7/31/2014 - YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. — Dave Gullette would be standing in the front row cheering, emailing photos to all his coworkers and otherwise beaming with pride right now to see his son, Michael, and Michael’s teammate, Nathan Martin, in the lead at the 2014 Bassmaster College Series National Championship on Chatuge Reservoir. But Dave Gullette, Michael’s father and biggest fan, died in January, right after Michael qualified for the championship.
“We’re dedicating this tournament to him,” Michael said.
“We came here to win it for him,” Martin said.
Gullette and Martin weighed in 14 pounds, 15 ounces today, putting the University of North Alabama (UNA) team 9 ounces ahead of the second-place Bethel University team of Zach Parker and Matt Roberts.
“I grew up fishing with my dad in Illinois,” said Gullette, who headed south to go to college because UNA was the only school that had both the major he wanted, culinary arts, and a bass fishing team.
And he’s really glad he made that move.
“If it weren’t for this UNA team, I wouldn’t still be in school,” Gullette said. “These last few months have been so tough, but these guys have been there for me. They’ve been really supportive.”
His teammates even gave him a custom rod inscribed with “In memory of Dave Gullette.”
“That rod is always with me, whether I’m using it or not,” Gullette added.
Gullette and Martin still have quite a ways to go before they can proclaim a win, especially with less than a pound of cushion between them and their nearest competitors.
“It’s going to take everything we’ve got and everything we know to bring it home,” Gullette said.
“Today has been so tough,” Martin said. “We only had eight bites all day. I was here last year for the championship, and I got my heart broken. We lost so many fish.”
This time, Martin is determined to have a solid tournament, and he’s off to a good start. “We’re running three different patterns,” Martin said. “Two of them worked today. Tomorrow, it just depends on the weather.”
What’s helped them so far is that they are specifically avoiding what so many other teams are doing — using the wooden rat that last year’s winners, Tom Frink and Jacob Nummy of Auburn University at Montgomery, employed to catch 15 pounds a day here.
As for Friday, they’ve got brushpiles all over the lake that they are planning to hit. “I’ve got 120 more of them waypointed from last year,” Martin said. “You can never have enough brushpiles.”
Gullette and Martin were working with less practice than most of the other anglers. They got into town over the weekend, but they had to come off the water before noon on two of the three practice days because the boat’s motor overheated, and they had to get it repaired. Yet they still did better on practice time than a couple of others. Jake Gipson of the University of Alabama team only arrived the night before the championship began because he was taking the bar exam. And Jacob Wall and Kyle Schneider of University of Oregon arrived mere hours before the tournament began.
“We’ve been up for 38 hours because of flying in late on some messed up travel plans,” said Schneider.
The Oregon anglers got only a 20-minute nap before going on the water. “We did manage to get a fish in the last 10 minutes,” said a red-eyed Schneider. “It was on one of the most delirious casts of my life!”
Wall and Schneider’s one fish weighed 2-3, only slightly higher than the average 2-pound bass brought to the scales on Day 1. About one-third of the field managed to catch a five-fish limit, and 12 teams zeroed.
The biggest fish caught was 6 pounds, 7 ounces — and there were two of them. The leaders, Martin and Gullette, caught one of them, and Garrett Cates and Graham Howard of Kansas State University caught the other. The two teams are tied for Carhartt Big Bass honors, which are awarded to the team that catches the biggest bass of the tournament. Martin and Gullette are also in the lead for Big Bag honors for their 14-15 sack Thursday. If that holds up, the teammates win a $250 Bass Pro Shops gift card.
Day 1 set the stage for the championship, but Day 2 will be a big day for anglers who have a lot of ground to make up. To make the cut for Day 3, the team has to be in the Top 5. The Top 5 teams will compete for the championship trophy, and then the Top 4 teams advance to the 2014 Bassmaster College Series College Bracket, Aug. 2-5, also on Chatuge Reservoir. In that event, the anglers will fish individually, and the winner earns a berth in the 2015 Bassmaster Classic.
Competition resumes Friday at 6:30 a.m. ET at The Ridges Marina & Resort in Hiawassee, Ga., for takeoff. The Day 2 weigh-in will be held at Young Harris College at 3 p.m. ET.
