Over 370 pounds of fish weighed at the 7th Annual Andrew Claymon Memorial Fishing Tournament
The 7th Annual Andrew Claymon Memorial Fishing tournament was held at Merritt Reservoir on Saturday, June 10th with 45 teams and 103 youth and adult participants, competing for prizes in 3 divisions. The tournament is in memory of 16 year old Andrew Claymon who died of cancer on July 5, 2010. Results are as follows:
Division - 1 adult/1 child 10 years and younger:
1st place: Tyce Lee and Holden Hupfer; total weight of 14.40 lbs. 2nd place: Trayton and Fred Burke; total weight of 12.64 lbs. 3rd place: Ryker and Zach Nadolski; total weight of 7.65 lbs.
Division - 1 adult/1 child 11 – 17 years old:
1st place: Zane and Mike Leibhart; total weight of 27.23 lbs. 2nd place: James and Troy Brown; total weight of 18.59 lbs. 3rd place: Cody Miller and Rob Lee; total weight of 15.06 lbs.
Division - 1 adult/2 children 17 years and younger:
1st place: Nash, Hayley and Doug Hesse; total weight of 22.84 lbs. 2nd place: Brecken, Rylan and Jason Erickson; total weight of 20.59 lbs. 3rd place: Hayze, Haley and Billy Yonker; total weight of 15.70 lbs.
Heaviest walleye: James and Troy Brown; 6.79 lbs. Heaviest northern pike: Hayze, Haley and Billy Yonker; 6.84 lbs. Heaviest largemouth bass: Allie and Terry Altwine; 4.23 lbs. Heaviest smallmouth bass: Lexie and Mason Drey and Jimmy Davenport; 1.68 lbs. Overall heaviest fish: Hayze, Haley and Billy Yonker; northern pike 6.84 lbs.
Youth participants had the opportunity to tell their hard luck story to a judge and a winner was chosen based on the judge’s decision. The winner of the Hard Luck award, which was created and funded by Andrew’s Uncle Dan Davenport, was Mac Drey.
Trophies, medals, fishing/camping/outdoor merchandise, cash and Cabela’s gift cards were presented to the Top 3 in each division. Additionally, each youth participant received a medal and a prize. Numerous random drawings were held from all eligible youth participants and included: two free NE Game & Parks youth lifetime hunt/fish combo permits, fishing time with 2 members of the UNL Husker Bass Anglers team and three $50 gift certificates to Merritt Trading Post Resort.
The Claymon and Davenport families would like to thank all of the sponsors - Cabela’s, Cherry County Visitor Promotion Board, Grandma Sherry and Grandpa Jim Davenport, Winner's Circle Auto Center, Merritt Trading Post Resort, The Insurance Center, The Allan Claymon Family, Jim Lee Ranch, Drey, Inc., Arnold Insurance Agency, Farm Bureau Financial Services, In memory of Gary Leaf, Mills Hardware, Premier Boating Center, Pinnacle Bank, Young's Marine, John and Linda Nadolski, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Husker Bass Anglers. Without these sponsors we would not be able to continue to hold this tournament every year in Andrew’s memory. Please see the Tournament Sponsors page for additional sponsor details.