2013 B.A.S.S. Nation Championship banquet

After the final weigh-in of the 2013 B.A.S.S. Nation Championship, everyone gathered at the Hughes Center in Russellville, Ark., for dinner and an awards banquet.

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After the final weigh-in of the 2013 B.A.S.S. Nation Championship, everyone gathered at the Hughes Center in Russellville, Ark., for dinner and an awards banquet.
After the final weigh-in of the 2013 B.A.S.S. Nation Championship, everyone gathered at the Hughes Center in Russellville, Ark., for dinner and an awards banquet.
Banquet guests loaded up on prime rib and vegetables. Everyone involved with the championship — B.A.S.S. Nation youth directors, presidents, competitors, staff and family members — attended the farewell dinner.
Banquet guests loaded up on prime rib and vegetables. Everyone involved with the championship — B.A.S.S. Nation youth directors, presidents, competitors, staff and family members — attended the farewell dinner.
Brook Moran, daughter of Pennsylvania competitor Mike Moran, didn’t have to stand in line for her food.
Brook Moran, daughter of Pennsylvania competitor Mike Moran, didn’t have to stand in line for her food.
Coby Carden and his family are all smiles after learning that Carden will compete in his first Bassmaster Classic in February 2014.
Coby Carden and his family are all smiles after learning that Carden will compete in his first Bassmaster Classic in February 2014.
Roger Trageser and Jim Kline of the Maryland B.A.S.S. Nation volunteered for anything that was needed at the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship.
Roger Trageser and Jim Kline of the Maryland B.A.S.S. Nation volunteered for anything that was needed at the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship.
Tonya and Brian Wilson traveled from Iowa for Brian to compete in the championship.
Tonya and Brian Wilson traveled from Iowa for Brian to compete in the championship.
Chris Brown of Rigid Industries poses with Tyler Reed, B.A.S.S. Nation editor, before dinner.
Chris Brown of Rigid Industries poses with Tyler Reed, B.A.S.S. Nation editor, before dinner.
Roman Chapman of Minnesota represented the Northern Division in the 2013 Bassmaster Junior World Championship (JWC).
Roman Chapman of Minnesota represented the Northern Division in the 2013 Bassmaster Junior World Championship (JWC).
Tim Johnston of Montana, 2014 Bassmaster Classic qualifier, chats with Jami Fralick, Bassmaster Elite Series pro.
Tim Johnston of Montana, 2014 Bassmaster Classic qualifier, chats with Jami Fralick, Bassmaster Elite Series pro.
Guests enjoyed a cake specially made for the championship.
Guests enjoyed a cake specially made for the championship.
After dinner, Jon Stewart, B.A.S.S. Nation director, presented plaques and certificates to competitors in the JWC. First up was Ryan Appleby of Maryland.
After dinner, Jon Stewart, B.A.S.S. Nation director, presented plaques and certificates to competitors in the JWC. First up was Ryan Appleby of Maryland.
Clayton Childs and other JWC competitors received scholarship money for their performance.
Clayton Childs and other JWC competitors received scholarship money for their performance.
Remington Wagner of Kansas represented the Central Division.
Remington Wagner of Kansas represented the Central Division.
Roman Chapman is a member of the Bassinators club in Minnesota.
Roman Chapman is a member of the Bassinators club in Minnesota.
Noah Winslow represented Connecticut in the Eastern Division.
Noah Winslow represented Connecticut in the Eastern Division.
Ryan Wood of Colorado won the younger age group (ages 11 to 14) of the JWC. He’s a member of the Denver Junior Bassmasters.
Ryan Wood of Colorado won the younger age group (ages 11 to 14) of the JWC. He’s a member of the Denver Junior Bassmasters.
Ben Stone represented the Southern Division in the older age group of the JWC.
Ben Stone represented the Southern Division in the older age group of the JWC.
Brian Volkernick is a member of the L/A Junior Bassmasters in Maine.
Brian Volkernick is a member of the L/A Junior Bassmasters in Maine.
Daryk Levi Eckert represented Ohio in the Northern Division.
Daryk Levi Eckert represented Ohio in the Northern Division.
Henry Schomaker of West Virginia is a member of the New River Junior Bassmasters.
Henry Schomaker of West Virginia is a member of the New River Junior Bassmasters.
Trevor Yates of Oklahoma won the older age group (ages 15 to 18) of the JWC. He’s a member of the Stillwater Junior Bassmasters.
Trevor Yates of Oklahoma won the older age group (ages 15 to 18) of the JWC. He’s a member of the Stillwater Junior Bassmasters.
Everyone who caught a daily Carhartt Big Bass in the 2013 B.A.S.S. Nation Championship was then presented with a check from Carhartt. Drew Sadler of Kentucky caught a 6-pound, 1-ounce bass on the first day.
