FLIPPIN, ARK. - Caron Rejzer and Wyatt Blevins, collegiate anglers from Virginia Tech University, became the first of two teams to qualify for the 2012 Ranger Cup Team of the Year finals with their fifth-place finish in the recent FLW College Fishing National Championship. As the highest-finishing Ranger Cup University-qualified team with a total weight of 39 pounds, 9 ounces during the three-day event on South Carolina's Lake Murray, the duo will receive an expense-paid trip to Texas' famed Choke Canyon Reservoir later this year where they will compete for over $2,000 in cash and prizes.
Rejzer and Blevins will be matched against the qualified team with the highest place of finish in the BoatUS Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship taking place May 24-25. Both teams will receive an expense-paid, grand-prize package, which includes travel, lodging and meals, as well as the opportunity to compete from fully rigged Ranger boats. The made-for-TV event will be televised nationally on the Americana Outdoors show seen on the NBC Sports network, representing a unique opportunity for the collegiate anglers – complete with over $2,000 in cash and prizes awarded to the winner.
“After three years, I finally made the finals of the national championship, so I'm happy about that. Making the Top 5 was a win in my book,” Rejzer said. “And the realization that this was my last event combined with winning the trip to Choke Canyon through the Ranger Cup University program – it's just an amazing way to go out.”
Ranger Cup University is the first program of its kind exclusively for collegiate anglers and is open to those fishing in either FLW- or BoatUS-affiliated competitions. Signup is free, regardless of which brand of boat they own. To remain qualified in the program, anglers need only adhere to clothing and logo requirements. And as part of the Ranger Cup University program, participants will be able to receive specially discounted tournament gear through Angler Skins and Gemini Custom Apparel, with no artwork or set-up fees. Through these vendors, Ranger Cup University anglers can purchase fully customized tournament jerseys for as low as $48.
For more information on Ranger Cup University, to register and read about the program guidelines and payout opportunities, go online to RangerBoats.com.