ANDERSON, S.C. — It was awfully lonely on the boat for Hampton Shull, but the Lander University junior used solitude to his advantage and sacked up a five-bass limit of 17 pounds that leads Day 1 of the Bassmaster College National Championship tournament at Lake Hartwell.
Shull, who has fished solo all year, made his mark back in May at the Bassmaster College Series at Sam Rayburn Reservoir where he caught the event’s biggest bass — a 9-8. Shull heads into Day 2 with a 10-ounce lead over Parker Guy and Tyler Campbell of Emmanuel College.
Competing against a field mostly comprising two-angler teams was no concern for Shull. In fact, it likely contributed to his overall success.
“Being alone didn’t bother me,” Shull said. “It allowed me to fish freely without having to consider other opinions.”
Shull split his time between shallow fish and offshore fish that were in 10 to 50 feet. Hartwell has a mix of natural and man-made structure and Shull fished some of everything.
“It was about 50/50 between shallow and deep fish, but I think the deep bite is (most promising) for a three-day tournament,” Shull said.
After bagging a limit by 12:30 p.m., Shull finished his weight by about 2 o’clock. His biggest fish, a 4-plus-pounder, bit mid-morning and put Shull through the wringer.
“When I was trying to net my biggest one, the net got tangled up in my Minn Kota Raptor switch and I had to reach down and grab the fish with my hand,” he said. “It got dramatic, and the fight stretched out about 2 minutes.
“I didn’t panic because I really don’t use a net unless I’m tournament fishing, so I just treated it like a practice day.”
Moreover, his big-bass achievement at Sam Rayburn gave Shull the confidence to manage a stressful moment.
“Knowing that I could do that calmed my nerves,” he said.
Shull said he fished throughout much of the lake and found each of his eight keepers on different spots.
“I think it had to do with it being August and fish are tough to catch,” he said. “It was just junk fishing all day.
“I was just fishing by the seat of my pants and trusting my gut to fish what looked good.”
Shull fished a mix of baits and caught two of his limit fish on a worm and three on a topwater. As for Day 2, he’s keeping an open mind and trusting the game plan that got him to the top of the leaderboard.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do tomorrow,” Shull said. “I’ll be listening to my gut and not getting locked in on any one thing.”
Guy and Campbell are in second place with 16-6. Blake Milligan and Carson Maddux of Auburn University are in third place with 15-11. Andrew Oswalt and Evan Mabrey of University of Montevallo are in the lead for Big Bass honors with their 5-15.
Friday’s takeoff is scheduled for 6:30 a.m. ET at Green Pond Landing and Event Center. The weigh-in will be held at the same location at 2:30 p.m.
2024 Bassmaster College National Championship 8/22-8/24
(BOATER) Standings Day 1
Angler Club/School Pts
1. Hampton Shull - Lander University 250
Day 1: 5 17-00 Total: 5 17-00