Name # Live # Fish # Live Lbs -Oz
1 Nathan Martin -Michael Gulette University of North Alabama 5 5 14-15 5 5 14-15
2 Zach Parker -Mat Roberts Bethel University 5 5 14- 6 5 5 14- 6
3 Robert Giarla -Bentley Manning Ten Tech University 5 5 13- 7 5 5 13- 7
4 Nick LaDart -Brian Eaton U. of Louisiana Monroe 5 5 12- 3 5 5 12- 3
5 Cody Hahner -Mark Hugus Wisconsin Stevens Point 5 5 12- 5 5 12-
6 Jake Whitaker -Andrew Helms UNC Charlote 5 5 1-2 5 5 1-2
7 Dalton Wilson -Randal Morris Bethel University 5 4 1- 9 5 4 1- 9
8 Shelby Hutchens -Stephen F Austin Stae University 5 4 10-14 5 4 10-14
8 Cody Ross -Dewy Swims Bethel University 5 4 10-14 5 4 10-14
10 Mitch Mitchel -Evan Reid Auburn University 5 5 10- 5 5 5 10- 5
11 Tanner Cooper -Memo Nunez New Mexico State University 5 5 10- 3 5 5 10- 3
11 Michael Corbishley -Ronnie Moore East Carolina University 5 5 10- 3 5 5 10- 3
13 John Hunter -Mike Huff Georgetown College 5 5 9-15 5 5 9-15
13 Bret Preuett -Jackson Blackett Universtiy of La Monroe 5 5 9-15 5 5 9-15
15 Chase Cochran -Ryan Sparks Oregon State University 5 5 9-10 5 5 9-10
16 David Shery -Max Burges Southern Polytechnic State University 4 4 9-10 4 4 9-10
17 Kyle Raymer -Ethan Snyder Eastern Kentucky University 5 5 9- 5 5 9-
18 Timothy Bailey -Jesse Scarfiotti New Mexico State University 5 5 9- 7 5 5 9- 7
19 Justin Atkins -Joseph Marty Mississippi State University 4 4 9- 7 4 4 9- 7
20 Patrick Friedman -Travis Bounds San Jose State 5 4 9- 6 5 4 9- 6
21 Dawson Lenz -Robb Young University of North Alabma 5 5 9- 3 5 5 9- 3
22 Jacob Roberson -Evan Horne University of North Alabma 5 5 8-12 5 5 8-12
23 Patrick Walters -Getys Brannon University of South Carolina 5 5 8- 7 5 5 8- 7
24 Evan Smith -Aaron Sarna Arkansas Tech University 5 5 8- 6 5 5 8- 6
25 Brandon Koon -Blake Welch Bethel University 4 4 8- 0 4 4 8- 0
26 Bo Larkins -Brian Roso University of Georgia 3 3 7-13 3 3 7-13
27 Chris Burgan -Austin Felix University of Minesota 5 5 7- 9 5 5 7- 9
28 Ben Verhoef -Tommy Hebson University of Misouri 3 3 7- 8 3 3 7- 8
29 Austin Neary -Zachary Hicks Western Carolina University 3 3 7- 3 3 7-
29 Zachary Wiggers -Justin Bruno Grand Valley State University 3 3 7- 3 3 7-
31 Jacob Nummy -Tyler Strock AUM 4 4 7- 5 4 4 7- 5
32 Ryan Gilbert -Jacob Clisch University of Wisconsin, Platvile 3 3 7- 3 3 3 7- 3
33 Kenny Johnson -Bradley Rilling University of West Georgia 5 5 7- 0 5 5 7- 0
33 Dan Martin -Tyler McCune Eastern Illinois University 5 5 7- 0 5 5 7- 0
35 Neal Combs -Kevin Lucas Seminole State College 5 5 6-14 5 5 6-14
36 Traper Munn -Dustin Perkins U. of Louisiana Monroe 3 3 6-14 3 3 6-14
37 Ethan McDonald -Ryan Swallows Ten Tech University 4 4 6-12 4 4 6-12
38 Dylan McKee -Quin Fowler Kansa State University 3 3 6-12 3 3 6-12
39 Garrett Cates -Graham Howard Kansa State University 1 1 6- 7 1 1 6- 7
40 Tyler Craig -Joseph Grassi U. of Louisiana Monroe 4 4 6- 0 4 4 6- 0
41 Edward Rude I- Matthew Gibson West Virginia University 3 3 5-15 3 3 5-15
41 Kyle Smith -Shelby Concon University of Florida 3 3 5-15 3 3 5-15
