 0
7. Zach Alexander Salt Lake City, Utah 0 0
7. Billy Arens Round Hill, Va. 0 0
7. Heather Holtman Merrill, Wis. 0 0
7. Bradley Roy Lancaster, Ky. 0 0
7. Henry Foster Prattville, Ala. 0 0
7. Owen Wolfe Phoenix, Ariz. 0 0
7. Angelo Ambrosino Oakley, Calif. 0 0
7. Dylan Ralph Thornton, Colo. 0 0
7. Graylon Wright Williamsport, Md. 0 0
7. Dylan Peppers Good Hope, Ga. 0 0
7. Sam Chavez Castleford, Idaho 0 0
7. Nick Wright Canton, Ill. 0 0 0
7. Spencer WorthingtonPershing, Ind. 0 0
7. Cale Renollet Newton, Kan. 0 0
7. Nathan King Dayton, Maine 0 0
7. Rachel Alberto S. Walpole, Mass. 0 0
7. Cole Hutchins Commerce Twp, Mich.0 0
7. Dave Saterbak Maple Grove, Minn. 0 0
7. Grant Galloway Houlka, Miss. 0 0
7. Zachary Taylor Pleasant Hill, Mo. 0 0
7. Ryan Walsh Derry, N.H. 0 0
7. Patrick Infurna Fair Haven, Vt. 0 0
7. Cole Bingham Aztec, N.M. 0 0
7. Michael Dupree Buffalo, N.Y. 0 0
Purolator Big Bass
Joey Nania Liberty Lake, Wash. 1-4
Age 15-18
Name City # of bass Weight
1. Scott Gettings West Warwick, R.I 2 2-13
2. Anthony Stence Taylorsville, Utah 1 1-9
3. Sterling Pfundheller Phoenix, Ariz. 1 1-6
4. Jessey Flowers Clear Spring, Md. 1 1-1
5. Daniel Suttles Cambridge City, Ind.1 1 0-15
6. Brittany Brown Brandon, S.D. 1 0-12
6. Jon Puhalski II Winsted. Conn. 1 0-12
8. EJ King Aztec, N.M 1 0-11
8. Derek Jacobson Annandale, Minn. 1 0-11
10. James Riley Anthony Meridian, Ind. 0 0
10. Shawn Britton Marshall, Va. 0 0
10. Jeremy Kelley Laurel, Miss. 0 0
10. Michael HorstmeyerEllisville, Mo. 0 0
10. Rex Rodanas Bedford, N.H. 0 0
10. Zach Murphy Mantu, N.J. 0 0
10. Zach Seal Eldred, Pa. 0 0 0
10. Spenser Smith Pinehurst, N.C. 0 0
10. Matt Andersen Greenfield, Ohio 0 0
10. Ryan Creel Shawnee, Okla. 0 0
10. Blake Paulsen Mcminnville, Ore. 0 0
10. Chad Dolby Lucinda, R.I. 0 0
10. Dane Odom Irmo, S.C. 0 0 0
10. Mikey Sosebee Cleveland, Tenn. 0 0
10. Jason Hughes Argyle, Texas 0 0
10. Taylor Stewart Bulverde, Texas 0 0
10. Patrick 'PJ' MarchandColchester, Vt. 0 0
10. Scott Hodgkinson Spokane, Wash. 0 0
10. Jacob Jenkins Madison, Wis. 0 0
10. Nathaniel Bennett La Plata, Md. 0 0
10. Drew Forster Kalispell, Mont. 0 0
10. Shea W. Lindale Milford, Del. 0 0
10. Codie A. Nettles Shady Spring, W. Va. 0 0
10. Kyle Heels Barrie, Ohio 0 0
10. Logan Pearson Centre, Ala. 0 0
10. Tim Nunez Canyon Lake, Calif. 0 0
10. AJ Haschke Littleton, Colo. 0 0
10. Colby Cotterill Lakeland, Fla. 0 0
10. Franklin Newkirk Shady Dale, Ga. 0 0
10. Mike Reed Pekin, Ill. 0 0 0
10. Ryan Roth Independence, Iowa 0 0
10. Matt Newby Augusta, Kan. 0 0
10. Stewart Weber Louisville, Ky. 0 0
10. Darren Villani Lewiston, Maine 0 0
10. Travis Sanders Oakland, Md. 0 0
10. Devin Demers Woonsocket, R.I 0 0
10. Alex Minito Livonia, Mich. 0 0
Purolator Big Bass
Anthony Stence Taylorsville, Utah 1-9