WIGGINS, Miss. — Trevor Ladner, 17, of Necaise and Mason McDill, 14, of Petal didn’t know they would share more than a boat when they launched the morning of Oct. 23, 2010, to compete in the Mississippi Junior State Championship Tournament on Flint Creek Water Park.
“We picked that lake because everyone has a pretty good chance of catching a few there,” said Bobby McDill, Mason’s father and the adult captain of their boat. “I didn’t have any idea, though, that both boys in my boat would catch enough to win their divisions.”
Ladner caught four keepers on a crankbait and won the 15- to 18-year-old division with a total weight of 6.68 pounds. Mason won the 11-14 age group by boating three that weighed 6.21 pounds on a spinnerbait. Each division had six competitors fighting for the prize.
“The most impressive thing about it to me was that each of the boys did it their way. This is Trevor’s second state championship win in a row. That says something about his fishing skills and our youth program. I’m really proud of the boys and our program.”
Both Ladner and McDill intend to compete in the Central Divisional Championship presented by Yamaha and Skeeter on Table Rock in June. “We’re ready to go now,” said Ladner, speaking for both boys. Ladner is in the beginning stages of being a pro already, having secured such sponsors as Stanley Jigs, Lake Fork Tackle and Trophy Bass Taxidermy.