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BASS' AMERICAN MADE IS BEST OF CLASS OF 23' IN DIVISION 9!

by Jack Holmes

Jason Bass had a grueling season in Division 9 last year but proved what I thought his Amercian Made team, Dianne Bass and Robert Olsen, was made of. This is an excellent Class of 23' team. Their 71.88 three-fish aggregate was 15 points better than their closest rivals. The team earned 19.18 points at the Greater Willimgton event followed by a great 36.85 in the Jolly Mon. The final king was a 15.85 from the Fall Brawl. Jason fishes a 23' Mercury powered Sea Ray and gets to go to the Nationals on Mercury and the SKA. It's great to be at the top, but it's your talent that earned it.

Burt and Margaret Ferebee, whom have to be classed as one of the best husband and wife teams in the country, finished second with just two fish. A 33-pounder in the Wilmington tournament and a 23.70 in the King of the Cape earned them 56.70 points. The Mercury powered Contender team went to Biloxi last year and picked up fourth. National Champions? Why not, I won't bet against them. Brad Buck also fishes with the Ferebees.

Michael Motley's Motley's Crew picked up third with 56.55 points, just shy of second. Motley and Leonard Woodring ran his 20' Yamaha powered Edgewater in the Jolly Mon and scaled a 14.50. Then they scaled a nice 31.35 at King of the Cape and ended with a 10.70 in the Fall Brawl. Motley proved that you always weigh the fish you catch. It really paid off here. Congratulations!

Daniel Mason also fishes a 20-footer. He and Andrew Smeltzer pushed the Mercury powered Bayliner into fourth in a very tight race between second and fifth. The Gone Again had a two-fish aggregate of 56.32 points on the strength of a great 38.52, the biggest king of the year in the Division's Class of 23', caught in the Greater Wilmington. A third fish over 16 pounds would have won the Division for them. Keep up the good work guys.

This is the first time I've ever seen two 20-foot boats finish so high in the standings in a long time. A great representation of effort and talent. In fact the third through fifth place teams weren't even in the standings last year.

Rounding out the top five was David Henderson's Ain't Life Grand, a 23' KenCraft. Henderson's three-fish aggregate totaled 56.10. He fishes with John Lambert, Jr. and weighed their biggest king, a 21.10, in the Fall Brawl. This team has great potential.

John Cruise only scaled 27 pounds in this Division last year but almost doubled that with 52.85 points this year, earning sixth on the Cruise Control II. His Yamaha powered Sailfish with Curtis and Hunter Bolick and Scott and Jennifer Cruise on board had a beautiful 35.90 at the Greater Wilmington. You have to be proud of your effort and I know that you can win this Division next year.

The Playin Hooky was seventh with 52.75 points. Thomas Hemphill, Jay Keener and Tina Roppolo caught their biggest king, a 20.90, in the Jolly Mon and ended with 52.75 points. The Yamaha powered Starcraft team won third in the Division last year, which shows good consistency. Certainly one of the top teams to beat in this Division.

Abagail was fourth last year and eighth this year with 52.45 points. Three nice fish from Captain Richard Edwards, Lance Lomax, Ryan Robinson and Randy Holt. Another great season from a real good team who fish a Yamaha powered Regulator.

Ninth fell to the King Hunter with James Roberts II at the helm. A marked improvement from last year. Roberts along with Tiffany Shearon and Hunter Roberts had a three-fish aggregate of 50.77.

Rounding out the top ten was Jack Paczosa's Done Deal. With Jason Porter and Bailey and Steven Hall they earned 50.3 points.

This is a good Class of 23' Division. It's loaded with talent, and like last season proved that any one of these teams are capable of winning their Division. Plus, remember a lot of these teams compete in Division 12. You all must be very proud of producing such great competition.