University of Minnesota Anglers Win Ranger Cup University Fish-off
OutdoorHub 08.15.14
Austin Felix and Chris Burgan, collegiate anglers from the University of Minnesota, won the Ranger Cup University Fish-Off with 34 keeper fish that totaled 80 pounds, 3 ounces in a winner-take-all, made-for-TV event on Texas’ Lake Bastrop. The tournament, which utilized the Major League Fishing rules format where fish are weighed and released on the boat, pitted the Minnesota anglers against a team from Tennessee Tech.
Felix and Burgan, who qualified for the expense-paid competition by being the highest-finishing Ranger Cup University-qualified team in the FLW College Fishing Championship, topped Tennessee Tech anglers Justin Arms and Landon Anderson, who qualified for the event with their highest place of finish for a Ranger Cup University-qualified team at the BoatUS Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship.
Both teams received a grand-prize package that included travel, lodging and meals, as well as the opportunity to compete in a new, fully rigged Ranger Z118C. The made-for-TV fish off will be televised nationally on a future episode of “Americana Outdoors” with the winners taking home $2,000 in prize money as well as prizes and bragging rights for their school.
“The whole event was brilliant and we enjoyed the whole thing. Bastrop was a great selection for the lake,” said Felix, the recent University of Minnesota graduate who also qualified for the Forrest Wood Cup by winning the FLW College Fishing Championship. “For us, the Ranger Cup University program has been huge and we appreciate so much what it does for us collegiate anglers. The sign up is easy and it allowed us to win a lot of extra money plus all the perks that came along with the trip to Lake Bastrop. I’m shocked that not every collegiate angler is signed up for it – especially since it’s free to participate in it and you don’t even have to run a Ranger.”
Modeled after the most lucrative contingency program in the industry, the Ranger Cup, Ranger Cup University is open to collegiate anglers fishing in either FLW- or Boat US-affiliated competitions. Signup for Ranger Cup University is free and exclusively for collegiate anglers, regardless of which brand of boat they own. To remain qualified in the program, anglers need only adhere to clothing and decal requirements. The program also allows anglers to reap the rewards of a professionally run contingency program regardless of tournament results. As part of the Ranger Cup University program, participants will be able to receive discounts on already-discounted tournament through Gemini Custom Apparel, with no artwork or set-up fees. Through Gemini, anglers can purchase fully customized jerseys for as low as $48.
For more information on Ranger Cup University, to register and read all about the program guidelines, go online to RangerBoats.com.
