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B.A.S.S. Nation competitors and their families gather for the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship awards banquet. From left to right are Strati Orphanides of Zimbabwe, Japie and Elandi Botha of South Africa, Kerry Orphanides, MoMo Wilson, Ian MacDonald of Illinois and his brother, Chase MacDonald.
Photo: Helen Northcutt
Delane and Tim Johnston join Albert Collins, Waine and Lori Pittman, and Neil and Heidi Engelbrecht at their dinner table.
Photo: Helen Northcutt
Southern Division champion and Classic qualifier Coby Carden poses for a photo with his wife, Jennifer, and their two kids, Caston and Chloe.
Photo: Helen Northcutt
The Japanese representative Koji Kuroda and his support team laugh along with B.A.S.S. Nation editor Tyler Wade.
Photo: Helen Northcutt
Presidents and youth directors from Massachusetts, Oregon, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Minnesota chat with B.A.S.S. Nation coordinator Emily Hand.
Photo: Helen Northcutt
Jon Stewart, director of B.A.S.S. Nation, welcomes the anglers and their families to a celebratory dinner following championship week.
Photo: Helen Northcutt
Bassmaster emcee Dave Mercer speaks about the triumphs of the championship week and prepares to hand out awards.
Photo: Helen Northcutt
"I always look forward to coming to the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship," said Mercer. "It's really like a family."
Photo: Helen Northcutt
To help announce B.A.S.S.'s premier sponsors, Mercer asks for help from the B.A.S.S. Nation crowd.
Photo: Helen Northcutt
Troy Diede, representing South Dakota, is honored as the Northern Division Classic contender.
Photo: Helen Northcutt
Doug Brownridge, of Canada, was given an award for finishing in 10th place in the championship.
Photo: Helen Northcutt
Randy Huffman, of West Virginia, shakes Stewart's hand as he is presented with the eighth-place award.
Photo: Helen Northcutt
Albert Collins, representing Texas, receives the award for finishing in seventh place.
Photo: Helen Northcutt
Steve Lund, from Arizona, is presented the award for becoming the 2015 Western Division Classic qualifier.
Photo: Helen Northcutt
Daniel Gray, of Pennsylvania, is awarded for his fifth-place finish.
Photo: Helen Northcutt
Teb Jones, representing Mississippi, receives his Central division Classic qualifier plaque.
Photo: Helen Northcutt
Jeff Lugar, of Virginia, returns to the 2015 GEICO Bassmaster Classic representing the Mid-Atlantic division.
Photo: Helen Northcutt
Carden, representing Alabama, makes his way to the stage to accept his Classic qualification with his family in tow.
Photo: Helen Northcutt
Mercer welcomes Paul Mueller, 2014 B.A.S.S. Nation champion, to the podium.
Photo: Helen Northcutt
Mueller waves to the applauding crowd.
Photo: Helen Northcutt
Lugar, who is the defending champion, says a few words about Mueller. The two have become friends since they competed in the Classic together last year. 2013 champion Lugar hands off the trophy to the new champion.
Photo: Helen Northcutt
"Paul is a stand-up guy," said Lugar. "When he talks about his faith, he really means it. He walks the walk."
Photo: Helen Northcutt
Lugar leads the audience in another round of applause ...
Photo: Helen Northcutt
... and then hands off the Bryan V. Kerchal Memorial Trophy to him.
Photo: Helen Northcutt
Two champions, two Classic competitors.
Photo: Helen Northcutt
Mueller thanks everyone for their support. Mueller says he is excited and grateful to be returning to the Bassmaster Classic.
Photo: Helen Northcutt
“This is incredible,” said Mueller after his win. “I’ve been thinking about the Bassmaster Classic all year. Anytime you get a chance to fish against the best in the sport, it’s amazing.”
Photo: Helen Northcutt
Paul Mueller is the only angler from Connecticut to win the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship since Bryan Kerchal did it in 1994 ...
Photo: Helen Northcutt
... a fact that Sylvia Morris, Connecticut B.A.S.S. Nation president, knows all too well. "We're finally bringing Bryan's trophy back home!" she said.
Photo: Helen Northcutt
The B.A.S.S. Nation crowd gives a standing ovation to Stewart and the staff ...
Photo: Helen Northcutt
... and to all the anglers.
Photo: Helen Northcutt
Montana B.A.S.S. Nation president Curtis Spindler poses with B.A.S.S. Nation coordinator Emily Hand.
Photo: Helen Northcutt
Collins and his wife, Amanda, are having fun as repeat guests at the championship dinner.
Photo: Helen Northcutt
Spain B.A.S.S. Nation president Haaby Gonzales and Spanish contender Eric Corbella Salvia made a long journey to get to America, and the pair get ready for their return to Europe the following morning.
Photo: Tyler Wade
Mueller and friends take photos at the championship banquet.
Photo: Tyler Wade
B.A.S.S. Nation members say their goodbyes.
Photo: Tyler Wade
Mercer gets a quick picture with Georgia contender Pittman and Rhode Island B.A.S.S. Nation president Roy Costa.
Photo: Tyler Wade
Mercer jokes with Helen Northcutt, B.A.S.S. communications manager, before the buses are loaded.
Photo: Tyler Wade
The bus is loaded and ready to take contenders home on the final night.
Photo: Tyler Wade