2. Parker Guy - Tyler Campbell Emmanuel College 249
Day 1: 5 16-06 Total: 5 16-06
3. Blake Milligan - Carson Maddux Auburn University 248
Day 1: 5 15-11 Total: 5 15-11
4. Peyton Sorrow - Garrett Ring University of Montevallo 247
Day 1: 5 15-10 Total: 5 15-10
5. Merrick Diaz - Cade Hayford Campbellsville University 246
Day 1: 5 15-02 Total: 5 15-02
6. Drake Hemby - Ewing Minor Carson-Newman University 245
Day 1: 5 14-12 Total: 5 14-12
7. Dylan Akins - Chase Carey Emmanuel College 244
Day 1: 5 14-11 Total: 5 14-11
8. Miles Smith - Levi Thibodaux LSU Shreveport 243
Day 1: 5 14-07 Total: 5 14-07
9. Brantley Anders - Reece Keeney Kentucky Christian University 242
Day 1: 5 14-05 Total: 5 14-05
10. Nathan Reynolds - Banks Shaw University of North Alabama 241
Day 1: 5 13-14 Total: 5 13-14
11. Lane Clark - Tallis Morrison Erskine College 240
Day 1: 5 13-11 Total: 5 13-11
12. Andrew Oswalt - Evan Mabrey University of Montevallo 239
Day 1: 5 13-08 Total: 5 13-08
12. Dalton Phelps - Gannon Stork Wabash Valley College 239
Day 1: 5 13-08 Total: 5 13-08
14. Robert Miller - John Michael Ortman Emmanuel College 237
Day 1: 5 13-04 Total: 5 13-04
15. Peyton Harris - Dalton Head University of Montevallo 236
Day 1: 5 13-01 Total: 5 13-01
16. Lane Stephens - Ethan Fields Mckendree University 235
Day 1: 5 13-00 Total: 5 13-00
17. Slade Davis - Trace Antunes III University Of Montevallo 234
Day 1: 5 12-12 Total: 5 12-12
17. Anderson Jones - Lander University 234
Day 1: 5 12-12 Total: 5 12-12
19. Braylon Eggerding - Lucas Washburn Adrian College 232
Day 1: 5 12-09 Total: 5 12-09
20. Dillon Robertshaw - Robert Hunt Missouri State University 231
Day 1: 5 12-08 Total: 5 12-08
21. Jared West - Gus McLarry Texas A&M Commerce Fishing Club 230
Day 1: 5 12-07 Total: 5 12-07
22. Garrett Smith - Andrew Blanton Lander University 229
Day 1: 5 12-06 Total: 5 12-06
23. Hunter Odom - Brenton Godwin University of Montevallo 228
Day 1: 5 12-01 Total: 5 12-01
24. Luke Davis - Chance Schwartz University of Montevallo 227
Day 1: 5 12-00 Total: 5 12-00
25. Bryson O' Steen - Seth Jones Florida Gateway College 226
Day 1: 5 12-00 Total: 5 12-00
26. James Willoughby - Phillip Herring University of Montevallo 225
Day 1: 5 11-13 Total: 5 11-13
27. Carter Nutt - Dylan Nutt University of North Alabama 224
Day 1: 5 11-09 Total: 5 11-09
28. Dylan May - Evan Newell Carson-Newman University 223
Day 1: 5 11-08 Total: 5 11-08
28. Andrew Rickman - Ty Manterola Dallas Baptist University 223
Day 1: 5 11-08 Total: 5 11-08
30. Caden Pearson - Nathan Kallstrand Wabash Valley College 221
Day 1: 5 11-05 Total: 5 11-05
31. Brayden Nichols - William Tew LSU Shreveport 220
Day 1: 5 11-04 Total: 5 11-04
32. Tyler Combes - James Gillis Clarkson University 219
Day 1: 5 11-03 Total: 5 11-03
33. Brooks Anderson - Max Heaton Emmanuel College 218
Day 1: 5 11-02 Total: 5 11-02
34. Aiden Clark - Jackson Kulijof Murray State University 217
Day 1: 5 11-01 Total: 5 11-01
34. Nicholas Dellaporta - Drew Pitts Carson-Newman University 217
Day 1: 5 11-01 Total: 5 11-01
