Wilson Smith (pictured) and Brad Ableman, from Bethel University, are leading after Day 2 of the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series at Lake Hartwell presented by Bass Pro Shops with 19 pounds.
Photo by Chris Brown/B.A.S.S.
August 28, 2020

ANDERSON, S.C. — For the first time this season on the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, there will not be a wire-to-wire winner.

After weighing in 9 pounds, 11 ounces on Day 1 of the third tour stop at Lake Hartwell, Bethel University’s Brad Ableman and Wilson Smith jumped from sixth to first on Day 2 with a 9-5 three-fish limit for a two-day total of 19-0.

Meanwhile, Day 1 leaders Jeremy Dellinger and Nathan Smith from Catawba Valley Community College in North Carolina dropped to second with a limit of 6-14 and a two-day total of 18-7.

“It feels pretty good. I didn’t expect it,” Ableman said. “We caught what we caught and we thought it would get us into the final day and qualify us for the National Championship. We are probably going to have to catch the same (weight) if not more tomorrow.

“We are excited to just get back out there and see what we can end up with.”

It is the first time Ableman and Wilson Smith have secured a Top 12 finish as a team. Ableman said they went into this tournament searching for largemouth and have been able to capitalize on that bite for two days, specifically in one area where they have spent the majority of their time.

“We have stayed in our main area until about noon and then went and fished some new stuff,” he said. “We haven’t really found anything new. We have one area that we have been catching some fish in and we are hoping it can hold up.”

The Bethel duo has stayed in shallow water most of the tournament, using a Strike King Rage Bug and a Strike King KVD Sexy Frog to generate a few quality bites.

According to Ableman, the fish they have caught have been on a few key spots, and he believes if the water levels continue to slowly drop, more fish will funnel out of the backwaters close by and replenish those targets. However, if the water drops too much, he fears the fish will move out of the creek completely.

“We don’t really have a backup plan,” Ableman said. “It’s either we catch the fish and we are in position, or we aren’t.”

Meanwhile, the quality of fish decreased for Dellinger and Nathan Smith on Day 2, but the CVCC team remains in contention just 9 ounces behind Ableman and Wilson Smith. Dellinger and Nathan Smith returned to the same pocket they had success in yesterday but did not find the same success.

“There was a bunch of bait in there, and there was some schooling activity yesterday. Today our fish came up schooling and pushed all of the bait out of the pocket,” Dellinger said. “For that particular pocket, I think most of the quality is gone.”

Toward the end of the day, the CVCC team found another pocket with schooling fish, a potential tournament saver if the bass are fired up on Championship Saturday.

“If we can put three bites on those fish in the boat, it’s going to make it interesting tomorrow,” Dellinger said.

All six of the fish Dellinger and Nathan Smith have brought to the scales were caught on the same bait, and Dellinger said he doesn’t intend to change on the final day.

Jake Lee and Mason Cizek from Bryan College in Tennessee rounded out the Top 3 with a two-day total of 18-4, while Jacksonville State University anglers Zeke Gossett and Lucas Smith, who started the day in 30th with a Day 1 total of 6-3, rocketed to fifth place with an 11-7 limit, the heaviest of Day 2.

The Brewton-Parker College duo of Bryce Henley and Reese Kingston claimed the Carhartt Big Bass of the day with a 5-12 largemouth, just 2 ounces shy of the overall big bass of the tournament weighed in by Clemson University’s GL Compton and Matthew Sprouse on Day 1.

The Top 12 teams will take off Saturday from Green Pond Landing at 6:45 a.m. ET and return for the weigh-in at 2:45 p.m. The 12 teams have also already earned a spot in the 2020 Carhartt Bassmaster College National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops on the Harris Chain of Lakes starting Oct. 29.

