For immediate release

Dec. 21, 2006

 

ROSTER FOR 2007 BASSMASTER ELITE SERIES GROWS

2007 Bassmaster Classic Champion, Federation Nation National Champion Also Will Have Opportunities to Join Elite Field

 

CELEBRATION, Fla. – On the heels of a successful inaugural Bassmaster Elite Series season, 108 of the world’s best anglers will compete in the 2007 Bassmaster Elite Series, BASS, the worldwide authority on bass fishing announced today.  The 108 anglers represent 177 BASS tournament victories, 13 Bassmaster Angler of the Year titles and 11 Bassmaster Classic victories.

 

The star-studded field will kick off the 2007 Bassmaster Elite Series season in less than three months with the “Battle on the Border presented by Longhorn” on Lake Amistad in Del Rio, Texas, March 8-11.  During the course of the season, the Elite field will compete for nearly $7.5 million in cash during the 11-event circuit, while co-anglers will vie for more than $1.2 million in cash and awards.

 

“We are excited to build on what we all accomplished in our inaugural season of the Elite Series,” said Jim Downs, BASS senior director of events.  “The feedback that we have received from anglers who are both qualified and those who are seeking to qualify has been tremendous.  This is truly a field of elite anglers.”  

 

The 11 Elite Series events will determine one of the most prestigious awards in bass fishing, the Bassmaster Angler of the Year, which qualifies anglers for the Elite Series and the Classic and will award a $600,000 total prize purse in 2007 including a $125,000 grand prize. 

 

“I have fished a number of different levels and a number of different tournament series all over the world,” said Mike Iaconelli, the reigning Bassmaster Angler of the Year.  “You can’t find the prestige and the level of competition associated with the Bassmaster Elite Series anywhere else.  This is the highest level of competitive tournament fishing and that really means something to me.”

 

Although the majority of the field is set, there are two spots to be determined.  The 2007 Bassmaster Classic champion and the 2007 Federation Nation National champion will both be eligible for the 2007 Elite Series. 

 

While many 2007 Elite anglers will be familiar faces who competed on the groundbreaking circuit in its initial season, a host of new anglers who qualified through one of two Bassmaster Tours and the season-ending Bassmaster Elite Series Wildcard tournament will participate in 2007.  A complete list of 2007 Elite anglers organized in alphabetical order can be found below.    

 

“I have always dreamt of qualifying for the top level of bass fishing and right now, by far and away, that is the Elite Series,” said Texan James Niggemeyer, who qualified for the Bassmaster Elite Series from his first-place finish in the Bassmaster Southern Tour points standings.  “This is the only place where you can develop a career financially and remain an asset to your sponsors.  This is just a dream come true.”

 

To download related photos and the Bassmaster Elite Series logo, click here. 

 

BASS is the worldwide authority on bass fishing, sanctioning more than 20,000 events through the BASS Federation Nation annually.  Guided by its mission to serve all fishing fans, BASS sets the standard for credibility, professionalism, sportsmanship and conservation, as it has for nearly 40 years.

 

BASS sanctions and stages bass fishing tournaments for every skill level and culminates with the CITGO Bassmaster Classic.  Through its clubs, youth programs, aquatic resource advocacy, magazine publishing and multimedia platforms, BASS offers the industry’s widest array of services and support to its nearly 530,000 members.  The organization is headquartered in Celebration, Fla. 

 

For more information, contact BASS/ESPN Outdoors Communications at (407) 566-2208 or visit www.Bassmaster.com.

 

