SYRACUSE, N.Y. - New Jersey's Kyle Harrigan, 18, and New Mexico's Jordan McMorris, 15, won their respective age divisions Saturday at the Junior Bassmaster World Bass Fishing Championship on New York's Onondaga Lake. The event was held in conjunction with the final Bassmaster Elite Series event of the season, which was staged on New York's Oneida Lake, and the pair of teenagers took home $5,000 each in scholarships and a Triton boat package.
Anglers competed in two age divisions, 11-14 and 15-18, fishing from the same boat operated by a Bassmaster Elite Series. The Junior World competitors were randomly paired with pros at a celebration Friday night and used Saturday as a practice day on Onondaga Lake. All earned the right to compete in the championship by fishing events on local and regional levels.
The youth anglers were treated to a first-class experience. The weigh-in was broadcast live on Bassmaster.com and each was photographed with BASS founder Ray Scott after weighing their catches.
Harrigan of Bradley, N.J., claimed the 15 to 18 year-old title with a 16-pound, 1-ounce mixed bag of largemouth and smallmouth bass. Harrigan's pro, Jeremy Starks of Charleston, W.Va., served as Harrigan's mentor.
"He taught me a lot of stuff," said Harrigan, who just learned how to use drop-shot rigs Saturday. "I learned to keep my head in the game. We culled a lot of fish, and caught lots of fish in a row."
"The big key to winning was shaking the bait and using light line," said Starks. "It was getting out there and practicing and taking what we learned to the competition."
Harrigan enjoyed his day on Onondaga Lake with Starks and wants to pursue a career in professional bass fishing.
Scoring the runner-up position in the 15-18 age bracket was Doug McClung of Gramercy, La., with a five-fish limit weighing 15 pounds, 13 ounces. Robert Rahm of Bloomfield, N.M., followed in third place with 15 pounds, 5 ounces.
McMorris, the 11-14 age division champion, used drop shots and deep crankbaits to bring five fish to the scales for a limit of 15 pounds, 13 ounces. The Bloomfield, N.M., native credited his skill to watching The Bassmasters on ESPN2.
"Everything worked today," said McMorris. "We found a great spot in the last part of pre-fish and spent most of the day there."
McMorris attributed some of his success to his Elite pro, Yusuke Miyazaki. McMorris said Miyazaki taught him how to work his graph and electronics from Miyazaki.
Tyler Dennis of Shawnee, Okla., tipped the scales with five fish totaling 14 pounds, 8 ounces for second place, while Hunter Gaines of Wittman, Ariz., caught five fish for 14 pounds, 6 ounces for third place.
Dennis claimed the Purolator Big Bass prize in the 14-17 age division with a largemouth bass that weighed 4 pounds, 4 ounces.
The Purolator Big Bass for the 15-18 age division winner was John Newman of Oregon City, Ore., with a 7-pound, 1 ounce largemouth bass. The Purolator Big Bass winners each received a $1,000 scholarship.
Onondaga Lake is located on the outskirts of Syracuse, N.Y., and is 5 miles long and 1 mile wide. Just south of Lake Ontario, Onondaga has an area of 4.6 square miles and plenty of smallmouth bass for the taking.
The Junior Bassmaster World Championship showcases the top youth anglers and provides youth anglers like Harrigan and McMorris the opportunity to fish competitively under BASS.
"It's an event that continues to grow, and to see how far it has come in just four years is really amazing," said Stacy Twiggs, senior manager of the Federation Nation and youth programs. "The Federation Nations across the country have done a tremendous job to establish these youth programs."
2008 JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 8/10-8/10
Onondaga Lake, LIVERPOOL NY.