The event is being hosted by Visit Anderson.
2020 Bassmaster College Series Title Sponsor: Carhartt

2020 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series at Lake Hartwell presented by
Bass Pro Shops 8/27-8/29
Lake Hartwell, Anderson SC.
(BOATER) Standings Day 2

Angler Club/School Pts

1. Brad Ableman – Wilson Smith Bethel University 250
Day 1: 3 09-11 Day 2: 3 09-05 Total: 6 19-00
2. Jeremy Dellinger – Nathan Smith CVCC 249
Day 1: 3 11-09 Day 2: 3 06-14 Total: 6 18-07
3. Jake Lee – Mason Cizek Bryan College 248
Day 1: 3 09-12 Day 2: 3 08-08 Total: 6 18-04
4. Bryce Henley – Reese Kingston Brewton-Parker College 247
Day 1: 3 06-13 Day 2: 3 11-00 Total: 6 17-13
5. Zeke Gossett – Lucas Smith Jacksonville State 246
Day 1: 3 06-03 Day 2: 3 11-07 Total: 6 17-10
6. Grant Adams – Wil Rigdon Campbellsville University 245
Day 1: 3 10-02 Day 2: 3 07-07 Total: 6 17-09
7. Griffin Fernandes – Gunner Wilson Adrian College 244
Day 1: 3 08-08 Day 2: 3 08-10 Total: 6 17-02
8. Cody Gregory – Levi Mullins Bethel University 243
Day 1: 3 09-03 Day 2: 3 07-04 Total: 6 16-07
9. Grayson Morris – Jacob Pfundt University of Montevalllo 242
Day 1: 3 08-00 Day 2: 3 08-04 Total: 6 16-04
10. Jarred Jones – Logan Tate Jacksonville State University 241
Day 1: 3 07-07 Day 2: 3 08-06 Total: 6 15-13
11. Garrett Warren – Snead State Community College 240
Day 1: 3 06-10 Day 2: 3 08-07 Total: 6 15-01
12. Harbor Lovin – Zachary Martin Murray State University 239
Day 1: 3 08-12 Day 2: 3 06-02 Total: 6 14-14
13. Joseph McClosky – Ryan Winchester Bethel University 238
Day 1: 3 04-10 Day 2: 3 10-02 Total: 6 14-12
14. GL Compton – Matthew Sprouse Clemson University 237
Day 1: 3 10-01 Day 2: 3 04-07 Total: 6 14-08
15. George Fallon – George Gore Clemson University 236
Day 1: 3 09-00 Day 2: 3 05-03 Total: 6 14-03
16. Cole Sands – Conner Dimauro Bryan College 235
Day 1: 3 08-05 Day 2: 3 05-08 Total: 6 13-13
17. Cal Culpepper – Mason Waddell University of Montevallo 234
Day 1: 3 07-02 Day 2: 3 06-08 Total: 6 13-10
18. Mark Harris – Reece Martin Dallas Baptist University 233
Day 1: 3 03-05 Day 2: 3 10-01 Total: 6 13-06
19. Miller Spivey – Trey Dickert University of Montevallo 232
Day 1: 3 06-06 Day 2: 3 07-00 Total: 6 13-06
20. Joshua DeKoning – Carter Ball Adrian College 231
Day 1: 3 06-14 Day 2: 3 06-06 Total: 6 13-04
21. Weston Hollar – Wesley Gore University of Montevallo 230
Day 1: 3 06-05 Day 2: 3 06-12 Total: 6 13-01
22. Dax Ewart – Kyle Palmer Bethel University 229
Day 1: 3 07-14 Day 2: 3 05-01 Total: 6 12-15
23. James Willoughby – Chance Schwartz University of Montevallo 228
Day 1: 3 05-12 Day 2: 3 07-02 Total: 6 12-14
24. Lane Bailey – Adam Seagle CVCC 227
Day 1: 3 10-05 Day 2: 2 02-03 Total: 5 12-08
25. Emil Wagner – Ole Miss 226
Day 1: 3 06-02 Day 2: 3 06-05 Total: 6 12-07
26. Hunter MCClaskey – Nicholas Gilbert King University 225
Day 1: 3 05-11 Day 2: 3 06-10 Total: 6 12-05
27. Nolan Minor – Casey Lanier West Virginia University 224
Day 1: 3 03-08 Day 2: 3 08-12 Total: 6 12-04
28. Mitchel Goodin – John Jacobs Georgia Southern University 223
Day 1: 3 04-05 Day 2: 3 07-13 Total: 6 12-02
