Carson-Newman University anglers James Sumrell and Andrew Turner were one half of the history-making conclusion that resulted in an overtime fish-off to decide the 2025 Strike King Bassmaster College National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops on Cherokee Lake.
Eventual champions Andrew Blanton and Garrett Smith (of Lander University) caught a legal keeper within the first five minutes of overtime. Locking up back-to-back National Championship titles and leaving Sumrell and Turner on the outside looking in.
The Carson-Newman Talons finished in second place, which meant they also missed out on qualifying for the College Classic Bracket and a chance to represent college fishing in the 2026 Bassmaster Classic.
Being one ounce away from achieving the pinnacle of college fishing on a fishery five miles away from your alma mater is a bitter pill that would leave many anglers of all levels crushed; but Sumrell and Turner are special dudes who refuse to let this result take the wind out of their sails.
“I won’t lie knowing we were one ounce away hurts, and it makes you consider a lot of things,” Sumrell admitted. “But we did everything we could. We worked as hard as possible and left the rest up to the Big Man upstairs and fate. We came up a little short but you’re always going to lose more than you win in fishing. This was a great way to end my freshman year and now we just have to carry the momentum into next season.”
This perspective would be inspiring coming from anyone, let alone a soon to be sophomore in college studying Business Administration. We don’t always get the storybook ending we hope for, but Sumrell’s glass remains half full, not half empty. Turner and Sumrell have plenty to be proud of.
They caught the biggest bag of fish on the final day of the event to give themselves a chance in the fish-off and they represented themselves, their college, and their community tremendously well. Carson-Newman and Jefferson County, Tennessee served as perfect hosts for the 2025 National Championship. Three Carson-Newman boats finished inside the top ten, including second and third place results.
Sumrell and Turner also took home the top spot for Toyota Bonus Bucks, for being the highest finishing team towing their boat with a Toyota tow vehicle. They won an additional $3,500 payout from the College Series of Toyota’s popular Bonus Bucks contingency program which rewards collegiate anglers who drive any year Toyota tow vehicle.
Sumrell’s 2022 Tacoma has served as “the perfect college fishing truck” to tow their 19-foot Xpress aluminum boat around the country chasing bass and memories.
“We used to have an older Tundra and an 18-foot SeaArk to fish out of in high school tournaments but we bought this Tacoma my junior year of high school so I could have a reliable tow vehicle for college fishing,” Sumrell said. “I’ve driven that truck to Texas, Florida, the Carolinas, and all over the southeast towing my boat without any issues. It’s a beast.”
The additional Bonus Bucks payout helps to take the sting out of their second place and is a deserving spotlight for these two anglers who have proven to have impressive poise and be mature beyond their years
It’s much easier said than done, but it won’t surprise anyone to see Sumrell and Turner put themselves in contention for more of college fishing’s biggest awards in the years to come.
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