Michigan State Takes Big Ten Classic Title on Stingy Coldwater Lake
OutdoorHub 10.04.11
Coldwater, Michigan – October 4, 2011 – Collegiate anglers from the Big Ten Conference converged on Coldwater Lake, just outside Coldwater, Michigan, for the annual Big Ten Classic the weekend of October 1-2, 2011. They were greeted with one of the first strong cold fronts of fall, which led to a good bite during practice, but a challenging day of competition. Sunday began with a morning low in the thirties, a stiff North wind, high pressure, and bluebird skies. Thirty nine teams, representing ten universities, set out to determine who would take the traveling Big Ten Classic trophy back to campus.
The day proved to be a tough one, but a handful of teams figured out how to coax a few bass to the boat. Two teams were able to box a full five bass limit before quitting time. Of those two, the heaviest stringer, and the first place team prize, went to Scott Jorgenson and Josh Geilfuss of the University of Wisconsin. Their mixed bag of smallmouth and largemouth topped the scales at 10.43 lbs, and earned them each $100 gift cards from Cabela’s in addition to the bragging rights. Second place went to Louie Keller and Nick Schuetz of Purdue University, who also brought a mixed limit of both largemouth and smallmouth bass, weighing in at 8.58 lbs. Both anglers took home a new pair of Costa sunglasses and top honors among the Boilermakers Bass Club. The Michigan State teams of Nowicki & Fissette, Fishcer & Maki, and Nelson & Sexton, took home third, fourth, and fifth places respectively.
With each team counting their top three weights towards the Big Ten Classic title, the Spartans’ trio brought in enough bass for a dominating win with a total school weight of 18.63 pounds. The second place school, the University of Wisconsin, had two fish to add to Jorgenson and Geilfuss’ winning catch, but it proved too little too late. Wisconsin’s catch totaled 13.85 pounds, just barely edging out the third place Purdue University, who brought 13.68 pounds to the scales. Fourth place overall went to the Ohio State Bassin’ Buckeyes, followed by the Michigan Wolverines in fifth. Complete team and school standings are available at: www.collegiatebasschampionship.com/Big Ten Classic Results
Photo galleries from the weekend’s activities can be found at: www.facebook.com/CollegiateBassChampionship
Purdue University and the Association of Collegiate Anglers would like to extend a special thanks to Outdoors 360 on NBC Sports, sponsor of the banquet, and Lake Drive Marine, for their onsite support of the event and students. A special thanks also goes out to the volunteer boat drivers, as well as The Bass Federation and the sponsors who contributed to the event. Prizes were donated by: Cabela’s, Costa Sunglasses, Lazer Trokar Hooks, Frogg Toggs Outerwear, Sperry Top-sider Shoes, Poor Boys Baits, and Big Bite Baits.
