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PRO FISHERMAN CHAD MORGENTHALER
TEAMS WITH
SPECIAL OLYMPICS FOR 3rd ANNUAL BASS TOURNAMENT
Rend Lake Tournament to Benefit Athletes in Illinois
NORMAL, Ill. – Professional bass fisherman Chad Morgenthaler of
Coulterville, Ill., is hooked on Special Olympics. He is teaming up
with Special Olympics Illinois and the Law Enforcement Torch Run to
host the 3rd Annual Chad Morgenthaler Bass Tournament presented by
Jasper Engines & Transmissions on Sept. 20 and 21 at Rend Lake in
southern Illinois.
The weekend includes the two-day buddy team format tournament, Beat
the Pro fishing contest and a chance to win great prizes.
Professional fishermen participating include Morgenthaler and other
Ranger and Professional Anglers Association pros.
Morgenthaler is a three-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier and has
several FLW Top 10 tournament finishes. He became involved with
Special Olympics Illinois in 2005 when he donated a day-long fishing
trip as part of an online auction sponsored by the organization.
Special Olympics athletes were on hand at Crab Orchard Lake in
southern Illinois to see Morgenthaler and the auction winner begin
their fishing trip. That experience led to Morgenthaler’s interest
in hosting a charity tournament for the organization.
“I was inspired by the courage and enthusiasm shown by the Special
Olympics athletes,” said Morgenthaler. “After talking more with
Special Olympics Illinois, we agreed a fishing tournament would be
an exciting way to introduce the organization and its athletes to a
previously untapped audience of fishermen.”
“Immediately after the first year’s tournament, fishermen were
asking us when the next one would be. We knew we had struck a chord
with fisherman and decided to make this an annual event,” said
Morgenthaler. “We hope to make it the largest charity fishing event
in the state in the future.”
The fishing tournament is limited to the first 150 boats to
register. The $200 entry fee per boat includes the big bass pot.
There is a $10 procrastinator’s fee for entries received after Sept.
12. Each angler receives a T-shirt and goodie bag full of tackle.
Last year’s tournament raised $32,000 for Special Olympics Illinois.
Registration for the tournament is from 3 to 5:30 p.m. Friday, Sept.
19, at Rend Lake Resort, the official housing site for the
tournament. A pre-tournament meeting will begin at 6 p.m. at the
resort. The meeting includes dinner, an auction of great fishing
items and a meet and greet with the pro anglers. Rend Lake Sailboat
Harbor is the launch site for the tournament.
For entry forms or more information, contact Jeff Henson at Special
Olympics Illinois at 800-394-0562, email him at
jhenson@soill.org or
visit www.soill.org.
Chad Morgenthaler, 41, has been a professional bass fisherman since
2002. He is sponsored by Jasper Engines & Transmissions, Ranger
Boats, Yamaha Motors, Reaction Innovations, Lunker Lure – Hawg
Caller, Svanda GM Motor Group, Fenwick Rods, Solar Bat, Power-Pole,
Nameoki Village Marine, Abu Garcia, Berkley Trilene, Plano Tackle
and Minn Kota.
Special Olympics Illinois is a not-for-profit organization offering
year-round training and competition in 19 sports for more than
21,000 athletes ages 8 years and older with intellectual
disabilities. Special Olympics programs enhance physical fitness,
motor skills, self-confidence, social skills and encourage family
support.
The Illinois Law Enforcement Torch Run is the single largest
year-round fund-raising event benefiting Special Olympics Illinois.
The intrastate relay and its various fundraising projects have two
goals: to raise money and increase public awareness for the athletes
of Special Olympics. Each year, more than 3,000 officers in Illinois
run more than 1,500 miles carrying the Flame of Hope through the
streets of their hometowns and deliver it to the State Summer Games
in Normal in June |
