Stone and Rawski win South Carolina

J.T. Rawski, left, and Ben Stone, right, won the 2012 South Carolina B.A.S.S. Federation Nation Junior State Championship. Bassmaster Elite Series pro Davy Hite served as the emcee.

LAKE GREENWOOD, S.C. — J.T. Rawski and Ben Stone won the 2012 South Carolina B.A.S.S. Federation Nation Junior State Championship in November, and the pair will advance to the 2013 Cabela's Bssmaster Federation Nation Southern Divisional on Tennessee's Douglas Lake in April 2013.

Bassmaster Elite Series pro Davy Hite conducted the weigh-in for the championship, which was held on Lake Greenwood.

Stone, 16, won the 15- to 18-year-olds age division with two fish that weighed 5.72 pounds. In second place was Jody Perry, who finished with 5.34 pounds.

Rawski, 14, won the younger age division with 6.32 pounds, 1 pound heavier than his closest competitor, Ethan Lee.

Both Stone and Rawski are members of the Dixie High School Hornet Anglers.

"After the weigh-in, it was clear this was a tough tournament, with no limits weighed in and many competitors coming in with no fish," said Randy Vaughn, youth director for the South Carolina B.A.S.S. Federation Nation. "This was partially due to the cold front but mostly due to the new 14-inch minimum rule put in place in July on most South Carolina lakes."

About 350 people were in attendance at the weigh-in, including parents, grandparents, friends and campers.Clubs that competed were Lake Wylie Junior Anglers, Abbeville Panther Junior Bass Club, Mid-Carolina Junior Bass Anglers, Mid-Carolina Junior Bassmasters, T.L. Hanna High School Fishing Team, Dixie High School Hornet Anglers and Ninety Six Wildcat Anglers.