CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. — Sam Stone and Evan Coleman of Texas State University managed only 8 pounds, 5 ounces on Day 2 of the 2016 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 Bassmaster College Classic Bracket, Aug. 4-6, on Kentucky Lake in Tennessee. The best angler in that head-to-head competition earns a berth in the 2017 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.
STANDINGS BOATER DAY 2
Green River Lake - Campbellsville, KY
7/28/2016 - 7/30/2016
Bassmaster College Series National Championship
Today's Activity
# Fish Lbs - Oz
Accumulative
Name # Live # Fish # Live Lbs - Oz
1 Sam Stone - Evan Coleman Texas State University 3 3 8- 5 8 8 29- 2
2 Hunter Louden - Bethel University 1 1 4-13 6 5 25- 3
3 Kyle Alsop - Taylor Bivins Kansas State University 3 3 11- 1 8 8 25- 0
4 Austin Handley - Caleb Wozniak Auburn University 5 5 17- 2 9 9 24-12
5 Brian Pahl - John Garrett Bethel University 4 4 5- 5 9 9 22- 9
6 Thomas Oltorik III - James Oltorik Daytona State College 3 3 4-12 8 8 20- 2
7 KJ Queen - Evan Owrey Bethel University 2 2 7- 9 5 5 19- 1
8 Tyler Rivet - Jess Robertson Nicholls State University 2 2 10-12 7 7 18-10
9 Luis McMurphy - MJ Vihnanek U. of South Alabama 5 2 17- 2 5 2 17- 2
10 JP Kimbrough - Jared Rascoe LSU Shreveport 5 5 7-12 10 10 17- 1
11 Maurice Hudson - Sean Cummins Penn State University 0 0 0- 0 5 5 16- 8
12 Levi Baker - Bayne Miller U. of North Georgia 2 2 4- 8 6 6 16- 0
13 Brandon Simoneaux - Colby Ogden Lamar University 5 3 8-10 9 7 15- 7
14 Josh Cannon - Alex Frazier Western Carolina University 5 5 9- 4 8 8 14-15
15 Andrew Mlotek - Calvin Vang U. of Wisconsin Whitewater 3 3 5-13 7 6 14- 8
16 Zeke Gossett - Hayden Bartee Faulkner University 5 5 8- 5 6 6 14- 7
17 Chayse Freeman - Ryan Shields Wallace State Comm College 3 3 7-12 8 8 13-12
18 Phillip Germagliotti - Shane Campbell McKendree University 1 1 1- 1 5 3 13- 7
19 Brandon Koon - Kenneth Parks UT Martin 0 0 0- 0 5 5 13- 6
20 Mitch Swanson - Thor Swanson Bemidji State University 3 3 10-11 4 4 13- 4
21 Patrick Walters - Brian Sweeney University of South Carolina 4 3 5-15 9 8 12-13
22 Trent Newman - Nathan Wood Dallas Baptist University 5 5 7- 3 10 10 12-11
23 Lance Freeman - Chandler Christian Murray State University 2 1 7-13 4 3 11-13
24 Bradley Fleming - Clark Mannas Texas A&M University 5 5 6-10 10 10 11-13
25 Sam Glenn - Cameron Baker UNC Charlotte 4 3 7-15 6 5 11- 8
26 Justin Singleton - Ryan Stewart Georgia College 5 5 5-12 8 8 11- 5
27 Cole Burdeshaw - Travis Culbreth Auburn University 2 2 2-13 7 7 10-13
28 Reed Foster - Zackery Hines Dallas Baptist University 2 2 4- 8 5 5 10-13
29 Jacob Miller - Kyle Waller Ohio State University 1 1 2- 4 5 5 10-10
30 Jordan Wise - Chris Phinney East Carolina University 2 2 4- 8 6 6 10- 7
31 Ronnie Gray - Ladd Owens Arkansas Tech University 1 1 4- 7 3 3 10- 3
32 Ryan Hayse - Jake Staley U. of North Alabama 0 0 0- 0 5 4 9- 5
33 Zach Ziober - Dakota Ebare Tarleton State University 3 3 3- 4 6 6 8-11
34 Austin Chapman - Curtis Lilly McKendree University 3 3 2-13 8 8 8- 7
35 Travis Harriman - Chaz Miller University of Arkansas 2 2 4-13 5 4 8- 3
36 Sheldon Rogge - Parker Davis Kansas State University 1 1 4- 5 4 4 8- 2
37 Brennan Fertig - Evan Cook Texas A&M University 3 3 6- 7 4 4 7-13
38 John Ledet - Justin Cooper Northwestern State University 2 2 2- 8 7 7 7-11
39 Carson Orellana - Strayer University 0 0 0- 0 3 3 7- 8
40 Justin St Onge - Ryan McLaughlin Haywood Community College 3 3 4-14 5 5 7- 6
41 Josh Bensema - Tyler Anderson Texas A&M University 0 0 0- 0 5 5 7- 3
42 Caiden Sinclair - Hunter Gibson University of Alabama 1 1 0-13 6 6 7- 3
43 Josh Oliver - Chase Chastain Jacksonville State University 0 0 0- 0 3 3 6-12
44 Austin Niggli - Derrik Starrett McKendree University 0 0 0- 0 1 1 6-11
