With the Day 3 weigh-in of the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year Championship complete, Florida Elite Drew Cook has officially landed the DICK’S Sporting Goods Bassmaster Rookie of the Year title. Cook was awarded the trophy Tuesday at the AOY Championship in Detroit, Mich.
Three Top 10 finishes during the 2019 Bassmaster Elite Series season proved enough to earn Cook the award for 2019 even though he was competeing against a powerful lineup of newcomers.
As Cook said earlier in the Elite season, “This is a very talented rookie class filled with guys who have won at all levels. I’ve fished against most of them in college, and they are good and have won at every level there is. It’s a very stout class of rookies.”
Cook fished both the Eastern and Central Opens in 2018, earning his spot in the prestigious Bassmaster Elite Series.
Cook grew up on the shore of Lake Talquin, Fla., and while attending Robert F. Monroe, Cook competed in high school bass tournaments. In 2012 he won the Bassmaster Florida State Championship at Lake Okeechobee.
After high school, Cook attended Florida State University to pursue a degree in criminology and entrepreneurship. He also competed on the college’s bass fishing team.
See the full 2019 DICK’S Sporting Goods Bassmaster Rookie of the Year standings.