Just one short year ago, N.C. State’s Club Bass Fishing team took top honors at the Boat U.S. National Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship. While it didn’t enjoy the same success it did last year, the team had one of its pairs finish in the top 10 this past weekend.
“Last year we won the whole thing, but it was only out of 40 teams,” Alex Freeman, a Lifelong education student in agricultural business management, said. “This year there were twice as many, so I figure we did pretty good for what it was worth.”
N.C. State sent two teams to the tournament, which took place in Lewisville, Texas, and consisted of 83 teams from colleges across the country. State’s first team of Freeman and Randall Hess placed ninth overall, while Josh Quesinberry and Bryce McClenney, who made up the second team, finished 43rd.
“We competed for two days, and the top five schools competed in the championship on the third day,” Freeman said. “[Randall Hess and I] did not make that. On the first day, we were in third place out of all the teams. On the second day, I was able to pick up two keepers — about 3 1/2- pounds. I had the third one on, but it came off at the boat. That was kind of a heartbreaker because I would have been in the top five if I had gotten it into the boat.
“It was a real shame. I thought we should have made top five for sure.”
Hess, a senior in turf grass management, said the second day of the tournament didn’t go as well as the first.
“On the second day we ended up having some motor issues and some high winds,” he said. “We weren’t able to stay on our spot. It wasn’t too bad, though we made out with a little money.”
Texas A&M went home with the top prize, along with equipment and various scholarships. Prizes were doled out to the top 10 competitors.
“Alex and I only won about $250, which doesn’t even come close to the money we spent on the trip, but it kind of helps to offset some of the expenses,” Hess said.
All in all, Hess called the competition a “very pleasurable experience” and said it is something he would gladly do all over again. According to Hess and Freeman, the free loot was worth the 20-hour drive.
“There were fly vests for everyone who was participating in the thing, and a lot of the sponsors were providing free gifts. As far as their value, I don’t know, because there was a lot of stuff I hadn’t seen before,” Hess said. “I got an enamel tackle, and my $50 gift certificate to Cabela’s, so I’m pretty happy.”