45 Tyler Stewart - Nick Joiner La Monroe 0 0 0- 0 5 5 6- 5
46 Zachary Castano - Aaron Sollenberger UNC Charlotte 0 0 0- 0 2 2 6- 4
47 Charlie Sterrett - Nicholas Schneider University of Illinois 3 3 3-13 4 4 6- 1
48 John Davis - Payton McGinnis University of Alabama 2 2 3- 2 4 3 6- 0
49 Tyler Woolcott - Cody Wilson Emby-Riddle Aeronoautical University 1 1 1- 7 2 2 5-10
50 Jesse Hill - Cody Whisenhunt Jefferson State Community College 3 3 5- 9 3 3 5- 9
51 Garrett Paquette - Zak Fadden Schoolcraft College 0 0 0- 0 3 3 5- 1
52 Matthew Benoits - Matthew Leblanc Nicholls State 1 1 1- 2 2 1 5- 1
53 Chris Blanchette - Dylan Allison University of South Carolina 0 0 0- 0 4 4 4-14
54 Aaron Belgard - Logan Laprarie Northwestern State University 1 1 1- 3 3 3 4- 9
55 Hunter Whitman - Alec Lower NC State University 3 3 3- 6 4 4 4- 6
56 Gunner Durrett - Austin Watkins LA Tech 2 2 3- 5 3 3 4- 4
57 Tanner Mort - Austin Turpin University of Idaho 0 0 0- 0 3 3 4- 3
58 Josh Worth - Kennedy Kinkade Colorado Mesa University 0 0 0- 0 2 2 4- 3
59 Zach Hurst - Austyn Fowler Tarleton State University 0 0 0- 0 1 1 4- 1
60 Shawn Callahan - Tom Brewbaker University of South Carolina 1 1 2-10 2 2 3-14
61 Steve Nebel - Jared Mataczynski U. of Wisconsin Whitewater 2 2 2-13 3 2 3-13
62 Anderson Aldag - Lee Mattox University of Alabama 0 0 0- 0 3 3 3-12
63 Nicholas Kirkton - Seth Becker Illinois State University 0 0 0- 0 4 3 3-10
64 John Authement - Cameron Naquin Nicholls State 1 1 0-15 4 3 3- 4
65 Ty Cox - Jake Houston Itawamba Community College 2 2 1-14 3 3 3- 1
66 Michael Chambliss - Turner Carlisle Columbus State University 1 1 1- 0 2 2 2-15
67 Shane Haas - Reid Hammil University of Florida 0 0 0- 0 2 2 2- 8
68 Tanner Malone - Kyle Alford Mississippi State University 0 0 0- 0 2 2 2- 0
69 Austin Butler - Ryan Kirkpatrick Murray State University 0 0 0- 0 1 1 1-14
70 Travis Bounds - Andrew Loberg Chico State 0 0 0- 0 2 2 1-12
71 Chase Johnson - Eric Leifheit East Carolina University 0 0 0- 0 1 1 1- 9
72 Jacob Wall - University of Oregon 1 1 1- 8 1 1 1- 8
73 Zach Clisch - Adam Neu U. of Wisconsin Platteville 0 0 0- 0 1 1 1- 6
74 Russ Johnson - Hunter Schrock Itawamba Community College 0 0 0- 0 1 1 1- 3
75 Rudy Directo - Humboldt State 0 0 0- 0 1 1 1- 1
75 Ben Stone - Collin Smith Lander University 1 1 1- 1 1 1 1- 1
77 Hunter McKamey - Kyle Oliver U. of Central Florida 1 1 1- 0 1 1 1- 0
77 Zander Monk - Kolton Hawks UNC Charlotte 1 1 1- 0 1 1 1- 0
77 Stetson Overton - Justin Seeton Tarleton State University 0 0 0- 0 1 1 1- 0
80 JC Adams - Darius Williams University of West Georgia 0 0 0- 0 1 1 0-15
80 Chad Matthews - Austin Wingard Auburn University 0 0 0- 0 1 1 0-15
82 Dylan Brown - Hunter Franklin U. of South Alabama 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
82 Garrett Cates - Tyler Nekolny Kansas State University 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
82 Adam Deakin - Alex Stuart Colorado State University 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
82 Adam Forester - Scott McClellan LA Tech 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
82 Marcus Kliebert - Francis Robichaux Nicholls State 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
82 Travis McGuire - Layne Bynum Texas Tech University 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
82 Dan Scott - U. of Wisconsin Stevens Point 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
82 Gunnar Stanton - Northern Arizona University 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
Name City,State Lbs-Oz
BIG BASS
Day
1 Kyle Alsop - Taylor Bivins Overland Park, KS 6-13
2 Luis McMurphy - MJ VihnanekMobile, AL 5-14
2 Mitch Swanson - Thor Swanson Blaine, MN 5-14
Day # Live Lbs-Oz # Limits
TOTALS
# Fish
1 219 208 434-10 20
2 138 130 276-14 9