CNU's Fishing Club qualifies for national championship

News Release - Sept. 15, 2006

Media Contact:
Karen L. Gill
Office of Communications and Public Relations
(757) 594-8428

Members of Christopher Newport University's Fishing Club, from left, Jason Henderson, Jonathan Strzelec and Daniel Swale have qualified to compete in the American Bass Anglers 2006 National Championship.

(NEWPORT NEWS, Va.) — Christopher Newport University’s Fishing Club has placed as one of the top 10 collegiate teams in the nation and qualified to compete in the American Bass Anglers 2006 National Championship to be held Oct. 1-6 at Kentucky Lake, in Paris, Tenn. The club members attending the National Championship compete against other college students from all over the United States for a chance at $10,000 in scholarships and prizes and individual and team trophies. In order to qualify for the National Championship, the club members earned a place among the top 10 collegiate teams based on their four best one-day tournaments and single best two-day tournaments.

The following members were selected to attend the National Championship:

Richmond native Jason Henderson, age 22, graduated from CNU in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics. Although he has graduated, Henderson is eligible to compete in the National Championship because he fished for the CNU team during his senior year. Now teaching in Smithfield and living in Newport News, Henderson founded the Fishing Club at CNU to create a place for people who shared his love for fishing to gather and learn from each other.

Jonathan Strzelec, 27, is president of the Fishing Club and a senior majoring in mathematics and living in Newport News. He is a native of Albrightsville, Pa. After seven years in the Army, Strzelec turned his combat boots in for school books and now plans to go on to graduate school. The Fishing Club gives him a way to connect with younger students with different fishing experiences and help expand his own knowledge while teaching others in the club.

Yorktown Daniel Swale, 21, is vice president of the club and a junior majoring in biology with a minor in chemistry. He began fishing in central Florida with his grandfather as a 4-year-old and has been “hooked” since. Swale, who lives in Newport News, joined the fishing club hoping to meet people with the same interests and continue to learn about bass fishing. He is especially interested in learning about the tactics, biology and patterns of fish habits through tournaments, and he finds the ability to share and learn from other the anglers to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

CNU’s Fishing Club is open to CNU students, faculty and staff who just want to fish for fun and learn about fishing, as well as die-hard fishermen. The club’s 31 current members meet once a month, and students compete in tournaments that are held almost every weekend from March through November.