Published October 11, 2016
MONROE, La. — The University of Louisiana Monroe’s fishing team won the Fishing League
Worldwide (FLW) College Regional bass fishing tournament Saturday, Oct. 8 on the Ouachita
River.
Nick Joiner (left) and Tyler Stewart (right) hold their
winning catch at the conclusion of the FLW College
Regional tournament Saturday, Oct. 8 on Ouachita River.
ULM students Tyler Stewart and Nicholas Joiner took home first place with a total
weight of 16 pounds and 9 ounces overall. Joiner landed a 5-pound, 12-ounce bass which
propelled them into the lead. In addition to winning $2,000 in prize money, they secured
their spot in the 2017 College Fishing National Championship, to be held from May
31 to June 3 on Wheeler Lake in Rogersville, Alabama.
“It feels great to get the win on our home water and qualify for the national championship
at Wheeler Lake,” said Joiner. “We are very excited and are looking forward to representing
ULM.”
“To win on our home water in front of all our friends and family was awesome,” said
Stewart. “Now that we have two regional wins under our belt, we really want that championship.”
Tom Torregrossa, Director of the ULM Police Department and advisor to the fishing
team, said the team’s focus was clearly established last month.
“In the fishing team meeting last month, the focus was on ULM competing on a national
level,” said Torregrossa. “The guys continue to step up and put themselves in a position
to win. This not only represents who we are as a university but it also represents
the character of the student athletes at ULM.”
The tournament was hosted by the Monroe-West Monroe Convention and Visitors Bureau
and was the third and final regular-season bass fishing tournament in the Southern
Conference.
Slade Daniel and Tyler Craig also represented ULM at the tournament. They placed fifth
and won $500, but more importantly, they also secured a spot in the National Championship.
Joining Stewart, Joiner, Daniel and Craig at the national championship will be Hunter
Freeman and Thomas Soileau, who already qualified for the national championship back
in April, when they placed fifth at the 2016 FLW College Fishing Open.
