MOUNTAIN HOME, ARKANSAS – Carter McNeil and Cole Floyd of Bethel University had a weigh-in total 18-pounds, five-ounces to win the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Regional presented by Bass Pro Shops at Bull Shoals Lake near Mountain Home, Arkansas, Saturday.
According to a press release, with over 62 schools participating, McNeil and Carter were in 58th place out of 198 boats after day one of the competition. They were able to move to 6th place after day two.
Starting championship Saturday in 6th place, McNeil and Floyd brought in the biggest bag of the day, second largest of the three-day event, to total 48-pounds six-ounces with their three day-fifteen fish limit. The Bethel team finished one-pound, 10 ounces ahead of day two leaders Joshua Boone and Blake Riley of Eastern Kentucky University, who weighed their smallest bag of the week at 13-pounds, 15-ounces to total 46-12.
“This is a great thing for these two guys, and for our school,” said Coach Garry Mason, who has had angler John Garrett qualify for the 2017 Bassmaster Classic. “Carter and Cole have been very close to a win everywhere we’ve competed. Now they’ve got huge win under their belt.”
Mason added, “They’re going to get to fish the Bassmasters National Championship again, so this a very exciting time for Bethel University, and also for Carter and Cole. We appreciate how hard they work.”
Carter and Cole won second place in the 2017 Bassmasters National Championship held in Bemidji, Minnesota. They also won the 2018 Cabela’s National Championship held in Florence, Alabama this past June. That win vaulted the Bethel Wildcats to an ACA School of the Year Award, one of the highest achievements awarded in collegiate bass fishing.
The Bethel Wildcat Bass Team now has six teams qualified to fish the Bassmasters National Championship to be held in August.
The Bass Cats also have a record number of 11 boats qualified to fish the FLW National Championship this upcoming June 5-7 in Maryland on the Potomac River.
(PHOTO: Carter McNeil and Cole Floyd of Bethel University – courtesy Bethel University Sports Information Department)
David Thomas, Twitter– @DavidThomasWNWS
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