Meet the 2013 JWC contenders

Twelve young men will gather in Arkansas to put their skills to the test in the 2013 Bassmaster Junior World Championship.

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<p>The 2013 Bassmaster Junior World Championship is coming up, Oct. 26, in Arkansas, and young anglers all over the country have worked toward a berth in the final JWC. The following 12 young men are the last ones standing after the six divisionals, and they’ll put their skills to the test against their peers at the end of this month. Meet the contenders, and <a href=
The 2013 Bassmaster Junior World Championship is coming up, Oct. 26, in Arkansas, and young anglers all over the country have worked toward a berth in the final JWC. The following 12 young men are the last ones standing after the six divisionals, and they’ll put their skills to the test against their peers at the end of this month. Meet the contenders, and download a scorecard here.
Remington Wagner, 14, qualified to compete in the younger division (ages 11 to 14) through the Central Division. He’s a member of Kansas’ Puddle Jumpers club, and he enjoys hunting, trapping and golf when he’s not fishing. He is sponsored by K.D.’s Custom Rods.
Remington Wagner, 14, qualified to compete in the younger division (ages 11 to 14) through the Central Division. He’s a member of Kansas’ Puddle Jumpers club, and he enjoys hunting, trapping and golf when he’s not fishing. He is sponsored by K.D.’s Custom Rods.
Noah Winslow, 14, is a member of the Connecticut B.A.S.S. Nation’s Bass Lightning club. He qualified only a couple of weeks ago at the Eastern Divisional in Maine. This will be Winslow’s first appearance at the JWC. He enjoys hunting, basketball and track.
Noah Winslow, 14, is a member of the Connecticut B.A.S.S. Nation’s Bass Lightning club. He qualified only a couple of weeks ago at the Eastern Divisional in Maine. This will be Winslow’s first appearance at the JWC. He enjoys hunting, basketball and track.
Ryan Appleby, 13, will represent his home state of Maryland in the JWC. He qualified at the Mid-Atlantic Divisional. Appleby is a member of the Junior Potomac River Bassmasters, and likes hunting in addition to fishing.
Ryan Appleby, 13, will represent his home state of Maryland in the JWC. He qualified at the Mid-Atlantic Divisional. Appleby is a member of the Junior Potomac River Bassmasters, and likes hunting in addition to fishing.
Roman Chapman of Minnesota qualified for the JWC through the Northern Divisional in South Dakota. He’s a member of the Bassinators.
Roman Chapman of Minnesota qualified for the JWC through the Northern Divisional in South Dakota. He’s a member of the Bassinators.
Clayton Childs, 15, is competing on behalf of the Southern Division, representing Georgia. He’s a member of the Lake Oconee Bass Masters, and he likes hunting, going to church and driving his 4x4 truck.
Clayton Childs, 15, is competing on behalf of the Southern Division, representing Georgia. He’s a member of the Lake Oconee Bass Masters, and he likes hunting, going to church and driving his 4×4 truck.
Ryan Wood, 15, is traveling to Arkansas from his home in Colorado to represent the West. He’s a member of the Denver Junior Bassmasters. He’s lined up a few sponsors, including The B.A.S.S. Nation Alliance, St. Croix Rods, TroKar hooks, Strike KIng and Fishful Thinker. For fun, he ties flies, makes works, hunts and plays guitar.
Ryan Wood, 15, is traveling to Arkansas from his home in Colorado to represent the West. He’s a member of the Denver Junior Bassmasters. He’s lined up a few sponsors, including The B.A.S.S. Nation Alliance, St. Croix Rods, TroKar hooks, Strike KIng and Fishful Thinker. For fun, he ties flies, makes works, hunts and plays guitar.
Trevor Yates, 16, will compete in the older age group (ages 15 to 18) on behalf of the Central Division. Yates is a member of the Stillwater Junior Bassmasters in Oklahoma. He hunts and plays baseball and basketball. He has sponsors, too, including A&M Baits, Thru Tubing, Whopper Baits, Brad’s Boat Sales, Bass Kwondo and Kickers.
