Abu Garcia Expands Collegiate Team Roster With Montevallo University
Abu Garcia makes Montevallo University the newest addition to a rapidly growing roster of college teams
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Abu Garcia, a leader in high-performance rods and reels, is proud to announce its partnership with the Montevallo University Bass Team, marking the latest addition to its growing roster of collegiate sponsorships. Montevallo University is consistently one of the top teams in collegiate fishing and has become a pipeline for developing pro-ready anglers, aligning perfectly with Abu Garcia's commitment to fostering the next generation of competitive anglers.
Abu Garcia has a long-standing history of supporting collegiate fishing, including sponsorship of the Major League Fishing College Series, the Association of Collegiate Anglers College Series, and the Abu Garcia College Rivalry events – created and operated by Abu Garcia in partnership with Major League Fishing. Through these initiatives, Abu Garcia continues to invest in collegiate fishing by providing student-anglers with opportunities, resources, and support to grow both competitively and professionally.
"Abu Garcia is proud to support collegiate fishing and help grow the next generation of high school and college student anglers. Montevallo University is an exceptional program that sets the standard for angling, professionalism, and sportsmanship. We're excited to watch their team compete throughout the 2026 season and look forward to providing them with the gear and resources they need to succeed," said Marc Kempter, VP of Marketing for Abu Garcia. Abu Garcia's sponsorship provides these teams with access to industry-leading, high-performance fishing gear, along with the resources and support needed to compete at a high level both on and off the water.
"We're thrilled to partner with Abu Garcia for the 2026 season," said William Crawford, Head Coach of the Montevallo University Bass Team. "This support allows us to continue building on our recent success and provides our anglers with the tools they need to keep improving and pursue their goals of becoming the next generation of professional anglers."
Through this partnership, Abu Garcia equips collegiate anglers with reliable, tournament-proven products while supporting their growth as ambassadors of the sport, marking an early step in a larger collegiate initiative.
Antunes and Ring Seal the Deal at Kissimmee Chain
Photo by B.A.S.S./Tyler Bridges
The Montevallo Falcons opened their 2026 season this past week with a hard-fought victory at the Bassmaster College Series on the Kissimmee Chain in Kissimmee, Florida. The duo of Trace Antunes and Garrett Ring relied on a combination of areas they identified during practice to build a two-day total of 47 pounds, 12 ounces, rallying on Day Two to come from behind and win by just over a pound. Despite tough fishing conditions, the team ground out 20-0 on Day One, anchored by a key 7-pound kicker that came from one of the area's "sweet spots."
"Day Two worked out, but the morning was tough," said Ring. "By 11:00 a.m., we only had one small bass and knew we needed to make a change. In practice, we had found a spot where we'd seen a big fish, but couldn't get it to bite. We decided to run down there around midday."
When they arrived, the duo spotted another big fish in the same area. A few casts later, they landed an 8-pound Florida bass, which gave them confidence heading into the afternoon. With three fish in the boat, they returned to their primary area.
"When we got back, we caught a few smaller fish and had a small limit for about 15 pounds," Ring added. "Soon after, we caught a 4- and a 5-pounder, culling us up to 25 pounds. We stuck with it, but the area eventually dried up and time was running out. On the way back to Lake Toho, we had a big-fish area saved where we thought we could upgrade the two smaller fish in the livewell, but we never made it."
During the run, another Montevallo team—Daylon Milam and James DuBose—flagged down Antunes and Ring. The teams pulled together for a quick conversation, and with advice from their teammates, Antunes and Ring decided to spend their final time on triggering a single quality bite from the area.
"Those big fish were really hard to fool," Ring said. "Finally, after what felt like forever, we caught a big one that put us around 26 pounds. With just three minutes to go, we landed another 4-pounder, bringing our final-day weight to 27-12. It was a grind, but knowing how tough Day One was, we felt that if we stuck with it and made good decisions, we'd have a shot."
Antunes and Ring relied on a mix of techniques throughout practice and competition, catching key fish on a Neko rig, a jerkbait, and a Berkley PowerBait MaxScent General. The duo fished Abu Garcia Zenon Rods and Zenon Casting Reels, spooled with 15- and 20-pound Berkley Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon.
To learn more about Abu Garcia, click here.
To learn more about Montevallo's fishing team, click here.
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About The University of Montevallo
Established in 1896, the overriding mission of the University of Montevallo, unique in higher education in Alabama, is to provide to students from throughout the state an affordable, geographically accessible, "small college" public higher educational experience of high quality, with a strong emphasis on undergraduate liberal studies and with professional programs supported by a broad base of arts and sciences, designed for their intellectual and personal growth in the pursuit of meaningful employment and responsible, informed citizenship.
To enhance student success within a vibrant campus community, the University of Montevallo provides a premier educational experience characterized by distinguished degree programs, personalized instruction delivered by highly qualified faculty and affordable tuition. Enriched by an array of opportunities, the UM experience prepares students to enter graduate or professional school or to begin their careers with an understanding of how to succeed in a constantly changing and complex world.
About Pure Fishing
Pure Fishing is a collection of the world's favorite fishing brands. Every day, all around the world, someone experiences the joy of catching a fish with one of our products. From gear for epic battles at sea to a relaxing day with family at the lake, our portfolio includes the most recognized and admired brands in fishing tackle, lures, rods, reels and storage. Abu Garcia, Berkley, DAM, Fenwick, Fin-Nor, Frabill, Greys, Hardy, Hodgman, Johnson, JRC, Madcat, Mitchell, Penn, Pflueger, Plano, Prologic, Savage Gear, Shakespeare, SpiderWire, Stren, Ugly Stik and Van Staal.