15-18 year old Age Division Final Standings
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts
1. Kyle Harrigan Bradley Beach, NJ 5 16-01 305
2. Doug McClung Gramercy, LA 5 15-13 295
3. Robert Rahm Bloomfield, NM 5 15-05 288
3. Brad Rutherford Avonia, GA 5 15-05 288
5. Joshua Bender Lakewood, CO 5 14-12 280
6. Eddie Levin Westerville, OH 5 14-11 276
7. Zach Alexander Salt Lake City, UT 5 14-02 272
8. Jordan Decker Clarkson, KY 5 14-01 268
9. Sam Chavez-Strickler Castleford, ID 5 14-00 264
10. Andrew Loberg Rocklin, CA 5 13-15 259
10. Austin Terry San Angelo, TX 5 13-15 259
12. Aaron Pounds Houston, WV 5 13-14 254
13. Colt McMahan Tecumseh, OK 5 13-09 251
14. Zach Brooks Saint Joseph, IL 5 12-15 248
15. Dalton Wilson Houston, MO 5 12-05 245
16. Halden Smith Missoula, MT 5 12-00 243
17. JP Weber Hampshire, IL 5 11-03 241
18. Daniel Tuite Pawtucket, RI 5 11-02 239
19. Frank King Summerville, SC 5 10-10 237
20. Jacob Wheeler Indianapolis, IN 5 10-08 235
21. Charl Engelbrecht Auckland Park SAMOA 5 10-05 233
22. Branson Schmidt Greenacres, WA 5 08-13 231
23. Brett Glodfelter Nescopeck, PA 5 08-00 229
24. Justin Hamner Northport, AL 4 07-06 227
25. John Newman Oregon City, OR 2 07-01 225
26. Jordan Graham Center Point, IA 4 06-12 223
27. Daniel Hoffman Chester, NY 2 06-11 221
28. Derek Kuntz Inver Grove Heights, MN 3 06-10 219
29. Steven Littlefield Abington, MA 4 06-04 217
30. Ryan Jimenez Elko, NV 4 05-04 215
31. Joseph Parker Commerce Township, MI 3 05-01 213
32. Will Dionisio New Fairfield, CT 4 04-15 211
33. Ryan Rogers Bowmanville CANADA 3 04-02 209
34. Sam Nelson Hutchinson, KS 2 03-11 207
35. Matt Gray Bryant, AR 2 02-11 205
36. Bill Staley Smithsburg, MD 1 02-10 203
37. CJ Johnson Ocean Springs, MS 1 02-07 201
38. Christian Johnson Iron Station, NC 2 02-03 199
39. Bryce Breslin Dunedin, FL 1 01-11 197
40. Seth Davis Decatur, TN 1 01-07 195
41. Nate King Dayton, ME 1 01-01 193
42. Matt Peed Tyndall, SD 1 00-15 191
43. Chaz Antos Wickenburg, AZ 0 00-00 0
43. Jacob Dugan Townsend, DE 0 00-00 0
43. Blake Gillispie Cascade, VA 0 00-00 0
43. Jacob Pyzer North Platte, NE 0 00-00 0
43. James Richardson Alton, NH 0 00-00 0
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John Newman Oregon City, OR 04-05 $1,000.00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 23 160 376-02
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23 160 376-02
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2008 JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 8/10-8/10
Onondaga Lake, LIVERPOOL NY.
14-17 year old Age Division Final Standings
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts
1. Jordan McMorris Bloomfield, NM 5 15-03 305
2. Tyler Dennis Shawnee, OK 5 14-08 295
3. Hunter Gaines Wittmann, AZ 5 14-06 290
4. Dylan Pounds Houston, WV 5 14-05 285
5. Nick Deering Portland, ME 5 13-08 280
6. Cole Bowen Colony, KS 5 13-06 276
7. Blaine Newman Kalispell, MT 5 12-15 272
8. Dylan Ralph Thornton, CO 5 12-10 268
9. Jacob Lorea Magnolia, DE 5 12-05 264
10. Garath Fulks San Angelo, TX 5 12-03 259
10. Bryan Golding Pleasant Valley, NY 5 12-03 259
12. Lowell Turner Bradford, RI 5 12-02 254
13. Ryan Mezenen Clinton, UT 5 11-09 251
14. Michael Evers Innisfil ONTARIO CANADA 5 11-06 248
15. Ben Winge Chaska, MN 4 09-08 245
16. Dakota Jones Mead, WA 5 08-15 242
16. Chris Potts Carmichael, CA 4 08-15 242
18. Jared Raymer Brandenburg, KY 4 08-09 239
19. Robert Jones Battle Mountain, NV 5 08-02 237
20. Ben Sharpton Hartwell, GA 5 07-05 235
21. Richard Vespa Millis, MA 5 07-00 233
22. Logan Latuso Gonzales, LA 3 06-08 231
23. Zach Rubendall Sioux Falls, SD 2 05-15 229
24. Brett Ellis Hattiesburg, MS 4 05-13 227
25. Ryan Edwards Stuart, FL 3 05-10 225
26. Brody McWilliams Greenwood, IN 2 04-04 223
27. Will Brown Wetumpka, AL 3 04-02 221
28. Drew Brantley Gaston, SC 2 04-00 219
29. Mitchell Willis Lincoln, VA 2 03-10 217
30. Noah Garnica Potomac, IL 1 02-15 215
31. Justin Rollans Little Rock, AR 3 02-12 212
31. Nick Diamandas Oak Ridge, NJ 1 02-12 212
33. Max Brovarney Wauwatosa, WI 2 02-07 209
34. Chase Frechette Flushing, MI 1 02-06 207
35. Dean Dewet Kirstenhof SAMOA 1 02-04 205
36. Zack Zeno Southbury, CT 2 02-03 203
37. Josh Abernathy Estacada, OR 1 02-00 201
38. Alec Engleman Milton, PA 1 01-10 199
39. Lane Kemper Olive Branch, MS 1 01-06 196
39. Travis Rockett Intervale, NH 1 01-06 196
41. Wesley Allensworth Hannibal, MO 0 00-00 0
41. Nick Dietrich Fork, MD 0 00-00 0
41. Justin Isaacs Mooresville, NC 0 00-00 0
41. Dakota Nelson Anamosa, IA 0 00-00 0
41. Colton Nichols Howard, OH 0 00-00 0
41. Brad Schaefer Omaha, NE 0 00-00 0
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Tyler Dennis Shawnee, OK 04-05 $1,000.00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 18 138 304-14
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18 138 304-14