by: Brian Peterson
Ben Swanson and Zach Hapka of Minnetonka teamed up for a 24-pound, 5-ounce bag to win the Minnesota Student Angler Tournament Trail Tournament of Champions fishing tournament on Sunday on Lake Minnetonka.
The two earned $10,000 in scholarships for the win. The tournament drew 126 anglers – 63 two-person teams, with 26 schools represented from around the state.
According to Jimmy Bell, president of the Student Angler Tournament Trail, "The bite on Minnetonka started out slow for the teams, and then about mid-day there were a group of anglers that found groups of good fish. It was neck-and-neck with the top five teams most of the afternoon."
Teams advanced to the TOC through five qualifying events, which drew about 1,200 student anglers. Approximately $29,000 in scholarships and prizes were awarded at the TOC.
For results and more information, go to https://www.studentangler.org/lake-minnetonka.
