BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Eight of the country’s best college anglers will launch on Lake Greenwood from Greenwood, S.C., Sept. 30-Oct. 3 during the Bassmaster College Classic Bracket presented by Lew’s, fishing for a berth in the 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic.

The 2022 Bassmaster College Team of the Year — UNC Charlotte’s Louis Monetti and Michael Fugaro — automatically punched their ticket to the College Classic Bracket to compete alongside the Top 3 teams from last week’s Strike King Bassmaster College Series National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops in this individual, elimination-style tournament.

“(Winning Team of the Year) is pretty amazing. This is something we set out for at the beginning of the year, and it is something special,” Monetti said. “Just consistency and a lot of hard work. We tried to go out every week trying to outwork the field. There were no special tricks or anything like that, just a lot of hours on the water.”

Joining Monetti and Fugaro will be National champions Andrew Vereen and Connor Cartmell from Coastal Carolina University, former Bassmaster High School All-American Jackson Swisher and Seth Slanker from Florida Gateway College and Tyler Christy and Trey Schroeder from McKendree University in Illinois. Christy also qualified for the 2019 College Classic Bracket, won by then-Bethel University student Cody Huff, who just finished a solid rookie season on the Bassmaster Elite Series.

“Just the thought of another opportunity to get back there knowing how much I have grown as an angler in four years is something I have wanted since I made it the first time,” said Christy. “I know I am so much better now, and now I get one more shot to complete my dream.”

On Day 1 of the event all eight anglers will compete individually to determine seeding and set the bracket for head-to-head competition. Morning action on Days 2 and 3, the first two elimination days in the tournament, will be broadcast on FS1 beginning at 7 a.m. CT. For full coverage of the tournament, visit Bassmaster.com.

In addition to a spot in the Bassmaster Classic, the College Classic Bracket champion will also earn paid entry into the 2023 St. Croix Bassmaster Opens presented by Mossy Oak Fishing and the use of a Toyota Tundra and a Nitro Boat.

The 2022 College Classic Bracket is being hosted by Discover Greenwood, S.C.