STEVENS POINT, Wis.— The team portion of the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Championship is in the books and Josh Bensema and Matthew Mcardle of Texas A&M University took home the title. The Texas duo tamed the tough Lake DuBay conditions and overcame numerous obstacles on the final day to prove their worth as the Champions of the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series.
Now that the title is settled the Top 4 teams split up into an 8-angler individual bracket. The prize at stake is a berth to the 2016 Bassmaster Classic on Grand Lake in Tulsa, Okla. Not to mention, the winning angler will have a year’s worth of Opens paid for and will get a fully rigged and wrapped truck and boat combo.
Anglers will head out in identical Nitro Z-7 boats and will be matched up against another angler, here are the matchups: Bensema of Texas A&M vs. Andrew Helms of UNC Charlotte, Mcardle of Texas A&M vs. Jake Whitaker of UNC Charlotte, Trevor Lo of Minnesota vs. Allyson Marcel of Nicholls State, and Chris Burgan of Minnesota vs. Tyler Rivet of Nicholls State.
TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
Josh Bensema
Hometown: Willis, Tex.
Year: Sophomore
Degree: Wildlife and Fisheries
What is it like winning the first National Championship you competed in? “It’s a dream come true. It gives me confidence that I can accomplish my dreams and they aren’t too big to overcome.”
Matthew Mcardle
Hometown: Crosby, Texas
Year: Senior
Degree: Wildlife and Fisheries
How much has college fishing changed since you fished the championship in 2010? “There were 44 teams, there was no Carhartt yet, and the coverage we have now is just amazing. So much goes into college fishing now.”
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
Trevor Lo
Hometown: St. Paul, Minn.
Year: Junior
Degree: Marketing
What does it mean to you to come so close to a title, but still have a shot at the Classic? “It’s surreal and it hasn’t sunk in yet. It is very humbling to make the Top 5 and now we get to fish individually in the bracket. The bracket format is intense.”
Chris Burgan
Hometown: Rhinelander, Wis.
Year: Senior
Degree: Communications and Psychology
What’s it like watching the bracket unfold last year and now you are in it one year later? “Last year I had a few buddies who made it and I kind of lived vicariously through them and now I get to do it. This format is the different than any other and it’s really cool.”
NICHOLLS STATE UNIVERSITY
Tyler Rivet
Hometown: Raceland, La.
Year: Sophomore
Degree: Petroleum Engineer
Did you imagine having a shot at the Bassmaster Classic while fishing in college? “I never thought we would make this day and it’s a completely different world now. I didn’t think that my dreams would come true this quickly.”
Allyson Marcel
Hometown: Houma, La.
Year: Sophomore
Degree: Nursing
What’s it like being the first girl to make it this far? “It’s a good experience and I’ve met a lot of genuine people throughout this week. I hope more girls get involved after seeing this. This could open the doors for more girls in the future.”
NORTH CAROLINA-CHARLOTTE
Jake Whitaker
Hometown: Fairview, N.C.
Year: Senior
Degree: Civil Engineering
What does it mean to you to fish the bracket back-to-back years? “It’s awesome because how many people can say they did that? Another shot at the Classic is incredible and I’m thankful for another opportunity.”
Andrew Helms
Hometown: Monroe, N.C.
Year: Junior
Degree: Marketing
What does it mean to you to be in this position just like last year? “To get there last year was awesome. I wish we could’ve won it again, but another shot at the bracket is so cool. There is nothing like it.”
Local hosts for this event are the town of Stevens Point, Wis., the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.
Fans can follow all the action on Bassmaster.com. Features like the live weigh-in, live blog, leaderboard, photo galleries, articles, BASScam videos and much more.