Gators' Tindel, Fregia reach College finals

The bass fishing team of Jack Tindel and Brett Fregia scored another landmark national tournament finish for Lamar State College Orange last weekend.

Tindel and Fregia finished 12th in the Bassmaster College Championship held on the St. Lawrence River in Waddington, N.Y.

One hundred and fifty two-man teams qualified for the three-day tournament.

Tindel and Fregia ranked in fifth place after one day, catching a five-fish limit of 21 pounds, 7 ounces.

After a 17-1 bag on the second day, they fell to seventh place but easily made the final-day cut to the top dozen squads.

Adrian (Mich.) College’s Hayden Scott and Griffin Fernandez won the tournament with a three day, 15-fish catch of 63 pounds, 10 ounces.

Tristan McCormick and Stevie Mills of Bethel (Minn.) College were second at 60-7 and Auburn’s Connor Crosby and James Scott took third at 59-8.

Tindell and Fregia finished with a total of 55-1.

College fishing tournaments are open to big four-year schools and small colleges alike.

Gator fishermen Tindel and Fregia from LSCO were the highest-finishing junior college anglers.

Other well-known schools with fishermen topping the Gators’ total included Clemson, North Carolina State, Murray State and Tennessee Tech.

The pair of Gator fishers finished seventh in the 2020 national championship held in Florida.