Durazo, Shafe win soldier appreciation tourney on Saguaro Lake
TEMPE, Ariz. – Pvt. Nancy Durazo of Douglas, Ariz., and Pvt. Greg Shafe of Tucson, Ariz., won the National Guard FLW Soldier Appreciation Tournament held on Saguaro Lake Saturday. The team, fishing with National Guard College angler Mark Walker from Arizona State University caught two bass for a total of 6 pounds, 0 ounces to take the title and bragging rights amongst their peers.
“Our day started really early,” said Pvt. Shafe. “We left Tucson at about 3:30 this morning. But it was worth it. We had a great day on the water. We had a lot of fun with Mark and appreciate him taking us out today. I fished a lot with my grandpa growing up so this was a lot of fun for me.
Just finishing their Advanced Individual Training (AIT), the two were given the opportunity to be a part of the FLW Soldier Appreciation Tournament.
“This was my first time fishing,” said Pvt. Durazo. “I can’t wait to do it again. Mark was really a good helper and taught me a lot. Unfortunately I didn’t get to weigh the fish I caught, it was too small, but it was fun catching it.”
Each of the participants in the National Guard FLW Soldier Appreciation Tournament are members of the Arizona National Guard. In this tournament, FLW College anglers took teams of National Guard members fishing to compete amongst their peers. Each team was allowed to bring in three bass. FLW is operating the tournaments in conjunction with the National Guard to show appreciation to our service members of the National Guard.
“It was really a fun day,” said National Guard FLW College angler Walker. “It really meant a lot to me to be able to pay back the National Guard for all they do and especially for all they do for college fishing. It was the least I could do and I hope I am able to do it again.”
A total of 15 service men and women, 10 teams, participated in the tournament. Rounding out the teams were:
2nd: Chief Warrant Officer, 5 John Vitt, Tempe, Ariz., and Capt. Jeff Frazey, Glendale, Ariz., fishing with National Guard FLW pro Brett Hite, Phoenix, Ariz., three bass, 3-14
3rd: Pvt. Kurt Beardsley, Tucson, Ariz., fishing with National Guard FLW College angler, David Hamblin, California State University, Monterey Bay, one bass, 1-15
4th: Staff Sgt. Robert Goyer, Goodyear, Ariz., fishing with National Guard FLW College angler, Justin Gangel, California State University, Long Beach, one bass, 1-12
5th: Sgt. 1st Class Lonnie Osborne, Santan Valley, Ariz., fishing with National Guard FLW College angler Craig Carroll, Arizona State University, 0 bass, 0-0
5th: Capt. Brian Dudley, Gilbert, Ariz., fishing with National Guard FLW College angler Joseph Jarrell, Arizona State University, 0 bass, 0-0
5th: Capt. Mike Christensen, Scottsdale, Ariz., and Spc. David Halbison, Gilbert, Ariz., fishing with National Guard FLW College angler Kyle Keegan, Arizona State University, 0 bass, 0-0
5th: Spc. Travis Arnold, Rio Rico, Ariz., and Staff Sgt. Ben Schrieber, Tucson, Ariz., fishing with National Guard FLW College angler, Alex Cox California State University, Long Beach, 0 bass, 0-0
5th: Master Sgt. Bill Cherry, Tucson, Ariz., and Sgt. 1st Class Darrell Chrisman, Tucson, Ariz., fishing with National Guard FLW College angler Brandon Murphy, University of Nevada, Reno, 0 bass, 0-0
5th: Capt. John Gehring, Chandler, Ariz., fishing with National Guard FLW College angler Jared Malone, University of Nevada, Reno, 0 bass, 0-0
The Soldier Appreciation Tournament was held in conjunction with the National Guard FLW College Fishing Western Regional Championship on Saguaro Lake hosted by Arizona State University.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWOutdoors.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow us on Facebook at Facebook.com/NationalGuardFLWFishing and on Twitter at Twitter.com/FLWOutdoors.
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FLW is the best in fishing, on and off the water. Anglers worldwide can compete for millions over the course of 191 tournaments in 2011. FLW has taken fishing mainstream with the world’s richest fantasy sports game, FLW Fantasy Fishing presented by Straight Talk, where competitors can play for free as well as sign up for Player’s Advantage to gain an edge. For more information about FLW and FLW Fantasy Fishing, visit FLWOutdoors.com or FantasyFishing.com.