An Elite wife’s tears

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Kyle Welcher was in 21st place after Day 1 of the AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at St. Johns River, and at noon on Day 2 BASSTrakk showed he hadn’t limited yet. “BT showed at noon that he was in 21 place, and he only had 3 fish,” Hunter Welcher said. “I was stuck on that until the end of the tournament (day). At 12 (noon), I was just praying. Like, I prayed all day. I was, like, ‘Please, God, he’s worked so hard for this.’” What Hunter couldn’t know is that her husband had landed the 10-pounder and more than doubled that with the four other bass in his livewell.”
Kyle Welcher was in 21st place after Day 1 of the AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at St. Johns River, and at noon on Day 2 BASSTrakk showed he hadn’t limited yet. “BT showed at noon that he was in 21 place, and he only had 3 fish,” Hunter Welcher said. “I was stuck on that until the end of the tournament (day).

At 12 (noon), I was just praying. Like, I prayed all day. I was, like, ‘Please, God, he’s worked so hard for this.’”

What Hunter couldn’t know is that her husband had landed the 10-pounder and more than doubled that with the four other bass in his livewell.”

Hunter had her iPhone videoing as Kyle stepped onto the stage, and she was already crying. “I don’t know why I’m crying,” she said with a smile. “I’ve only cried about one other fish, and that was when Hunter was mean to me on the water.
Hunter had her iPhone videoing as Kyle stepped onto the stage, and she was already crying. “I don’t know why I’m crying,” she said with a smile. “I’ve only cried about one other fish, and that was when Hunter was mean to me on the water.”
Kyle Welcher declared his credentials to a big Palatka, Fla., crowd when he held up the 10-pounder on the weigh-in stage. “He calls me when he gets on the dock, and he’s, like, ‘You’ve got to come see this,’” Hunter said. “So I went over there, and I’ve been crying since.”
Kyle Welcher declared his credentials to a big Palatka, Fla., crowd when he held up the 10-pounder on the weigh-in stage. “He calls me when he gets on the dock, and he’s, like, ‘You’ve got to come see this,’” Hunter said. “So I went over there, and I’ve been crying since.”
Tears streamed down Hunters face as she watched her husband on the stage. “Kyle has worked so hard to be here,” she explained. “He’s, like, the most genuine person I know, and he deserves that bass. And for it to be his first Elite event, I’m blown away.”
Tears streamed down Hunters face as she watched her husband on the stage. “Kyle has worked so hard to be here,” she explained. “He’s, like, the most genuine person I know, and he deserves that bass. And for it to be his first Elite event, I’m blown away.”
As her husband talked about his day on the water with tournament emcee Dave Mercer, Hunter Welcher stood in front of the crowd documenting the moment and crying.
As her husband talked about his day on the water with tournament emcee Dave Mercer, Hunter Welcher stood in front of the crowd documenting the moment and crying.
Hunter Welcher saved a big kiss for her husband until they returned to his boat to head to the ramp.
Hunter Welcher saved a big kiss for her husband until they returned to his boat to head to the ramp.
As I walked away from the boat, I glanced back to see the Welchers still hugging. “I’m so proud,” Hunter said of her husband. “I can not be more proud.”
As I walked away from the boat, I glanced back to see the Welchers still hugging. “I’m so proud,” Hunter said of her husband. “I can not be more proud.”