29. Bryce Miller – Nick Crawford Kent State University 222
Day 1: 2 04-08 Day 2: 2 07-07 Total: 4 11-15
30. Whit Edmonds – Bobby Long Lander University 221
Day 1: 3 05-05 Day 2: 3 06-09 Total: 6 11-14
31. Dalton Smith – Bradley Dunagan Campbellsville University 220
Day 1: 3 04-09 Day 2: 2 07-03 Total: 5 11-12
32. Colin Slentz – Evan Slentz Lander University 219
Day 1: 3 07-03 Day 2: 3 04-05 Total: 6 11-08
33. Jacob Blumling – Nathanael Wright Emmanuel College 218
Day 1: 3 07-01 Day 2: 2 04-07 Total: 5 11-08
34. Jason Zubris – Penn State University 217
Day 1: 3 07-02 Day 2: 3 04-05 Total: 6 11-07
35. Hayden Gaddis – Ben Cully Carson-Newman University 216
Day 1: 3 06-08 Day 2: 3 04-15 Total: 6 11-07
36. Weston Bison – Parker Wilton Lander University 215
Day 1: 3 05-06 Day 2: 3 05-15 Total: 6 11-05
37. Luke Lamb – Seth Roberts Bethel University 214
Day 1: 2 06-11 Day 2: 3 04-08 Total: 5 11-03
38. Jj Kocevar – Tanner Shriver Kent State University 213
Day 1: 3 05-11 Day 2: 3 05-06 Total: 6 11-01
39. Zachary Asher – Jacob Klicman Kent State University 212
Day 1: 3 05-07 Day 2: 3 05-10 Total: 6 11-01
40. Braden Perry – Aidan England Carson-Newman University 211
Day 1: 3 09-09 Day 2: 1 01-06 Total: 4 10-15
41. Mason Moore – Ryan Freeman Eastern Kentucky University 210
Day 1: 3 04-05 Day 2: 3 06-10 Total: 6 10-15
42. Drew Pridgen – Kaleb Brown Lander University 209
Day 1: 3 08-04 Day 2: 1 02-10 Total: 4 10-14
43. Shane Nelson – Brayden Federer Adrian College 208
Day 1: 3 06-01 Day 2: 3 04-13 Total: 6 10-14
44. Calvin Currie – Tommy Teaster Lander University 207
Day 1: 3 05-01 Day 2: 3 05-13 Total: 6 10-14
45. Solomon Glenn – Hunter Ward University of Montervallo 206
Day 1: 3 04-00 Day 2: 3 06-13 Total: 6 10-13
46. Austin Goins – Kirk Elijah Bryan college 205
Day 1: 3 04-10 Day 2: 3 06-00 Total: 6 10-10
47. Cole Zagrzebski – Ryan Bradway Western Michigan University 204
Day 1: 3 05-11 Day 2: 3 04-15 Total: 6 10-10
48. Jack Dice – Liberty University 203
Day 1: 3 04-15 Day 2: 3 05-07 Total: 6 10-06
49. Andrew Fisher – Bennett Kudder Bryan College 202
Day 1: 3 03-12 Day 2: 3 06-08 Total: 6 10-04
50. William Martin – Jack Baron University of Montevallo 201
Day 1: 3 04-07 Day 2: 3 05-08 Total: 6 09-15
51. Cordell Beckman – Dru Johnson Greenville University 200
Day 1: 3 03-11 Day 2: 3 06-03 Total: 6 09-14
52. Austin Davis – Josh Howard Greenville Techincal 199
Day 1: 3 04-03 Day 2: 3 05-11 Total: 6 09-14
53. Jackson Staib – Baylor Howell Bethel University 198
Day 1: 3 05-10 Day 2: 2 04-00 Total: 5 09-10
54. Conner Giles – Christian Wright Bryan College 197
Day 1: 3 05-00 Day 2: 3 04-10 Total: 6 09-10
55. Trevor Harrill – Ty Leatherwood Appalachian State University 196
Day 1: 3 04-06 Day 2: 3 05-03 Total: 6 09-09
56. Caleb Lonca – Justin Eggers CVCC 195
Day 1: 3 05-13 Day 2: 3 03-10 Total: 6 09-07
57. Stephen Kinard – Jimmy Mitchum Lander University 194
Day 1: 3 06-12 Day 2: 2 02-07 Total: 5 09-03
58. Shawn Coots – Luke Henderson Campbellsville University 193
Day 1: 3 04-05 Day 2: 3 04-14 Total: 6 09-03
59. Nolan Yeager – Ethan LeGare Stephen F. Austin State Universi 192
Day 1: 3 03-06 Day 2: 3 05-12 Total: 6 09-02