Everyone who caught a daily Carhartt Big Bass in the 2013 B.A.S.S. Nation Championship was then presented with a check from Carhartt. Drew Sadler of Kentucky caught a 6-pound, 1-ounce bass on the first day.
Jason Vaughn of Delaware weighed in a 5-1 on the second day.
Jason Vaughn of Delaware weighed in a 5-1 on the second day.
Coby Carden of Alabama brought in a 7-10 monster on the final day.
Coby Carden of Alabama brought in a 7-10 monster on the final day.
Each competitor who earned a berth in the 2014 Bassmaster Classic was then presented with a division winner plaque. Tim Johnston of Montana was the first one up. He won the Western Division.
Each competitor who earned a berth in the 2014 Bassmaster Classic was then presented with a division winner plaque. Tim Johnston of Montana was the first one up. He won the Western Division.
Paul Mueller of Connecticut will represent the East in the Classic.
Paul Mueller of Connecticut will represent the East in the Classic.
Mark Dove of Indiana will be going to his third Bassmaster Classic in February.
Mark Dove of Indiana will be going to his third Bassmaster Classic in February.
Carden doesn’t even have to travel far to get to the Classic on Lake Guntersville. He only lives 2 hours away from the Classic waters.
Carden doesn’t even have to travel far to get to the Classic on Lake Guntersville. He only lives 2 hours away from the Classic waters.
Jeff Lugar won the overall event and will represent the Mid-Atlantic in the Classic.
Jeff Lugar won the overall event and will represent the Mid-Atlantic in the Classic.
Last year’s overall champion, Dove, passed on the Bryan V. Kerchal Memorial Trophy to Lugar.
Last year’s overall champion, Dove, passed on the Bryan V. Kerchal Memorial Trophy to Lugar.
Lugar holds up his hardware.
Lugar holds up his hardware.
Lugar told the crowd that this trophy means so much. “It’s a dream come true,” he said. “I still can’t even believe it.”
Lugar told the crowd that this trophy means so much. “It’s a dream come true,” he said. “I still can’t even believe it.”
These six contenders will represent the B.A.S.S. Nation in the Classic: From left are Tim Johnston, Paul Mueller, Mark Dove, Jeff Lugar, Doug Thompson and Coby Carden.
These six contenders will represent the B.A.S.S. Nation in the Classic: From left are Tim Johnston, Paul Mueller, Mark Dove, Jeff Lugar, Doug Thompson and Coby Carden.
Eddie Plemons, president of the Alabama B.A.S.S. Nation, took the stage to make a special presentation.
Eddie Plemons, president of the Alabama B.A.S.S. Nation, took the stage to make a special presentation.
Plemons asked a surprised Don Corkran, who retired earlier this year as B.A.S.S. Nation director, to stand and come to the stage.
Plemons asked a surprised Don Corkran, who retired earlier this year as B.A.S.S. Nation director, to stand and come to the stage.
All the current B.A.S.S. Nation state presidents stood at the front of the stage to welcome Corkran.
All the current B.A.S.S. Nation state presidents stood at the front of the stage to welcome Corkran.
Plemons thanked Corkran for his years of service to the B.A.S.S. Nation.
Plemons thanked Corkran for his years of service to the B.A.S.S. Nation.
Stewart told Corkran the B.A.S.S. Nation presidents have two presents for him — a fancy wristwatch and a special framed photograph.
Stewart told Corkran the B.A.S.S. Nation presidents have two presents for him — a fancy wristwatch and a special framed photograph.
Corkran gets emotional when he sees the photo.
Corkran gets emotional when he sees the photo.
The photo is of Corkran pointing to the scales, showing Bryan Kerchal that he had earned a Bassmaster Classic berth. Ray Scott, founder of B.A.S.S., is between them.
The photo is of Corkran pointing to the scales, showing Bryan Kerchal that he had earned a Bassmaster Classic berth. Ray Scott, founder of B.A.S.S., is between them.
The iconic photograph is from the 1994 B.A.S.S. Nation Championship.
The iconic photograph is from the 1994 B.A.S.S. Nation Championship.
Kerchal went on to win the 1994 Bassmaster Classic. The 24-year-old angler made history by being the first ever B.A.S.S. Nation representative to win the Classic. The young man, a personal friend of Corkran’s, was killed in a plane crash five months after his win.
Kerchal went on to win the 1994 Bassmaster Classic. The 24-year-old angler made history by being the first ever B.A.S.S. Nation representative to win the Classic. The young man, a personal friend of Corkran’s, was killed in a plane crash five months after his win.
Plemons again thanked Corkran in the final official moment of the 2013 B.A.S.S. Nation Championship.
Plemons again thanked Corkran in the final official moment of the 2013 B.A.S.S. Nation Championship.