The 2004 Minnesota State Casting Kids Championship
On Saturday, March 13th, the Minnesota BASS Federation held its 2004 State Bassmasters Casting Kids Championship. Kids from all over Minnesota came to the Gander Mountain Super Store in Lakeville, MN with their flipping, pitching, and casting skills to try and become one of our two State Bassmasters Casting Kids Champions.

The kids competing have all qualified through Bassmaster Casting Kids competitions held across the state during the 2003 and 2004 qualification period in order to advance to state competition. The competitions are conducted by Minnesota BASS Federation clubs. There are two age groups. They are 7 to 10, and 11 to 14. The kids do three different types of casts. They flip from 10 feet, pitch from 20 feet, and cast from 30 feet. The target is a bullseye with scores of 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50. The best score attainable is 150. The Minnesota Bass Federation Board of Directors conducted the event.

On Saturday they came to show their skills. Each contestant had two practice rounds on the casting lanes. The State Competition started shortly after 1:00. The crowd and parents were great with almost complete silence during the event. When the last competitor had finished, there was a tie in the 11-14 age group with a score of 130 points. In the event of a tie there is a castoff. Each competitor gets one practice cast and then one cast from the 30 foot mark for the best score. They both went to the line separately and tried their best. The castoff was won with a score of 20. In the 7-10 age group, it was an outright win with a score of 140.

The Minnesota State Casting Kids Champion's for 2004 are Lucas Wayne Lindgren, from the 7-10 age group ,and Josh Erickson, from the 11-14 age group.
Each received a Bassmasters Casting Kids Championship plaque, medallion, and Casting Kids rod and reel. They also each received a $500.00 scholarship award from the Minnesota BASS Federation for their future education.

The Minnesota BASS Federation also had a special announcement that day for the two winners that was not made public until the awards ceremony. Lucas and Josh have been invited to be part of the Minnesota Twins pre-game festivities on the field on Kids day at the Metrodome on Sunday, May 2nd. Also, Gander Mountain store Managers Joe Kamlighter and Erik Utter surprised the crowd and announced that our winners will each be receiving Gander Mountain fully embroidered shirts and hats for their future upcoming events and adventures. Gander Mountain also provided grab bags that day with fishing products for all the competitors.
Lucas and Josh, along with their parents, now advance to Tulsa, Oklahoma on April 23rd to compete in the Bassmaster Casting Kids Semi-Finals which will be coinciding with the Bass Federation National Tournament. They will compete against 8 other kids in their own age bracket from the Northern Division states. If either Lucas or Josh is the top Casting Kid in their age group from that tournament, they would then advance to the National Casting Kids Championship in Charlotte, North Carolina on July 31st. This coincides with the Bassmaster Classic. They would compete against 4 other Casting Kids champions in their age group from the other 4 Divisions for the National Championship. They would compete for scholarships of up to $5000.00.

Josh is a past State Champion from 2002 in the 7 - 10 age group. Josh went to the semi-finals that year and won his age group and advanced to the National Casting Kids Championship. Four days before the event, Josh broke his casting arm playing hockey. Josh learned how to cast with his other arm in a very short amount of time. He was still able to compete and lost in a 3rd place Cast off. He is fired up and is ready to go and try it again. Congratulations and good luck to both Lucas and Josh.

Special thanks go to Gander Mountain for hosting this event and for their donations. Gander Mountain has hosted numerous Championships, and qualifying events over the years and have always asked what they can do, and gone the extra mile for today's Youth. Their store managers Emmy Canada, Joe Kamlighter, and Erik Utter have once again helped bring it all together and make it a great event once again. On behalf of the Minnesota Bass Federation, I say THANK YOU.

Special thanks to the Viking Bassmaster and River Rat Bassmaster clubs for each holding a qualifier that morning before the State finals and helping with State Finals. Four kids advanced to the state finals from that morning's qualifiers. Lucas, one of our State Champions, was one of those kids. It's never to late kids. Also, special thanks to the Minnesota Bass Federation Board of Directors who conducted this State event.

The smiles and reaction from all these kids that day make this Youth Director position something I enjoy doing. Kids, if you would like more info on these events, check out our website,www.mnbf.org under up coming events. Also check out Bassmasters web site for this years upcoming Casting Kids events in Minnesota and click on Youth. I hope to see you at next years State Bassmasters Casting Kids State Finals.

Todd Saterbak
Minnesota Bass Federation Youth Director
www.mnbf.org