Anglers representing 39 TBF state federations set to compete for $42,000 in scholarships and grants

The Bass Federation announced Tuesday its field for the 2008 National Guard Junior World Championship on Lake Monticello in Columbia, S.C., Aug. 15-16 in conjunction with the $2 million Forrest Wood Cup presented by BP and Castrol - the world’s most lucrative bass-fishing championship.

The National Guard Junior World Championship will feature youth anglers representing 39 TBF state federations fishing for $30,000 in scholarships plus $12,000 youth-program grants for their states. Each participating state will be represented by two junior anglers: one in the 11- to 14-year-old bracket and another in the 15- to 18-year-old bracket.

“These junior competitors are much more than great anglers,” said TBF President Robert Cartlidge. “They are positive examples for their peers, and they represent the future of our sport. Learning to fish through their state TBF clubs provides these children with an outlet for clean family fun. It’s a great activity that they will enjoy for a lifetime.”

The junior anglers will each be paired with an FLW Outdoors pro for competition on Lake Monticello. There will be three anglers to a boat: a junior angler from each age group plus an FLW Outdoors pro who will assist the junior anglers but will not fish. The two junior anglers will share control of the boat for the day but will compete in their respective age groups. The full field of junior anglers will compete Aug. 15 then be cut to the top angler in each age bracket from each of the TBF’s six geographic divisions. Weights will be zeroed Aug. 16 as six anglers in the 11- to 14-year-old bracket and six anglers in the 15- to 18-year-old bracket continue competition, with the winners determined by the heaviest catch from that day.

Takeoff will be held at Lake Monticello Park located at Hwy 99 Boat Ramp in Jenkinsville, S.C., beginning at 6:55 each morning and the weigh-ins will be held at 2 p.m. Aug. 15 and 3:30 p.m. Aug. 16 on the main Forrest Wood Cup stage in the Colonial Center located at 801 Lincoln Street in Columbia. Lake Monticello will be off-limits to competitors Aug. 11-15.

Designed to highlight the best up-and-coming bass-fishing talent in the country, the National Guard Junior World Championship also provides national recognition for the positive activities pursued by America’s youth.

“We really want to thank the pro anglers who serve as mentors during the tournament,” said FLW/TBF Programs Manager David Simmons. “Of course, none of this would be possible without the hard work and support of TBF youth directors and parents nationwide as well.”

First-place finishers in each age bracket will receive a $5,000 scholarship. Second-place finishers will receive a $3,000 scholarship. Third- place finishers will receive a $2,500 scholarship. Fourth-place finishers will receive a $2,000 scholarship. Fifth-place finishers will receive a $1,500 scholarship. Sixth-place finishers will receive a $1,000 scholarship.

Additionally, FLW Outdoors, on behalf of the National Guard, will award $1,000 to each of the state TBF chapters represented by the six finalists in each age bracket. This money, totaling $12,000, will benefit each chapter’s youth program.

Source: FLW Outdoors

Sporting News Today, the free modern-day digital newspaper for avid sports fans, will begin publishing on Wednesday. The electronic sports newspaper will be delivered digitally every morning — seven days a week, 365 days a year — to the e-mail addresses of registered users who sign up at www.sportingnewstoday.com.

“Sporting News essentially invented sports journalism when the magazine was launched in 1886,” said publisher Ed Baker. “With Sporting News Today, we’re doing it again 122 years later. We’re literally reinventing the way die-hard sports fans get their news.”

Sporting News Today will deliver coast-to-coast sports coverage from a newsroom of more than 200 sports reporters and contributors, making it the largest sports newsroom in the country.

“The goal of Sporting News Today is to provide timely and fresh sports content each morning and to deliver it directly to a subscriber’s digital mailbox,” said Editor-in-Chief Jeff D’Alessio. “This isn’t a sports web site, rather it’s more like reading the morning sports section of the world’s best newspaper, only with more comprehensive information and in an electronic format.”

In addition to the news of the day, Sporting News Today will feature:

• Custom diaries written by current Division 1 college football players, including Heisman Trophy hopeful Chase Daniel (University of Missouri). Daniel is part of a group of 22 college football players recruited specifically to write diary columns in-season for Sporting News Today. Topics will include game preparation, as well as what it’s like to be a student-athlete today.

• The debut of “My Profile” with Terry Francona, manager of the Boston Red Sox. Terry shares interesting factoids about his first job, superstitions that sometimes influence his approach towards the game, the kind of music he likes to listen to, and other on- and off-the-field insights.

• A Q&A with University of Florida QB Tim Tebow.

• An up-close look at Team USA basketball camp from Las Vegas as it prepares for the Olympics.

• Reports on every NFL team as it starts training camp.

Sporting News Today will also feature search capabilities (including archival searches), live links, video & audio, reader/fan interaction and rich media for advertisers. To register for Sporting News Today visit www.sportingnewstoday.com.

“Die-hard sports fans are going to love Sporting News Today,” Baker said. “It marries our ‘See a Different Game’ insight and philosophy with outstanding, cutting-edge technology.”

About Sporting News:

Sporting News, a division of American City Business Journals, Inc., is a multi-media sports company catering to passionate sports fans. Its content is available through a weekly publication, Sporting News magazine; a daily digital newspaper, Sporting News Today; a national radio network, Sporting News Radio; and a leading community-based website, SportingNews.com. Sporting News also is a leading publisher of sports yearbooks, and is engaged in various wireless and iTV initiatives. Founded in 1886, Sporting News is the nation’s first weekly sports publication.

Source: Sporting News Today

Strong American Schools is sponsoring a team of bike riders who will be cycling across Iowa to raise awareness for the need for K-12 education reform. The team of community activists will be riding in the Des Moines Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI) and will be appearing in Ames on Tuesday, July 22nd.

Two-thirds of new jobs being created in today’s economy require higher education or advanced training. By 2012 Iowa will have between 150,000 and 200,000 more jobs than workers; and at least half of these occupations will require postsecondary education or training. However, only about half of Iowa students who enroll in 4-year colleges after high school manage to earn a bachelor’s degree within six years.

Strong American Schools is a nonpartisan public awareness and advocacy effort aimed at elevating discussion amongst America’s leaders about the need for education reform. The organization believes three common-sense solutions should be included in education reform: effective teachers in every classroom; increased time and support for student learning; and rigorous standards.

Members of the team will available at the festival and throughout the bike tour to discuss why Iowans should make education a top priority in the 2008 presidential election.

Date:
Tuesday, July 22nd 2008

Time:
10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Location:
Strong American Schools booth & tent
Iowa State Center Parking Lot

Ames, Iowa

Members of the team and officials from Strong American Schools will be available throughout the day to discuss why education reform is crucial to securing the economic future of Iowa and America.

Source: ED in ‘08