43 Mathew Loetscher -Caleb Ryan Boudreaux Louisiana Tech University 4 4 5-14 4 4 5-14
44 Charles Conger -Demetrius Thomas Abraham Baldwin Ag Coleg 5 5 5-12 5 5 5-12
45 Justin Walton -Brian Redd University of West Georgia 2 2 5-12 2 2 5-12
46 Austyn Fowler -Zach Hurst Tarleton State University 4 4 5- 9 4 4 5- 9
47 Bryan Carol -Alan Horwatt Clemson University 3 3 5- 8 3 3 5- 8
48 Jay Robertson -Brent Davis Southeastern Louisiana University 3 3 5- 3 3 3 5- 3
49 Scot Cain -Jacob Argo UAB 3 3 5- 0 3 3 5- 0
50 Thomas Oltorik I- Aaron Comeens Daytona State College 2 2 4-1 2 2 4-1
51 Andrew Warbington -Mark Grant University of West Alabama 3 3 4-10 3 3 4-10
52 Cody Lincoln -Jason Hawksford Wisconsin, Stevns Point 2 2 4- 2 2 4-
53 Lance Freeman -Seth Brock Murray State University 3 3 3-13 3 3 3-13
54 Kyle Oliver -Hunter McKamey University of Central Florida 2 2 3-12 2 2 3-12
55 Justin Cooper -John Ledet Northwestern State University 2 2 3-10 2 2 3-10
56 John B Davis -Payton McGinnis University of Alabama 2 2 3- 7 2 2 3- 7
56 Wesley Griner -Will Myrick Darton State College 2 2 3- 7 2 2 3- 7
58 John Nolan -Tyler Collins University of West Georgia 2 2 3- 2 2 3-
59 Matt Feiten -Brian Kirt Wisconsin, Stevens Point 2 2 3- 2 2 2 3- 2
59 Trent Newman -Jacob Sepeda Dallas Baptist University 2 2 3- 2 2 2 3- 2
61 Adam Neil -Logan Shaddix University of Alabama 2 2 3- 0 2 2 3- 0
62 Michael Skat -Phillip Heyde Seminole State College 2 2 2- 9 2 2 2- 9
63 Tyler Wadzinski -Mat Beeler U. of Tennessee 2 2 2- 6 2 2 2- 6
64 Jake Gipson -Charlie Hurst University of Alabama 2 2 2- 3 2 2 2- 3
65 Kyle Schneider -Jacob Wall U. of Oregon 1 1 2- 3 1 1 2- 3
66 Bryce Wegman -Carlos Thomas Illinois State University 1 1 1-5 1 1 1-5
67 Hayden Tiley -Alex Clayton Northeast Alabma Comunity Coleg1 1 1-3 1 1 1-3
68 Luke Ferguson -Wesley Wise Polk State College 1 1 1- 1 1 1-
69 Zackery Hines -Cameron Burger Dallas Baptist University 1 1 1-0 1 1 1-0
69 Tyler Rivet -Jess Robertson Nicholls State University 1 1 1-0 1 1 1-0
71 Erik Strickler -Brandon Hua Oregon State University 1 1 1- 5 1 1 1- 5
72 Ben Kroeger -University of Nebraska -Omaha 1 1 1- 4 1 1 1- 4
73 Trey Clayton -Timothy Ward Auburn University 0 0 0- 0 0 0-
73 Matt Diaz -Andrew Sjostrom CSU Monterey Bay 0 0 0- 0 0 0-
73 Lance Geren -Robbie More UT Chattanooga 0 0 0- 0 0 0-
73 Jackson Grabeel -Joseph Reilly Western Illinois University 0 0 0- 0 0 0-
73 Brandon Greco -Austin Watkins Louisiana Tech University 0 0 0- 0 0 0-
73 Alex Klein -Jef Karnthong Chico State 0 0 0- 0 0 0-
73 Andrew Loberg -Michael Braswell Chico State 0 0 0- 0 0 0-
73 Hunter Louden -Matthew Palmer Bethel University 0 0 0- 0 0 0-
73 John Maner -Ryan Darrcott University of North Alabama 0 0 0- 0 0 0-
73 Adam McAndrews -Roberto Munoz San Jose State 0 0 0- 0 0 0-
73 Taylor Minick -Landon Tucker Valdosta State University 0 0 0- 0 0 0-
73 John Tilbury -Jeremy Rainbolt Louisiana Delta Community College 0 0 0- 0 0 0-
Name City,Stae Lbs-Oz
1 Nathn Martin Tuscumbia, AL 6- 7
1 Garet Cates Overland Park, KS 6- 7
BIG BAS
TOALS
Day # Live Lbs-Oz # Limts
# Fish
1 246 24 483- 9 27
2 0 0 0- 0