34. Trevor Easter - Clayton Easter Tarleton State University 217
Day 1: 5 11-01 Total: 5 11-01
34. Harmon Marien - Maxwell Trotter Mckendree University 217
Day 1: 5 11-01 Total: 5 11-01
38. Hunter Keller - Garrett Christy Catawba Valley Community College 213
Day 1: 5 10-12 Total: 5 10-12
39. Cole Moulton - Kaleb Brown Lander University 212
Day 1: 5 10-11 Total: 5 10-11
40. Kai Barnett - Parker Welch Mckendree University 211
Day 1: 5 10-09 Total: 5 10-09
41. Cade Lipham - Caleb Coleman Drury University 210
Day 1: 5 10-08 Total: 5 10-08
42. Michael Avery - Peyton Dunn Emmanuel College 209
Day 1: 5 10-07 Total: 5 10-07
43. Wyatt Pearman - Ridge Rutledge Campbellsville University 208
Day 1: 5 10-07 Total: 5 10-07
44. Eli Jaime - Jack Hay Southwestern Michigan College 207
Day 1: 5 10-06 Total: 5 10-06
45. Landon Robbins - Will Eriksson University of Tennessee 206
Day 1: 5 10-05 Total: 5 10-05
46. Cameron Yates - Harrison McCall Lander University 205
Day 1: 5 10-04 Total: 5 10-04
47. Tanner Hadden - Caleb Hudson University of South Carolina - U 204
Day 1: 5 10-03 Total: 5 10-03
47. Will Harris - Cole Rankin Carson-Newman University 204
Day 1: 5 10-03 Total: 5 10-03
47. Peyton Rose - Brogan Gregg Wabash Valley College 204
Day 1: 5 10-03 Total: 5 10-03
50. Evan Fields - Noah Dabney Campbellsville University 201
Day 1: 5 10-02 Total: 5 10-02
51. Preston Kolisek - Smith McGregor University of North Alabama 200
Day 1: 4 10-02 Total: 4 10-02
52. Lawson Blake - Bailey Mckinney Marshall University 199
Day 1: 5 10-01 Total: 5 10-01
52. Connor Dunn - Cade Johnson Texas A&M University 199
Day 1: 5 10-01 Total: 5 10-01
52. Blair Erickson - Jackson Pontius University of Montevallo 199
Day 1: 5 10-01 Total: 5 10-01
52. Hunter Hamilton - Tyler Morris LSU Shreveport 199
Day 1: 5 10-01 Total: 5 10-01
56. Hunter Barrow - Caleb Dugger King University 195
Day 1: 5 10-01 Total: 5 10-01
57. Brady Metzger - Mason Bohland Purdue University 194
Day 1: 5 10-00 Total: 5 10-00
58. Brendan Vinton - Jacob Vanscoik Catawba Valley Community College 193
Day 1: 5 10-00 Total: 5 10-00
59. Hunter Sandschafer - Blake Beckmann Wabash Valley College 192
Day 1: 5 09-15 Total: 5 09-15
60. Alex Standerfer - Tyler Gunter Catawba Valley Community College 191
Day 1: 5 09-14 Total: 5 09-14
61. Lake Norsworthy - Calup Williams Blue Mountain Christian Universi 190
Day 1: 5 09-13 Total: 5 09-13
62. Jason Qualich - Jack Stephens Mckendree University 189
Day 1: 5 09-11 Total: 5 09-11
63. Dalton Mollenkopf - Derek Rodriguez Jr. Adrian College 188
Day 1: 5 09-09 Total: 5 09-09
63. Nick Owens - Quade Lobo Adrian College 188
Day 1: 5 09-09 Total: 5 09-09
65. Adrian Urso - Corbin Templon Murray State University 186
Day 1: 5 09-08 Total: 5 09-08
66. Hayden Marbut - Auburn University 185
Day 1: 5 09-07 Total: 5 09-07
67. Jackson Paden - Joey Bissing University of Tennessee 184
Day 1: 5 09-07 Total: 5 09-07
68. Logan East - Conner Giles Bryan College 183
Day 1: 5 09-06 Total: 5 09-06
68. Hunter Fillmore - Dylan Fogarty Bethel University 183
