Wabash Valley College Bass Team Honors Anglers for the 2023-24 Season

Posted: May 09, 2024

The Wabash Valley College Bass Team had their awards night on Wednesday evening of May 8th. The Warriors are currently ranked 17th in the Nation in the School of the Year race and had much to celebrate from this past season. Coach Todd Gill welcomed everyone to the college and the anglers and their families shared a meal together. A season recap was given and a collective thank you was offered to the college and the more than 60 sponsors that helped fund the expense of travel to and from events along with tournament entry fees and lodging while on the road.

Coach Gill began the awards night by recognizing the Club Officers that served this season. Club President was Mason Gross, Vice-President was Hunter Russell, Secretary/Treasurer was Braden Thompson, Club Marketing Director was Nathan Kallstrand, Asst. Marketing Director was Sam Ausbrooks, and the Club Tournament Director was Gannon Stork.

The Angler of the Year award was presented to the angler that had the best average in their percentage of finish for each event this season. Three anglers ended up within a tenth of a percent of one another so three anglers were given this award this year. Those anglers were Hunter Sandschafer, Hunter Russell, and Caden Pearson. They all had an average finish in the top 1/3 of the tournament field, beating over 66% of the tournament field on average at every event. Each angler scored points for Wabash Valley College in six or more events this season. The team is excited that all three anglers will be returning to Wabash Valley College for the 2024-25 season. The Co-Angler of the Year award was presented to Blake Beckmann who had an average percentage of finish of 31.4%. Beckmann is graduating with a degree in Electrical Distribution Systems and will be transferring to continue his studies in electrical work.

The Big Bass of the Year award was presented to Dalton Phelps. Phelps caught a 6 lbs. 11 oz. bass on his final cast of the second day of the Strike King Bassmaster College event held on Kentucky Lake in April. That bass helped him and teammate Gannon Stork to a 20 lbs. bag that day and a qualification to the 2024 Strike King Bassmaster College National Championship.

The Wabash Valley College Bass Warrior of the Year is an award that is voted on by the anglers and is presented each year to the angler that is considered to be a great teammate and overall significant contributor to the team. Coach Gill stated that 8 anglers received votes this year which is a great problem to have, but the angler who received the most votes was freshman angler Hunter Russell of Salem, Illinois. Russell is majoring in business and is signed to return to WVC for his sophomore year.

Coach Gill then recognized the anglers who qualified for a National Championship this season. Hunter Russell and Benny Blank were the first to qualify this year and did so by winning the Bassmaster Illinois State Championship last November on Lake Kinkaid. They will compete in the Strike King Bassmaster College National Championship this coming August on Lake Hartwell. Dalton Phelps and Gannon Stork and Brogan Gregg and Peyton Rose also qualified for the Strike King Bassmaster College National Championship. They qualified in a Bassmaster College event on Kentucky Lake by finishing 26th and 27th respectively out of 216 boats this April. Caden Pearson and Nathan Kallstrand qualified for the Association of Collegiate Anglers National Championship by finishing 8th out of 220 boats on Lake Hartwell in April. They will represent WVC this May on Pickwick Lake in that Championship.

Perhaps the most important recognition of the evening according to Gill, was the recognition of graduates. Benny Blank is graduating with a degree in welding technology. Blake Beckmann is graduating with a degree in electrical distribution systems. Braden Thompson is graduating with a degree in agricultural technology production & business. Brogan Gregg is graduating with a degree in electrical distribution systems. Carter Smith is graduating with an associate degree in general studies. Dalton Phelps is graduating with a degree in agricultural technology production & business. Gannon Stork is graduating with a degree in marketing business management. Hunter Sandschafer is graduating with a degree in electrical distribution systems. Luke Dardeen is graduating with a degree in industrial maintenance technology. Nathan Kallstrand is graduating with an associate degree in science. Sam Ausbrooks is graduating with a degree in electrical distribution systems.

The awards portion of the evening ended with the signing of nine anglers who will be returning to Wabash Valley College for another season. Those anglers include: Brogan Gregg, Caden Pearson, Carter Smith, Connor Becker, Dalton Phelps, Hunter Russell, Hunter Sandschafer, Peyton Rose, and Sam Ausbrooks. The banquet concluded with a lengthy highlight video from the season sharing video and photos that captured many of the successes and funny moments shared by the anglers this season. The video should be available soon for viewing on the clubs newly launched YouTube channel. The Wabash Valley College Bass Team will finish out their 2023-24 season with events on Pickwick Lake, May 23-24 and on Saginaw Bay, June 6-7.

Those interested in learning more about the Wabash Valley College Bass Team can visit www.wvcwarriorathletics.com, click on Club Teams and select Bass Fishing. High school juniors and seniors that have an interest in a campus visit can fill out the recruiting questionnaire and Coach Gill will contact them to discuss the team and schedule a campus visit. You can also keep up with WVC Bass Team news by following them on Facebook @WVC Bass Team and on Instagram @wvcbassteam.