Nation Championship: Champion's toast

Jon Stewart, B.A.S.S. Nation director, led the champion’s toast after Ryan Lavigne’s victory on Lake Conroe in the 2016 Academy Sports + Outdoors B.A.S.S. Nation Championship presented by Magellan Outdoors, Nov. 20.

Connor Megan of Yamaha thanked everyone for attending the championship and the annual meetings of B.A.S.S. Nation presidents and youth directors. “This is a special event,” said Megan. “I’m proud to be here on behalf of Yamaha.”

Dean Nunciato of Academy Sports + Outdoors similarly thanked the crowd. “Academy is so proud to be associated with this event,” said Nunciato. “There’s truly nothing like it.”

Audrey McKenney, president of the Colorado B.A.S.S. Nation, accepts a cash award on behalf of Colorado’s Nate Caldwell, who finished in 12th place.

Josh Ray of Arkansas accepts his prize for finishing in 11th place.

Danny Grantham of Alabama took his son, Liam, to accept his 10th-place check.

JJ Dickens of West Virginia finished in seventh place.

Michael Boggs II of Kentucky led on the first day but ended in fourth place.

Darrell Ocamica of Idaho finished as runner-up and earned a spot in the 2017 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro.

Ryan Lavigne, winner of the championship, is called up to accept his prize. He’s wearing his shy demeanor, enhanced by all the attention that had been heaped on him that day.

Nunciato picks up the Bryan V. Kerchal Memorial Trophy to present to him.

Lavigne won the championship as a nonboater, an unlikely outcome.

Stewart joins Nunciato for the presentation.

Lavigne and Nunciato receive their glasses of champagne for the toast.

Stewart leads the toast. “Ryan, we are so proud of you,” Stewart said. “We raise a glass to your success.”

Clink.

“Every time I look at this trophy, I’m going to think of Bryan Kerchal,” said Lavigne. Kerchal is the only Nation angler to have ever won the Bassmaster Classic. He died five months later in a plane crash.

“I thank everyone here and back home for all their support,” said Lavigne, a member of Louisiana’s Ascension Area Anglers.

Kevin Gaubert, president of the Louisiana B.A.S.S. Nation, joined him in front of the crowd to congratulate him on behalf of their state.

West Virginia’s youth director, president and nonboater contender were all on hand for the toast. They join the rest of the smiling faces you’ll see in the remainder of this gallery. The first day of youth director/president meetings had already taken place, and they were all ready for the second day of brainstorming and problem-solving.

These meetings are an opportunity for state leaders to share what’s worked and what hasn’t worked in their states so others can learn from them.

Many herald these meetings as the best opportunity to come together, share ideas and make friends with people all over the country with similar issues.

These meetings even extend knowledge across the globe, as representatives from several other countries, such as Japan, come to share their experiences, too.

Tennessee’s youth director, David Lowrie (left), has said that his goal is to beat Alabama’s youth director, Darrel High (right), in terms of numbers of young anglers. It’s a friendly competition that keeps the two learning from each other.

The Nation Championship is one of the rare places you can find representatives from West Virginia, Indiana and Australia in the same place.

Paul Kroisenbrunner of Ontario and John Foster of New Hampshire are having a good time.

Alan Pierce travels almost everywhere with B.A.S.S., and he brings his wife, Patti, whenever he can.

The Eastern contingent gets to hang out together here, as well. Ray Meyer of New Hampshire enjoys some time with Chip Servant and Jerry Ramasci of Massachusetts.

Josh Giran of Pennsylvania shares laughs with Curtis Spindler of Montana.

Audrey McKenney is always smiling.

Steve Lund of Arizona, who qualified for the Classic last year, visits with his Western friend, Mike Landy of California.

Chief Mark Torrez of California and Ron Horton of Delaware talk about president stuff from opposite ends of the country.

Strati Orphanides of Zimbabwe, left, was here on double duty. He competed for his country as Zimbabwe’s representative, then he stuck around in his role as president for the meetings.

B.A.S.S. staffers Jon Stewart, Hank Weldon and Max Leatherwood pose with the champ, Ryan Lavigne. The four will meet again in a few months at the Classic.