Day 1: 5 09-06 Total: 5 09-06
68. Andrew Ready - Trey Garrett Southeastern University 183
Day 1: 5 09-06 Total: 5 09-06
68. Andrew Turner - Stevie Mills Carson-Newman University 183
Day 1: 5 09-06 Total: 5 09-06
72. Riley Faulkner - Szymon Piton Carson-Newman University 179
Day 1: 5 09-04 Total: 5 09-04
72. Luke Wenger - Braxon Hightower Dallas Baptist University 179
Day 1: 5 09-04 Total: 5 09-04
74. Grant Dohle - Jake Mantovani Missouri State University 177
Day 1: 5 09-03 Total: 5 09-03
74. Hayden Gaddis - Ben Cully Carson-Newman University 177
Day 1: 5 09-03 Total: 5 09-03
74. Logan Plueger - Charlie Wright University of Montevallo 177
Day 1: 5 09-03 Total: 5 09-03
77. Kane Weekley - Connor Koch Southeastern University 174
Day 1: 5 09-02 Total: 5 09-02
78. Bryant Martin - Luke Batts LSU Shreveport 173
Day 1: 5 09-01 Total: 5 09-01
79. Brayden Stoker - Tucker Kendall Tarleton State University 172
Day 1: 4 09-01 Total: 4 09-01
80. Zion Dunaway - Casey Cornelius Purdue University 171
Day 1: 5 09-00 Total: 5 09-00
81. Cy Lambert - Austin King University of North Alabama 170
Day 1: 4 09-00 Total: 4 09-00
81. Avery Padgett - Kasen Pemberton Troy University 170
Day 1: 4 09-00 Total: 4 09-00
83. Bryce Balentine - Giancarlo Russo Florida Gateway College 168
Day 1: 5 08-15 Total: 5 08-15
83. Blake Wheat - Zachary Helton Carson-Newman University 168
Day 1: 5 08-15 Total: 5 08-15
85. Hudson Choquette - Brooks Parker University of Montevallo 166
Day 1: 5 08-15 Total: 5 08-15
86. Tripp Berlinsky - Bryce Dimauro Bryan College 165
Day 1: 5 08-14 Total: 5 08-14
86. Aaron Jagdfeld - Elliot Wielgopolski Adrian College 165
Day 1: 5 08-14 Total: 5 08-14
88. Cody Monlezun - Caden Denny Texas A&M University 163
Day 1: 5 08-13 Total: 5 08-13
89. Parker Lambert - Aaron Shumaker Lander University 162
Day 1: 5 08-12 Total: 5 08-12
90. Hagan Marlin - Chris Fallon University of Montevallo 161
Day 1: 5 08-11 Total: 5 08-11
91. Logan Greeno - Matthew Nichols University of Nebraska - Lincoln 160
Day 1: 5 08-09 Total: 5 08-09
91. Clay Henderson - Brant Rowland Drury University 160
Day 1: 5 08-09 Total: 5 08-09
91. Xander Patton - Stephen Brooks Emmanuel College 160
Day 1: 5 08-09 Total: 5 08-09
94. Jerry Brumbaugh Jr. - Brady Pinwar Adrian College 157
Day 1: 5 08-08 Total: 5 08-08
95. Tyler Leachman - Mark Bixler Murray State University 156
Day 1: 5 08-07 Total: 5 08-07
95. Mitch Straffon - Owen Januszewski Adrian College 156
Day 1: 5 08-07 Total: 5 08-07
97. Emery Burnett - Drake Axon Georgia Southern University 154
Day 1: 5 08-07 Total: 5 08-07
98. Hunter Russell - Benny Blank Wabash Valley College 153
Day 1: 5 08-06 Total: 5 08-06
99. Hayden Short - Kentucky Christian University 152
Day 1: 5 08-05 Total: 5 08-05
99. Aric Szambelan - Alex Wood Missouri State University 152
Day 1: 5 08-05 Total: 5 08-05
101. TJ Edwards Jr - Sawyer Brady Blue Mountain Christian Universi 150
Day 1: 5 08-04 Total: 5 08-04
101. Elijah Kelley - Chris Baker Kentucky Christian University 150
Day 1: 5 08-04 Total: 5 08-04
