BELLVILLE — Two young Bellville fishermen will get a chance to strut their stuff on a national stage.
Sloan McGhee and Anthony Oscar have qualified for a national tournament in July on Lake Hartwell in Anderson County, South Carolina.
McGhee and Oscar earned the honor after competing with youth anglers from all around the Ohio who gathered at Alum Creek Lake (in Columbus) in the Ohio Bass Federation Jr. State Championship on May 11.
All were looking to earn their invitation to the TBF Junior World Championship, the largest event in junior fishing.
Anglers faced adverse weather conditions in this year’s championship, but that did not stop Kokosing Valley Junior Anglers team of McGhee and Oscar from landing the second largest five-fish bag of the tournament, weighing in at 9.30 pounds.
“As a state program we look to prepare youth anglers to compete in high level events as they become adults,” said Jeremy Reese Ohio Bass Federation Youth Director.
“McGee and Oscar portray traits of what it takes to be an all around successful tournament angler.
“They spent time preparing prior to the event and that helped them be successful come tournament day.
“As tournament director, I expect to see these anglers at the top of the leaderboard often throughout their future fishing careers.
McGhee and Oscar will head to South Carolina with the goal of bringing the TBF Junior World Championship title back home to Richland County.
To learn more about Youth Angling in Ohio, visit http://www.ohiobassfederation.com/ and follow Ohio Bass Federation Youth Program on Facebook