HICKORY, N.C. — Three pairs of Red Hawk anglers take the national stage this weekend when they compete at the 2024 Strike King Bassmaster College National Championship on Lake Hartwell in Anderson, S.C.
Red Hawk duo Brendan Vinton and Jacob Vanscoik, the team of Alex Standerfer and Tyler Gunter and the tandem of Hunter Keller and Garrett Christy compete in the tournament, which features 168 teams and 313 total anglers from 52 college and universities across the United States.
The winner of the tournament will not only be national champion, but earn a berth in the 2025 Bassmaster Classic.
"We are proud of our guys who have qualified for this tournament because it is extremely difficult to make it to the National Championship," said Catawba Valley bass fishing head coach Angela Mayo. "August is a difficult time to locate and catch fish, but these young men have worked hard this week to try to put together a pattern, and we are looking forward to the tournament."
Standerfer and Gunter earned their spot at this week's national tournament by winning the Wisconsin B.A.S.S. Nation College Qualifier. Both Red Hawk anglers are excited for the opportunity to compete on the national level.
"Expectations were high before showing up to Lake Hartwell," Standerfer said. "Unfortunately, the lake has been fishing tough for everyone we've seen. Practice this week has led us to believe our original predicted weights are a lot higher than what it will actually take to win. Having said this, our heads are In the game, and we are determined to go out and give it our all and hopefully bring back a national championship trophy back to Hickory."
By virtue of finishing sixth overall in the points standings for their trail, Keller and Christy clinched their opportunity to compete this week for a national championship.
"To make the National Championship is no easy feat, I am very honored and humbled just to be here," Keller said. "Coming into this one, everyone knew it was going to be a tough tournament. The great thing about a tough tournament is that they usually come down to who really grinds it out and gets those one or two big bites every day that will be so crucial for success on Hartwell this week. We are all very excited to be fishing for a shot at the College Bracket and the Bassmaster Classic. There is a lot at stake this week and we're going to leave it all on the water."
Vinton and Vanscoik, who both qualified for nationals with their placement at Saginaw Bay by finishing 19th out of 250 teams, have struggled at times during the pre-tournament practice, but they're hoping to adapt and overcome during the event.
"Practice was incredibly challenging," Vinton said. "The lake being five feet low made for less than ideal fishing conditions. We saw the fish we needed to do well, but we just need them to commit on tournament days."
The three teams are tied for the most the Red Hawks have ever sent to a national collegiate bass fishing tournament — something Mayo is extremely proud of.
"College fishing is unbelievably competitive," Mayo said. "The best anglers from across the country will be competing at Lake Hartwell to become the college champion and earn a trip to the Bassmaster Classic. This week, someone's life will change. Hopefully, that someone will be a Red Hawk."