103. Trevor Johnston - Ashton Hehr Texas A&M University 148
Day 1: 5 08-03 Total: 5 08-03
104. Chase Milholen - Koltyn Harbin Bethel University 147
Day 1: 5 08-02 Total: 5 08-02
104. Corey Morris - Brayden Mercer East Texas Baptist University 147
Day 1: 5 08-02 Total: 5 08-02
106. Jared Hubbard - Riley Hendricks Lander University 145
Day 1: 5 08-01 Total: 5 08-01
107. Kobe Thompson - Cole Carr Adrian College 144
Day 1: 5 08-01 Total: 5 08-01
108. Nick Seitz - Paxton Giem Adrian College 143
Day 1: 5 08-00 Total: 5 08-00
109. Harrison Heins - Hunter Slone Tennessee Tech University 142
Day 1: 5 07-15 Total: 5 07-15
109. Kade Hillestad - John Kyle Pearce University of Louisiana Monroe 142
Day 1: 5 07-15 Total: 5 07-15
111. Clay Taylor - Lander University 140
Day 1: 4 07-15 Total: 4 07-15
112. Tyler Cory - Nick Dumke University of Montevallo 139
Day 1: 5 07-12 Total: 5 07-12
113. Alec Poland - Jack Grushecky West Virginia University 138
Day 1: 5 07-10 Total: 5 07-10
114. Ben Burns - Riley Aebi Stephen F Austin State Universit 137
Day 1: 5 07-09 Total: 5 07-09
114. Jeffrey Jones - Coleman Bingham Bethel University 137
Day 1: 5 07-09 Total: 5 07-09
116. Storm Cline - Gabe Fishlock Carson-Newman University 135
Day 1: 5 07-08 Total: 5 07-08
116. Trace Loe - Levi Loe Southern Arkansas University 135
Day 1: 5 07-08 Total: 5 07-08
118. Dawson Lynch - Sonny Mann Tarleton State University 133
Day 1: 5 07-07 Total: 5 07-07
119. Branden Burrill - Jack Simpson Western Michigan University 132
Day 1: 5 07-06 Total: 5 07-06
120. Kaden Buchmann - Chase Wodzinski Lander University 131
Day 1: 5 07-05 Total: 5 07-05
120. Ryan Thomas - Jack Alexander University of Montevallo 131
Day 1: 5 07-05 Total: 5 07-05
122. Braden Cox - Joel Berelsman Ohio State University 129
Day 1: 5 07-04 Total: 5 07-04
123. Justin Latham - Blaine Mattingly Campbellsville University 128
Day 1: 4 07-04 Total: 4 07-04
124. Luke McGuffin - Rylan Green Erskine College 127
Day 1: 5 07-03 Total: 5 07-03
125. Kolten Goolsby - Landon Oconnor Stephen F Austin State Universit 126
Day 1: 5 07-01 Total: 5 07-01
126. Nathan Fideldy - Laindree Richardson Drury University 125
Day 1: 5 07-00 Total: 5 07-00
126. Kaiya Ziga - Hunter Petrovic Southwestern Michigan College 125
Day 1: 5 07-00 Total: 5 07-00
128. Nathan Preston - Auburn University 123
Day 1: 5 06-15 Total: 5 06-15
128. Trevor Young - Maxwell Schweikert Grand Valley State University 123
Day 1: 5 06-15 Total: 5 06-15
130. Jeremy Monda - Will Boyd Jr Florida Gateway College 121
Day 1: 5 06-12 Total: 5 06-12
131. Blake Bullock - John Mark Berry Blue Mountain Christian Universi 120
Day 1: 5 06-11 Total: 5 06-11
132. Cross Campbell - Dylan Armstrong East Texas Baptist University 119
Day 1: 5 06-09 Total: 5 06-09
132. Noah Lieberman - Colin Wolinski Missouri State University 119
Day 1: 5 06-09 Total: 5 06-09
134. Brayden Ruckman - Cason Price Carson-Newman University 117
Day 1: 5 06-09 Total: 5 06-09
135. Ty Mundhenke - Matthew Welcher Auburn University 116
Day 1: 5 06-07 Total: 5 06-07
