Local fisherwoman competes in national championships

The New Mexico BASS Nation sent three two angler teams to Lake Chicamagua in Dayton, Tenn., to participate in the BASS Nation Junior National Championships.

The two-day tournament had a total of 129 teams participating from across the country as well as Canada.

The team of Hannah Sage, of Los Lunas, and Tanner Ortega, of Albuquerque, placed 20th overall, with a two-day total of 15 pounds, 2 ounces. The other New Mexico teams were from Ruidoso and Clovis.

Sage, a 13-year-old eighth grader at Los Lunas Middle School, and Tanner, 14, were in second place after day 1, with a total of 12 pounds and 12 ounces — a mere 1.5 pounds from first place. Sage caught a 5 pound, 12 ounce bass on the first day.

Unfortunately, day two proved challenging as Sage and Tanner were only able to land one fish, at 2 pounds, 6 ounces, bringing their two day total to 15 pounds and 2 ounces.

The winning team had a two-day total weight of 20 pounds and 9 ounces and were from Dayton, Tenn., and Lake Chicamagua was their home lake.

Because Sage and Tanner were in second place after day one, for day two they had to weigh in second to last.

Other New Mexico anglers who competed were the team of Cason Curry, 14, and Jaxon Curry, 14, both of Alamogordo placed 68th, while Hayden VanWinkle, 13, of Capitan, and Kendal “Coy” Ward, 13, of Fort Sumner, placed 90th.

During the day-one weigh in, Sage was given the opportunity to acknowledge her Navajo background and in the Navajo language. She introduced herself and thanked the Navajo Nation and its people for all their support.

Sage is on the honor roll and a student-athlete, playing softball and basketball. She is also a member of the Los Lunas Middle School band and Native American Club.