2005 Minnesota State Casting Kids Championship
Lakeville, Minnesota
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On
Saturday, March 12th, the Minnesota BASS Federation held its 2005
State Bassmaster Casting Kids Championship. Kids from all over Minnesota,
and one all the way from Ohio, came to the Gander Mountain Super Store in
Lakeville, MN with their flipping, pitching and casting skills to try to become
one of our two State Bassmasters Casting Kids Champions.
The kids that competed all qualified through Bassmaster Casting Kids competitions held across the state during the 2004, 2005 qualification period in order to advance to state competition. The competitions are conducted by Minnesota BASS Federation clubs. There are two age groups, 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, Minnetonka Classic Bass, and Gopher Bass conducted the event.
On Saturday they all came to show their casting skills. Each contestant had two practice rounds on the casting lanes prior to the state event. The State Competition started at 1:00. The crowd and parents were great with almost complete silence during the event. After all contestants had completed their casts and the scores were verified, Dale Richardson, the Minnesota Bass Federation Vice-President made the big announcement:
The
Minnesota State Casting
Kids Champion's for 2005 are Rachel Simon
from
the 7-10 age group with a score of 130, and Dave
Saterbak
from the 11-14 age group with a perfect score of 150. I have
been involved with Casting Kids many years and have never witnessed a perfect
score at the State Championship. Rachel and Dave both received a Bassmaster
Casting Kids Championship plaque, medallion, and Casting Kids rod and reel.
They also received a $1000.00 scholarship award from the Minnesota BASS Federation
for their future education.
This was Rachel’s first year in the Bassmaster Casting Kids program. Her Mom and Dad told me she practiced every day and it showed. This event marked Dave’s 7th time to compete in the Minnesota State Finals and the 5th time as a Minnesota State Champion. Dave won his first state event at the age of 7 in 1998 at the Mall of America. This was also Dave’s last year competing in the Casting Kids State finals. Good luck to Rachel and Dave in Orlando.
Rachel and Dave, along with their parents, now advance to Orlando, Florida on April 30th to compete in the Bassmaster Casting Kids Semi-Finals which will coincide with the Federation National Championship. They will each compete against 8 other kids in their own age bracket from the Northern Division states. If either Rachel or Dave is the top Casting Kid from their respective age group, they would then advance to the National Casting Kids Championship in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on July 30th. 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.
Special thanks go to the Gander Mountain Lakeville store for hosting this event and for their donations. For the 2nd year in a row they have donated fully embroidered Gander Mountain shirts and hats for Rachel and Dave’s upcoming Casting Kids Semi-finals competition, and hopefully the National finals. Gander Mountain also provided grab bags that day with fishing products for all the competitors. Gander Mountain has hosted numerous Championships’ and qualifying events over the years and have always asked what they can do, and have gone the extra mile for today's Youth. Their store manager Emmy Canada has helped bring it together to make it a great event once again. On behalf of the Minnesota Bass Federation, I say, THANK YOU EMMY.
Skeeter boats and Yamaha provided hats for all of our contestants that day. Skeeter is now the new official boat sponsor of the Minnesota Bass Federation. Special thanks to Steve Soukup from Skeeter who attended the event and took time to meet many of the competitors and their parents.
Special thanks to the Minnesota Bass Federation Board of Directors, Minnetonka Classic Bass, and Gopher Bass who conducted this State event.
The smiles and reaction from all these kids make my position as Youth Director something I enjoy doing. Kids and Parents, for more information on these events, check out our MN Bass Federation website at www.mnbf.org or the Bassmaster web site at www.bassmaster.com for this years’ upcoming Casting Kids events in Minnesota. Click on Youth in both web sites. I hope to see you at next years State Bassmasters Casting Kids State Finals.
Todd Saterbak
Minnesota Bass
Federation Youth Director