136. Callaway Robinson - Tucker Pearson Georgia College 115
Day 1: 5 06-05 Total: 5 06-05
137. Caden Canaday - Virginia Tech 114
Day 1: 4 06-05 Total: 4 06-05
138. Peter Radulski Jr - Lane Gerbers Clemson University 113
Day 1: 5 06-04 Total: 5 06-04
139. Stone Smith - Drake Wadsworth Northwestern State University 112
Day 1: 5 06-02 Total: 5 06-02
140. Hunter Jenkins - Dallas Baptist University 111
Day 1: 4 06-00 Total: 4 06-00
141. Tripp Bowman - Matthew Nesbit LSU Shreveport 110
Day 1: 5 05-12 Total: 5 05-12
141. Tyler Chmelar - Kase Kramer Tarleton State University 110
Day 1: 5 05-12 Total: 5 05-12
143. Cameron Smith - Thomas Phillips Ohio State University 108
Day 1: 5 05-11 Total: 5 05-11
144. Matthew Echols - Christian Stewart Virginia Tech 107
Day 1: 4 05-11 Total: 4 05-11
145. Easton Lindus - Seth Jenkins Emmanuel College 106
Day 1: 4 05-07 Total: 4 05-07
146. Stetson Southard - Walker Wilburn Tarleton State University 105
Day 1: 5 05-06 Total: 5 05-06
146. Benjamin Travis - Brendin Simich Auburn University 105
Day 1: 5 05-06 Total: 5 05-06
148. Grayson Ball - Sellers Odom Calhoun Community College 103
Day 1: 5 05-05 Total: 5 05-05
149. Colby Carrier - Justin Frey Bethel University 102
Day 1: 4 05-05 Total: 4 05-05
150. Jonah Barrow - Logan Russell University of Nebraska - Lincoln 101
Day 1: 4 05-05 Total: 4 05-05
151. Billy Erdakos - Davis Klimczak Southwestern Michigan College 100
Day 1: 5 05-03 Total: 5 05-03
152. Kaleb Butts - Chase Rogers University of South Carolina - U 99
Day 1: 4 04-15 Total: 4 04-15
153. Trey McMeen - Braydon Kelley East Texas Baptist University 98
Day 1: 4 04-10 Total: 4 04-10
154. Caden Cardoza - Judd Morgan University of Tennessee 97
Day 1: 3 04-09 Total: 3 04-09
155. Louis VerBrugge - Mohave Community College 96
Day 1: 2 04-02 Total: 2 04-02
156. Colton Combs - Corbin Joyner Northeast State University 95
Day 1: 3 04-00 Total: 3 04-00
157. Scott Sledge - University of Montevallo 94
Day 1: 3 03-15 Total: 3 03-15
158. Alex Gore - Colby Reece Carson-Newman University 93
Day 1: 4 03-14 Total: 4 03-14
158. Carty Shoen - Jake Peck Auburn University 93
Day 1: 4 03-14 Total: 4 03-14
160. Delaney Platt - Ryan Olsen Southwestern Michigan College 91
Day 1: 4 03-07 Total: 4 03-07
161. Michael Canonica - Seth Proctor University of Tennessee 90
Day 1: 3 03-07 Total: 3 03-07
162. Elijah Jackson - University Of Alabama 89
Day 1: 3 03-01 Total: 3 03-01
163. Tucker Cory - Michael Witherup University of Montevallo 88
Day 1: 2 03-00 Total: 2 03-00
164. Hank Sturm - Matt Mosby Adrian College 87
Day 1: 2 02-09 Total: 2 02-09
165. Blair Cox - Zach Adamec Missouri State University 86
Day 1: 2 02-07 Total: 2 02-07
166. Scott Balas - Samuel Gremban University of Wisconsin- Madison 85
Day 1: 2 01-07 Total: 2 01-07
167. Evan Ludlow - Drake Heath Southwestern Michigan College 84
Day 1: 1 00-15 Total: 1 00-15
168. Sean Ferguson - Kansas State University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 139 789 1479-10
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139 789 1479-10