(Provided by the IBF)
St. Joe Valley Bass Masters - IBF Club of the Year
For the second year in a row, the Indiana Bass Federation has named South Bends St. Joe Valley Bass Masters the IBF Club of the Year as well as the Community Service award winner.
IBF president Kelly Hook said he thought the 40th annual youth tournament held at Potato Creek State Park that had around 200 kids participating, their participation in the Crime Night Out conducted by the St Joseph County Sheriff Department, and their charity tournament held at Diamond Lake were things the judging committee considered.
Potato Creek Bass Club - IBF Youth Award
Potato Creek Bass Club, also from the South Bend/Mishawaka area, received the IBF Youth Award. The club donated $1000 to the IBF Youth Tournament Trail that helped reduce the cost to the participants, ages 11 to 17. They also provided financial assistance to a family to help with expense while their son was at Riley Hospital in Indianapolis, a donation to the Riley Foundation, and also assisting other individuals.
MARCO Bass Masters of Plymouth was also recognized for their 2015 charity tournament held on Lake Maxinkuckee to benefit the Boys and Girls Club and the Marshall County Council on Aging.
The IBF also awarded Kayla Borlon of Plymouth and David ONeil , Wynona Lake, with $300 scholarships. Burton is the granddaughter of Mike Goins, Bremen, IN, who is a member of both the Potato Creek Bass Club and the Best 5 Bass Club of Mishawaka. She is studying elementary education at Indiana University of South Bend.
David is the son of Dan ONeil, a member of the Northern Bass Anglers. He plans to study law enforcement at Grace College this fall. The IBF also announced at the meeting that they have expanded the scholarship program to include to two anglers fishing in the IBF Youth Tournament Trail and any member of the IBF that are 25 years old or younger are now eligible.