Legend Boats President Randy Qualls congatulates Big XII Champions Oklahoma University with CBAA Deputy Commissioner Mark Heckaman

Eufaula, OK (June 22^nd, 2008) – Sooner anglers Chip Porche, Mark Johnson, Justin Hurd, and Jordan Nichols combated flooding lake conditions, stifling weather, and stiff peer competition on their way to earning Collegiate Bass Anglers Association gold in the inaugural CBAA Big XII Championship on Oklahoma’s “Gentle Giant,” Lake Eufaula.  Oklahoma's domination of the field included the event's only back-to-back team limits on Day One (23.87 lbs) and Day Two (26.26 lbs), resulting in nearly a 15-pound margin of victory over runners-up Texas Tech.   Tech's silver medal performance was anchored by a solid catch on Day Two of 18.49 pounds and the benefit of a 0.5 pound penalty assessment to Oklahoma State for the event's only fish fatality.  The Tech anglers prevailing over the Cowboys by a mere 0.49 pounds.   

 “We have been wanting this for a long time!  Thank you [CBAA] for this opportunity, it’s awesome…it’s huge for us, a great thing, something that the sport has needed,” said Daniel Davis, OSU angler.  CBAA's Troy Heckaman explained, “We have had this event on our drawing board and have worked hard on developing new relationships and partners with the right people with appropriate resources to bring about the event this weekend.  Big Twelve anglers wanted this tournament, and we are pleased to have been able to provide this opportunity for them.”

CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS 

Oklahoma University… 50.13 lbs

Texas Tech University… 35.47 lbs

Oklahoma State University…  34.98 lbs

University of Texas…29.62 lbs

Kansas State University… 12.63 lbs

University of Colorado… 9.68 lbs

University of Nebraska… 0 

BIG XII RECORDS  

Number of fish caught… 75

Total weight… 182.43 lbs

Live release rate… .987%

Big Bass  LM… 5.41 lbs (Oklahoma State – Davis/Elam)

Big Bass SM… 4.69 lbs (Texas Tech - Scott Jones)

Big Bag… 15.66 lbs (Oklahoma University - Hurd/Nichols)

Margin of Victory… 14.66 lbs   

Mark Heckaman expressed CBAA's gratitude to the tournament partners.  “We have been asked all week who is the favorite to win the Heartland, the Big Twelve, and the Bedlam…  Trophies and titles were fought for and awarded, but the big winner this weekend is collegiate angling.  This would not have been possible without the support of student anglers of the Heartland and Big Twelve, Legend Boats, Lake Eufaula Association, Jelly Stone Park, Mid-First Bank, Midwest Trophy and Recognition, American Eagle Rods, C² Productions, Oklahoma Department of Wildlife and Conservation, Nichols Marina and Evergreen TwinStar.  Job well done!” 

Continued CBAA coverage of the 2008 Big XII, Heartland Regional and Bedlam Battle Championship to follow on this web site.

Collegiate Bass Anglers Association (CBAA) is an independent and neutral national amateur athletic organization functioning uniquely as the sanctioning body of collegiate angling.  CBAA is dedicated to the recruitment and retention our next generation of anglers, vigilantly pursuing the promotion and enhancement of intercollegiate angling as a unified and standardized collegiate sport.  CBAA 2008 >< ( ( ( ‘>