60. Matthew Davis – Cody Batterson Adrian College 191
Day 1: 3 04-13 Day 2: 3 04-05 Total: 6 09-02
61. Sean Clayton – Owen Dimaio Clemson University 190
Day 1: 3 04-06 Day 2: 3 04-11 Total: 6 09-01
62. Matthew Cummings – Joseph Woods Bethel University 189
Day 1: 3 02-14 Day 2: 3 06-02 Total: 6 09-00
63. Dawson Cassidy – Gus Mclarry Texas AM Commerce 188
Day 1: 3 04-10 Day 2: 3 04-04 Total: 6 08-14
64. Hunter Bond – Bowman Davis Clemson University 187
Day 1: 3 07-11 Day 2: 1 01-01 Total: 4 08-12
65. Ross Parris – Reed Green Lander University 186
Day 1: 2 03-11 Day 2: 3 05-01 Total: 5 08-12
66. Atom Ward – Gavin Lagle Indiana University Southeast 185
Day 1: 3 04-07 Day 2: 3 04-05 Total: 6 08-12
67. Zach Manneback – Jarrod Layton Adrain College 184
Day 1: 2 04-05 Day 2: 3 04-05 Total: 5 08-10
68. Curtis Dillon – Aaron Digh East Carolina University 183
Day 1: 3 04-02 Day 2: 3 04-07 Total: 6 08-09
69. Cameron Rhodes – Jacob Witkowski Dallas Baptist University 182
Day 1: 3 04-09 Day 2: 3 03-13 Total: 6 08-06
70. Tyler Christy – Trey Schroeder McKendree University 181
Day 1: 3 05-05 Day 2: 2 03-00 Total: 5 08-05
71. Cole Dodson – Trent Jones University of Montevallo 180
Day 1: 3 06-02 Day 2: 1 02-02 Total: 4 08-04
72. Wyatt Reid – Gehrig DeFronzo Erskine College 179
Day 1: 3 04-05 Day 2: 3 03-13 Total: 6 08-02
73. Griffin Phillips – Ethan King University of Montevallo 178
Day 1: 3 01-11 Day 2: 3 06-06 Total: 6 08-01
74. Cy Casey – Daelyn Whaley Emmanuel College 177
Day 1: 3 04-01 Day 2: 3 03-14 Total: 6 07-15
75. Hayden Fuhr – Chase Carver Lander University 176
Day 1: 3 05-02 Day 2: 3 02-12 Total: 6 07-14
76. Brian Linder – Nathan Thompson Minnesota State Univ Mankato 175
Day 1: 3 05-09 Day 2: 2 02-03 Total: 5 07-12
77. Tristan McCormick – Stevie Mills Bethel University 174
Day 1: 1 00-15 Day 2: 3 06-08 Total: 4 07-07
78. Matthew Benson – Garrett Ankerich Emmanuel College 173
Day 1: 1 01-15 Day 2: 3 05-05 Total: 4 07-04
79. Tanner Barnes – Jordan Smallwood Campbellsville University 172
Day 1: 3 03-11 Day 2: 3 03-09 Total: 6 07-04
80. Mark Wilson – Dylon Williams georgia southern 171
Day 1: 1 01-01 Day 2: 3 05-09 Total: 4 06-10
81. James Duncan – Blake Stringer Campbellsville University 170
Day 1: 1 01-03 Day 2: 3 05-07 Total: 4 06-10
82. Bailey Bleser – Christian Hernandez Mckendree University 169
Day 1: 3 03-14 Day 2: 2 02-10 Total: 5 06-08
83. Colby Hays – Logan Hawkins Campbellsville University 168
Day 1: 2 01-15 Day 2: 3 04-07 Total: 5 06-06
84. Britt Myers – Tyler Anderson Lander University 167
Day 1: 3 03-06 Day 2: 3 03-00 Total: 6 06-06
85. Spencer Black – Lucas Oliver CVCC 166
Day 1: 3 03-08 Day 2: 1 02-13 Total: 4 06-05
86. Ethan Shaw – Tyler Price Bryan College 165
Day 1: 2 02-06 Day 2: 3 03-13 Total: 5 06-03
87. Sam Shoemaker – Hayden Scott Adrian College 164
Day 1: 1 01-15 Day 2: 3 04-02 Total: 4 06-01
88. Kollin Smith – John Wesley Wardlaw Emmanuel College 163
Day 1: 3 05-13 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 3 05-13
89. Alec Coffey – Kyle Roy Campbellsville University 162
Day 1: 1 02-10 Day 2: 2 03-03 Total: 3 05-13
