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IN 2 DEEP TOPS CLASS OF 23' IN DIVISION 3!

by Jack Holmes

Seventh last year, first this year! A tremendous effort on behalf of Kevin and Katherine O'Neale from Charleston, South Carolina. Fishing a 23' Yamaha powered Sailfish named In 2 Deep, the team scored a three-fish aggregate of 96.02 points, the second highest aggregate of all teams competing in Division 3. They started with a 29.10 in the Tailwalker event, then impressed everyone with a 32.04 at Rhump's and came through again in the Miracles tournament where they scaled a 34.88. Their score would also propel Katherine to the top of the Lady's Division. This is definitely one of the best Class teams fishing today. They didn't do as well as I expected last year in the big show, but with this victory their confidence level should propel them into victory lane. They have to be a favorite.

Summerville, South Carolina's Jack and Eren Bracewell's Eren's Addiction Too was the bubble boat in qualifying last year in the Class and proceeded to show everyone they didn't like the basement. With an 86.70 aggregate they set the stage for a great husband and wife rivalry between the Addiction and In 2 Deep. The Bracewells scaled a 29.80 at Tailwalker, then hoisted a 34.28 on the scale at Rhump's and ended with a 22.62 at Frantic Atlantic. I believe that this friendly rivalry could make both teams work harder at the Nationals. This is great for our sport!

Our Charleston, South Carolina Class of 23' 2003 National Champion, Robert Olsen, came back this year to let everyone know he's not done with the victory circle yet. A third place, three-fish aggregate of 84.95 proves that. He's fishing a 23' Yamaha powered Sailfish named Knot @ Work and I fully expect to see him and his team of Mark Gabrielle, Bob Olynick, George Sauille and Jerry Tumbleston in the top ten at the big show. Time to go to work again Robert!

Dirk McDonald's 23' Yamaha powered Contender named Sea D's took the fourth slot with 83.15 points. Scaling a 19.63, a 37.35 and a 26.17 by Steve Dupriest, Dalton McDonald, Steve Vernarec and Drayton McDonald, the team went from 25th last year to a top five finish. Great, just great! Nothing thrills me more than to see a team work hard and be rewarded for their efforts. This is one of those teams.

Rounding out the top five is Bryan Baxter's Net Profit from Sullivans Island, South Carolina. He and Robert Balderson, Chad Kobes and Matthew De Antonio put together a stringer worth 76.90 points. The Yamaha powered Sea Craft team's biggest king, a 37.36, was caught at the Frantic Atlantic. This is a first-year team that certainly has made an impression on the sport and the rest of their Divisional competitors.

Raymond, Samantha, Chris and Craig Stivender, plus Bryan Lemacks fished the Whip Lash to a sixth place overall standing with 76.61 points. The team just missed qualifying in the Open Class in '04 but they made it happen this year. A great performance. They fish a Yamaha powered Sailfish. I'm sure they will be impressed as well.

Chad and Jay Stewart, Robert Shapiro and Matthew Cline picked up seventh thanks to a 75.59 aggregate. Fishing the Yamaha powered Contender, Bloodline, the team had fish all in the mid- to high-twenties. Good consistency. This is the first year qualifying in this boat. It won't be their last!

Eighth place fell to Tony and Alex Armstrong's Double Take. Adding Daniel Mikell and Bill Loftin to the team they amassed 75.3 points with a 32-pounder being scaled at Rhump's. The team fishes an Evinrude powered Hydra Sports. They fished on Daniel's boat, the Happy Daze, last year and qualified 12th. Nice improvement. Whatever it takes, get the job done seems to be their rallying cry.

Charles Stephens' Shady Grady won this Division last year and he's right back in the top ten this year earning ninth. Together with Scotty McInerny they picked up 73.12 points. They picked up 11th last year in Biloxi so my opinion hasn't diminished. I think these are world-class fishermen and capable of winning it all at the Nationals. I know they won't prove me wrong.

Rounding out the top ten was William Freeman's Southern Style. With Jimmy McCants, Will Freeman and Jamey Johns they moved up 10 places in the rankings this season. Improvement and experience is the name of the game in this sport. Their aggregate was 73.12. Not to shabby, now a big finish in the Nationals will give them the confidence to be at the top of their game next season. Great job guys!

I like South Carolina fishermen. I believe they have to work harder for all their fish giving them an edge in the big show. Don't come to party, come to fish and one of these top ten finishers will be our Champion.