Spring Break
Life on the lake
Marshall Laney
Issue date: 5/2/07 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
When talking about spring, most people think of warm weather, being outdoors and school coming to a close. However, for the UA bass fishing club, it's business as usual.
The fishing club, started by Matt Ridgeway, is in its first year of tournament play at the university, and is showing everyone why it deserves to be noticed.
With 30 active members on the team and a year-round season, the team has the means and time to become a top competitor with the other large universities.
The team just wrapped up its home opener this past weekend at Beaver Lake. The tournament was held at Hickory Creek Marina, a local fishing spot which has played a vital role in the development and success of the club.
The team finished the tournament in third place overall after two days of fishing, and was bested out of second place on the last day of the tournament by in-state competitor Arkansas Tech. Oklahoma took the first place prize and the big bass trophy as well, while Arkansas finished second in the big bass competition.
During competition the team competes in groups of two. At the end of each day the teams will weigh in the fish they have caught and the team with the highest weight is declared the winner.
Though the team did not finish as well as they said they would have liked, they were happy to see that things ran smoothly for their first home tournament.
"It came together well for how quickly it was planned," said team member Joel Blackburn. "We were fortunate to have food catered and such a large group of people willing to help, and beautiful weather was also nice."
It was the team's second tournament of the year.
The first tournament was hosted by Arkansas Tech on Lake Dardanelle. Arkansas Tech won the national title last year so to open with them at home was a difficult task.
But at the tournament the team came away with a first place finish in its first organized tournament ever, beating Arkansas Tech and a large number of other big names as well. "Winning the first tournament was a great way to get the team rolling, it was nice to be undefeated in tournament play," said team member Bodie Drake.
At Lake Dardanelle, Arkansas competed with other schools such as Kansas State, Oregon State and Wisconsin. The team also competed against the University of Alabama who came to the tournament ranked No. 2 in the country at the time.
With the involvement of other large schools, the UA team is working hard to gain recognition. The team hopes that by winning tournaments and putting on an annual event of its own, the UA will take notice and endorse them as a school team.
Until then, it plans to keep working hard to get its name out there, as well as continuing to win tournaments.
The fishing club, started by Matt Ridgeway, is in its first year of tournament play at the university, and is showing everyone why it deserves to be noticed.
With 30 active members on the team and a year-round season, the team has the means and time to become a top competitor with the other large universities.
The team just wrapped up its home opener this past weekend at Beaver Lake. The tournament was held at Hickory Creek Marina, a local fishing spot which has played a vital role in the development and success of the club.
The team finished the tournament in third place overall after two days of fishing, and was bested out of second place on the last day of the tournament by in-state competitor Arkansas Tech. Oklahoma took the first place prize and the big bass trophy as well, while Arkansas finished second in the big bass competition.
During competition the team competes in groups of two. At the end of each day the teams will weigh in the fish they have caught and the team with the highest weight is declared the winner.
Though the team did not finish as well as they said they would have liked, they were happy to see that things ran smoothly for their first home tournament.
"It came together well for how quickly it was planned," said team member Joel Blackburn. "We were fortunate to have food catered and such a large group of people willing to help, and beautiful weather was also nice."
It was the team's second tournament of the year.
The first tournament was hosted by Arkansas Tech on Lake Dardanelle. Arkansas Tech won the national title last year so to open with them at home was a difficult task.
But at the tournament the team came away with a first place finish in its first organized tournament ever, beating Arkansas Tech and a large number of other big names as well. "Winning the first tournament was a great way to get the team rolling, it was nice to be undefeated in tournament play," said team member Bodie Drake.
At Lake Dardanelle, Arkansas competed with other schools such as Kansas State, Oregon State and Wisconsin. The team also competed against the University of Alabama who came to the tournament ranked No. 2 in the country at the time.
With the involvement of other large schools, the UA team is working hard to gain recognition. The team hopes that by winning tournaments and putting on an annual event of its own, the UA will take notice and endorse them as a school team.
Until then, it plans to keep working hard to get its name out there, as well as continuing to win tournaments.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
alan laney
posted 5/02/07 @ 10:12 AM EST
Good story.....since Arkansas is a big fishing State, and know as the Natural State, I think this program could really shine for the University, much like the track and field team has done over the years. (Continued…)
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