2007 Bassmaster Elite Series Competitors

1.   Matt Amedeo                                               Akron, Ohio
2.   Rick Ash                                                       Pottstown, Pa. 
3.   Casey Ashley                                              Donalds, S.C.
4.   Lee Bailey                                                    Boaz, Ala.     
5.   Tommy Biffle                                                Wagoner, Okla.
6.   Jon Bondy                                                    Windsor, Ontario
7.   Denny Brauer                                              Camdenton, Mo.
8.   Ken Brodeur                                                Niantic, Conn.
9.   Stephen Browning                                      Hot Springs , Ark.
10.   Terry Butcher                                               Talala, Okla.
11.   Scott Campbell                                           Springfield , Mo. 
12.   Brent Chapman                                           Lake Quivira , Ks.
13.   James Charlesworth                                   St. Cloud, Fla.
14.   Preston Clark                                              Palatka, Fla.
15.   Rick Clunn                                                    Ava, Mo.
16.   Jeff Connella                                                Bentley, La.
17.   Ken Cook                                                     Meers, Okla.
18.   John Crews                                                  Salem, Va.
19.   Steve Daniel                                                Clewiston, Fla.
20.   Glenn DeLong                                             Bellville, Ohio
21.   Kurt Dove                                                     Warrenton, Va. 
22.   Boyd Duckett                                               Demopolis, Ala.
23.   Guy Eaker                                                    Cherryville, N.C. 
24.   Paul Elias                                                     Pachuta, Miss.
25.   Edwin Evers                                                Talala, Okla.
26.   Todd Faircloth                                             Jasper, Texas
27.   Jami Fralick                                                 Martin, S.D.
28.   Grant Goldbeck                                           Gaithersburg , Md.
29.   Shaw Grigsby                                              Gainesville , Fla.
30.   Greg Gutierrez                                             Red Bluff, Calif.
31.   Greg Hackney                                             Gonzales, La.
32.   Bradley Hallman                                          Norman, Okla.
33.   Charlie Hartley                                             Grove City, Ohio
34.   Kenyon Hill                                                   Norman, Okla.
35.   Paul Hirosky                                                Guys Mills, Pa. 
36.   Davy Hite                                                     Ninety Six, S.C.
37.   Timmy Horton                                              Muscle Shoals, Ala.
38.   Randy Howell                                               Springville, Ala.
39.   Bryan Hudgins                                             Orange Park, Fla
40.   Michael Iaconelli                                          Runnemede, N.J.
41.   Alton Jones                                                  Waco, Tex.
42.   Kelly Jordon                                                 Mineola, Texas
43.   James Kennedy                                          Lacombe, La. 
44.   Steve Kennedy                                            Auburn, Ala.
45.   Kotaro Kiriyama                                          Moody, Ala.
46.   Gary Klein                                                    Weatherford, Texas
47.   Jeff Kriet                                                       Ardmore, Okla.
48.   Chris Lane                                                   Winter Haven, Fla.
49.   Russ Lane                                                    Prattville, Ala.
50.   Kevin Langill                                                Terrell, N.C.
51.   Jared Lintner                                               Arroyo Grande, Calif.
52.   Bill Lowen                                                    Cincinnati, Ohio
53.   Elton Luce Jr.                                               Brookeland, Texas
54.   Aaron Martens                                             Leeds, Ala.
55.   Jimmy Mason                                              Rogersville, Ala. 
56.   Ben Matsubu                                               Hemphill, Texas
57.   Mike McClelland                                         Bella Vista, Ark.
58.   Mark Menendez                                          Paducah, Ky.
59.   Doc Merkin                                                  Downers Groove, Ill. 
60.   Yusuke Miyazaki                                         Mineola, Texas
61.   Jimmy Mize                                                  Ben Lomond, Ark.
62.   Ish Monroe                                                   Hughson, Calif.
63.   Rick Morris                                                  Virginia Beach, Va.
64.   Jim Murray                                                   Arabi, Ga.
65.   John Murray                                                 Phoenix, Ariz.
66.   Britt Myers                                                    Mt. Holly, N.C.
67.   Eric Nethery                                                 Acworth, Ga. 
68.   James Niggemeyer                                    Lindale, Texas
69.   Takahiro Omori                                           Emory, Texas
70.   Cliff Pace                                                     Petal, Miss.   . 
71.    Keith Phillips                                               Calera, Ala.
72.   Pete Ponds                                                  Madison, Miss.
73.   Jason Quinn                                                 Lake Wylie, S.C.
74.   Matt Reed                                                    Madisonville, Texas
75.   Skeet Reese                                               Auburn, Calif.
76.   Derek Remitz                                              Hemphill, Texas
77.   Jeff Reynolds                                               Idabel, Okla.
78.   Marty Robinson                                           Landrum, S.C.
79.   Mark Rogers                                                Naples, Fla. 
80.   Dean Rojas                                                  Lake Havasu, Ariz.
81.   Scott Rook                                                   Little Rock , Ark.
82.   Fred Roumbanis                                         Auburn, Calif.
83.   Zell Rowland                                                Montgomery, Texas
84.   Frank Scalish                                              Cleveland Heights, Ohio
85.   Bernie Schultz                                             Gainesville , Fla.
86.   Darrin Schwenkbeck                                  Silver Spring, Md.
87.   Terry Scroggins                                           Palatka, Fla.
88.   Ray Sedgwick                                             Cross, S.C.
89.   Morizo Shimizu                                            Suita Osaka, Japan
90.   Kevin Short                                                  Mayflower, Ark. 
91.   Bill Smith                                                      Somerset, Ky. 
92.   Dave Smith                                                  Del City, Okla.
93.   Brian Snowden                                            Reeds Spring, Mo.
94.   Matthew Sphar                                            Pavilion, N.Y.
95.   Jeremy Starks                                             Charleston, W. Va. 
96.   Marty Stone                                                 Linden, N.C.
97.   Bradley Stringer                                          Huntington, Texas
98.   Gerald Swindle                                            Hayden, Ala.
99.   Peter Thliveros                                            Jacksonville , Fla.
100.   Mark Tucker                                                 Saint Louis, Mo.
101.   Mark Tyler                                                    Scottsdale, Ariz.
102.   Kevin VanDam                                            Kalamazoo, Mich.
103.   Byron Velvick                                               Boulder City, Nev.
104.   Jason Williamson                                        Aiken, S.C.
105.   Kevin Wirth                                                   Crestwood, Ky.
106.   Dave Wolak                                                  Warrior Run, Pa.
107.   Mike Wurm                                                   Hot Springs, Ark.
108.   Charlie Youngers                                         Oviedo, Fla.