90. River Lee – Hunter Muncrief Stephen F. Austin State Universi 161
Day 1: 1 01-02 Day 2: 3 04-07 Total: 4 05-09
91. Tanner Maness – Chandlar Ellis Lander University 160
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 05-07 Total: 3 05-07
92. Bailey Fain – Preston Kendrick Bryan College 159
Day 1: 1 00-15 Day 2: 3 04-07 Total: 4 05-06
93. Matthew Roberts – Alice Lloyd College 158
Day 1: 1 01-00 Day 2: 1 04-02 Total: 2 05-02
94. Zachary Bowen – Thomas Millraney Bethel University 157
Day 1: 2 02-02 Day 2: 3 03-00 Total: 5 05-02
95. Rob Lindsey – Justin Botts Bryan College 156
Day 1: 3 03-12 Day 2: 1 01-01 Total: 4 04-13
96. Jake Maddux – Southern Union Community College 155
Day 1: 3 04-12 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 3 04-12
97. Levi Sanchez – Nathan Schrader Clemson 154
Day 1: 3 04-10 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 3 04-10
98. Chandler Jarrard – David Brashear Georgia Southern University 153
Day 1: 3 04-06 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 3 04-06
99. Adam Puckett – Blake Albertson Murray State University 152
Day 1: 3 02-13 Day 2: 1 01-06 Total: 4 04-03
100. Ty Black – Avry Thomason Georgia Southern University 151
Day 1: 3 04-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 3 04-00
101. Jack York – Cooper Thor Stephen F Austin State Universit 150
Day 1: 3 03-15 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 3 03-15
102. Austin Smith – Maddux Walters Carson Newman 149
Day 1: 1 02-02 Day 2: 2 01-12 Total: 3 03-14
103. Tyler Lusk – Corey Waits Lander University 148
Day 1: 2 02-11 Day 2: 1 00-15 Total: 3 03-10
104. Alex Saxon – Andrew Brock Emmanuel College 147
Day 1: 3 03-03 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 3 03-03
105. Troy Gibson – Adam Hope University of Louisville 146
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 02-11 Total: 1 02-11
106. Denver Monteith – Adam Watts Trevecca Nazarene University 145
Day 1: 2 02-09 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 2 02-09
107. Brant Shuler – Blake Nalley Clemson University 144
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 02-05 Total: 1 02-05
108. Cade Tootle – Thomas Mcelwaney Georgia Southern University 143
Day 1: 2 01-15 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 2 01-15
109. Ryan Park – Jon Johnston Murray State University 142
Day 1: 1 01-06 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 01-06
110. Garritt Coughenour – Tennessee Tech 141
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-04 Total: 1 01-04
111. David Hendel – Jacob Blackburn Ohio State University 140
Day 1: 1 01-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 01-00
112. Weston Randall – Anthony Hunckler Appalachian State University 139
Day 1: 1 00-15 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 00-15
113. Jonah Gilbert – Emmanuel College 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
113. Griffin Heffington – Jacob Frazier Carson-Newman University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
113. Caleb Sheldon – Ben Kinney Lander University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00