MIDLOTHIAN, Texas Sep. 11, 2007 --- Karyn Sanchez is proof that life can take you where you never expected to go. After all, the information technology manager from Texas never expected to be the only woman to qualify for this year's Forrest Wood Cup.
Not only was Sanchez the lone female to compete in the exclusive event, she also became only the second woman to score a top-10 there.
Sanchez's story is one of determination and sheer talent. Never one to think small, Sanchez entered the 2006 FLW Series from the back of the boat.
Her performance in the FLW Series led to an opportunity with the Wal-Mart fishing team, and Sanchez proudly wore the ubiquitous blue jersey on the FLW Tour in 2007.
Sanchez harbors no delusions about the challenges women face when they decide to hit the water competitively - challenges anyone faces, really, whether they be male or female.
"You're not necessarily competing against other people; you're competing against the fish," she said. "I'm here to learn and ask a lot of questions and absorb everything around me."
Ups and downs
The learning curve is the reason why Sanchez began her career as a co-angler, and her continued quest to "absorb everything," coupled with financial constraints, led her to sign up for the co-angler side again in 2008.
"I fished with my father-in-law and my husband for several years, and I think you get used to doing things one way," she said. "It's educational, and I enjoy that part of it."
The more Sanchez learns, the more of a threat she will become, as she has already demonstrated her raw talent on the FLW Tour. In fact, she scored inside the top 30 at her first two events in 2007, enabling her to rank in the top 10 for the first half of the season, something she did not expect.
Nervous she hadn't made the championship cut, Sanchez said she spent the weekend "bugging all the FLW people" until the final standings sheet came out.
Making a name for herself
If Sanchez thought just making the Cup was exciting, she had no idea what was in store for her at the actual event. Not only did she earn the distinction of being the only female competitor in the 162-man field, she went the distance, earning a top-10 finish and ending the tournament in ninth. That experience, she says, was definitely the highlight of her year.
"I would have never dreamed I would make a top-10 at the championship," she said. "I was just excited to be there. I would have loved to have won, but given the way the rest of the season went, I was just happy to be there and to represent the ladies."
In that regard, Sanchez is already well on her way. To all the other potential female anglers out there, Sanchez says just go for it.
Learn more about Karen Sanchez at 'http://www.karynsanchez.com'.