March 16, 2012
Pair captures college bass fishing tournament
CARBONDALE, ILL. -- Two students at Southern Illinois University Carbondale lit up the competitive angling world with a win at a college bass fishing competition in Missouri.
Ryan S. Dunn, a senior in biological sciences from Harrisburg, and Brandon C. Ringer, a senior in automotive technology from Springfield, won the National Guard FLW College Fishing Central Conference Tournament March 11 in Branson, Mo.
Bass fishing is a fast-growing sport that has even found its way into the high school sports arena in Illinois. Dunn and Ringer’s win comes on the eve of Saluki Bassers’ annual Saluki Fishing Preview, set for March 24. The event is aimed at recruiting high school students who are interested in the sport of fishing and outdoor recreation, said Harvey Henson, assistant dean for recruitment in the College of Science at SIU Carbondale.
“It is an opportunity for these outdoor-minded students to visit campus and explore the many wonderful academic opportunities available here,” Henson said. “This event is also an occasion to showcase the remarkable fishing and outdoor recreational opportunities of Southern Illinois. We have a lake and natural areas right on our campus, and the Shawnee National Forest and other natural areas surround the University.”
The event begins at 8:15 a.m. with registration and a welcome by the Saluki Bassers. At 10:30 a.m., participants will choose among several hands-on academic demonstrations in the areas of chemistry, computer science, engineering, fisheries, forestry/agricultural sciences, geology,
microbiology, physics, plant biology and zoology. Lunch will follow at the Campus Lake boat docks.
After lunch, participants will wet their hooks with the Saluki Bassers as club members do demonstrations on Campus Lake.
Undergraduate Admissions in partnership with the College of Science and the nationally ranked Saluki Bassers are sponsoring the event.
In Branson last weekend, Dunn and Ringer hauled in 5 pounds, 17 ounces of bass to win the tourney. Their success brought in $5,000 that will go toward supporting the Saluki Bassers. It also will advance the team to the Central Conference Regional Championship.
Since its beginning in 2004, the Saluki Bassers have become nationally ranked. The group fishes local tournaments as well as several national tournaments each year.
The club provides students with an opportunity for leisure and competition while exploring Southern Illinois angling and striving to promote bass habitat and educate the public. Most recently, the organization completed its third annual Veterans Buddy Fishing Tournament, which is aimed at thanking veterans for their service.
For more information on the Saluki Bassers, visit http://www.bassers.rso.siuc.edu/.