Trevor Yates, 16, will compete in the older age group (ages 15 to 18) on behalf of the Central Division. Yates is a member of the Stillwater Junior Bassmasters in Oklahoma. He hunts and plays baseball and basketball. He has sponsors, too, including A&M Baits, Thru Tubing, Whopper Baits, Brad’s Boat Sales, Bass Kwondo and Kickers.
Brian Volkernick, 17, qualified for the JWC in his home state of Maine just a couple of weeks ago at the Eastern Divisional. He’s a member of the L/A Junior Bassmasters. He competed in the JWC in 2008 when he was only 12 years old. He likes baseball, soccer, deer hunting, running and volunteering. He lists the Maine B.A.S.S. Nation, Grizz Baits and his parents as his sponsors.
Brian Volkernick, 17, qualified for the JWC in his home state of Maine just a couple of weeks ago at the Eastern Divisional. He’s a member of the L/A Junior Bassmasters. He competed in the JWC in 2008 when he was only 12 years old. He likes baseball, soccer, deer hunting, running and volunteering. He lists the Maine B.A.S.S. Nation, Grizz Baits and his parents as his sponsors.
Henry Schomaker, 18, is a member of the New River Junior Bassmasters in the B.A.S.S. Nation of West Virginia. He’ll represent the Mid-Atlantic Division in the JWC for the third time. He likes hunting and doing homework. Dobyns Rods is his sponsor.
Henry Schomaker, 18, is a member of the New River Junior Bassmasters in the B.A.S.S. Nation of West Virginia. He’ll represent the Mid-Atlantic Division in the JWC for the third time. He likes hunting and doing homework. Dobyns Rods is his sponsor.
Daryk Levi Eckert, 18, will compete in the older age group for the Northern Division. He’s in the Buckeye Nation Junior Bassmasters in Ohio. Eckert attends Washington State Community College, and in his spare time, he hunts and raises show cattle. His sponsors include Skeeter, Yamaha, Boat Boys, Solar Bat and Warrior Baits.
Daryk Levi Eckert, 18, will compete in the older age group for the Northern Division. He’s in the Buckeye Nation Junior Bassmasters in Ohio. Eckert attends Washington State Community College, and in his spare time, he hunts and raises show cattle. His sponsors include Skeeter, Yamaha, Boat Boys, Solar Bat and Warrior Baits.
Ben Stone, 17, is a member of the Dixie Hornet Anglers in South Carolina. He will compete in the older age group for the Southern Division. He likes hunting, football and riding dirt bikes. His sponsors are the town of Donalds, S.C., John Deere, Upstate Metals, W.K. Brown Timber, Sportsman’s One Stop, ATL Transportation, D&D Tree Service and Superior Roofing.
Ben Stone, 17, is a member of the Dixie Hornet Anglers in South Carolina. He will compete in the older age group for the Southern Division. He likes hunting, football and riding dirt bikes. His sponsors are the town of Donalds, S.C., John Deere, Upstate Metals, W.K. Brown Timber, Sportsman’s One Stop, ATL Transportation, D&D Tree Service and Superior Roofing.
Chase Heaton, 20, is a member of the Inland Empire Bass Club in Washington. He’ll represent the Western Division in the older age group. Heaton runs a fishing circuit called Northwest Bass, and in his spare time, he works at Dick’s Sporting Goods and follows the Bassmaster Elite Series. His sponsors are Nixon’s Marine, Sniper Lures, Bass Kick’n Baits, Wave Away, Northwest Bass, Keel Shield, Frenzy Baits and his family and friends.
Chase Heaton, 20, is a member of the Inland Empire Bass Club in Washington. He’ll represent the Western Division in the older age group. Heaton runs a fishing circuit called Northwest Bass, and in his spare time, he works at Dick’s Sporting Goods and follows the Bassmaster Elite Series. His sponsors are Nixon’s Marine, Sniper Lures, Bass Kick’n Baits, Wave Away, Northwest Bass, Keel Shield, Frenzy Baits and his family and friends.