From TBF of Michigan Youth Director Brian Belevender
Congratulations to our Junior State Champions: Nicholas Marsh (15-18 yr. division) with five fish for 9.35 lbs and Aaron Hasse (11-14 yr. division) with five fish for 9.11 lbs. Our winners are on their way to the 2011 National Guard Junior Championship in Hot Springs, Arkansas on DeGray Lake. Good luck to the both of them!
Congratulations also to our Big Bass Winners: Garrett Paquette (15-18 yr. division) with 2.33 lbs and Tyler Weidman (11-14 yr. division) with 3.08 lbs.
To all the parents…thanks for getting your youth involved in our sport. Without the next generation of fishermen our sport does not continue. As our sport grows there will be more opportunity for our youth to get involved.
Our event could not happen without a lot of help from many people, so I hope I do not miss anyone. First let’s start with all of our boaters who volunteered their time and their boats to take these youths on the water. Because of them we are able to deliver to the youth an on-the-water experience and show them what a bass tournament is all about. Thanks!
Thanks to the parents who help me with setup and tear down of this event. To the Michigan State Bass Team who came out not only to bring their boats to take some of the youths out but they also did our weigh-in for us.
Mr. Wayne Carpenter for being the Master of Ceremonies for our event. Our youth got a real feel what it is like to be on stage and asked question on how they did that day. Greg Tranchids who recorded all of the weights for the tournament, and Outdoor writer Jeff Nedwick who is writing an article and took pictures of our event. I will be putting some of them on our web site. I am going to find a secure web site to put all of these so only youths and parents can look and download these for privacy. Any help with this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks to our great chefs for cooking all the food.
I want to thank the companies and people who helped us with food for this event. Paula Semple - Health Alliance Plan, Steven Wells - Asahi Kasei, Tony Lipinski for getting a donation from Sams Club in Roseville, and Mr. and Mrs. Balan.
Here are the companies who provided sponsorship products for the youths, boaters and our sport: Wayne Carpenter - Xtreme Bass Tackle, Terry Melvin - Lunch Money Lures, Todd Koehler - Leverage Landing Nets, Ken Neely - KD OutDoors, Jim Sprauge - K & E and NBAA, Mark Modrack - Rite Bite, Bill McElroy - Scales and Tales, Red Dirt, Case Plastics, Garneau Baits, Todd Glover, Little Bill’s Trophies, Bass Pro Shops and Culprit Lures.
Last but not least there are two gentlemen who have been there for me and for the youth event: First the man who got me started in this and has done so much for our organization and our sport - Dennis Beltz. He has been there for me and has helped me out with anything that this event needed. Thank you Dennis Beltz for everything you do for this event and our sport.
Craig Boe is one of the fathers. He has helped me out before, during and after the event. Because of these two gentlemen there are certain things for this event that are taken care of that I do not worry about.
This 2011 Michigan Junior State Championship was a success because of everyone involved. Thanks!
Well finally got some time to sit behind the computer and finish everything. Below are the final results. Hope you all had a great time. See everyone next year.
Brian Belevender
TBF of Michigan
Youth Director
"Its All About the Kids"
