Huggins, Barnes Win BASS Super Regional

Dustin Huggins and Evan Barnes of Arkansas Tech University are the 2011 Mercury College BASS West Super Regional champions.

The two-man team reeled in 31 pounds, 15 ounces worth of fish over the course of the two-day event at Lake Dardanelle in Russellville on Thursday, June 2, and Friday, June 3.

Huggins (photographed, right) and Barnes (photographed, left) took a commanding day one lead by weighing in with 16 pounds and three ounces. They nearly matched that total on Friday by pulling 15 pounds, 12 ounces from the waters of Lake Dardanelle to finish more than five pounds clear of the field.

Included in their day-two haul was a 6-pound, 1-ounce bass, the largest fish caught during the tournament.

A total of 72 collegiate anglers representing 22 colleges and universities competed in the 2011 Mercury College BASS West Super Regional.

Schools that finished in the top 50 percent of the regional are now qualified for the 2011 College BASS National Championship, which will be held July 7-9 in Little Rock.

In addition to Huggins and Barnes, three other teams from Arkansas Tech competed in the College BASS West Super Regional.

Arkansas Tech’s Spencer Grace and Jared Allen finished in third place in the regional with a total of 24 pounds, 8 ounces. They caught 14 pounds, 6 ounces in fish during the final day of competition.

Evan Smith and Jake Jacobs of Arkansas Tech had a slow day on Friday. They brought in two fish with a total weight of four pounds, 11 ounces during the final day to finish with a total of 17 pounds, 15 ounces. Smith and Jacobs finished 10th.

Arkansas Tech’s Trevor Graddy and Roy Roberts also qualified for nationals with a 14th-place finish. They returned a total of seven fish weighing 14 pounds, 12 ounces over the course of two days.

Click here for complete results from the 2011 Mercury College BASS West Super Regional.

Click here to view more photos from the event courtesy of Mercury College BASS.

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