NEBO, N.C. — The B.A.S.S. N.C. State Qualifier was held this past Friday on Lake James with anglers from UNC Charlotte, Lenoir Rhyne University, Bethel University, Erskine College, N.C. State and Catawba Valley Community College participated in the tournament.

The Red Hawk team of Hunter Keller and Wes Smith won the event with the heaviest limit — weighing in at 15.04 pounds.  By winning the tournament, Keller and Smith qualify to fish the B.A.S.S. College National Championship on Cherokee Lake near Jefferson City, Tenn.

"This was a great event," said Catawba Valley head bass fishing coach Angela Mayo. "Lake James is a great fishery, and that shows with every team bringing a limit to the scales. I'm really happy that Hunter and Wes were able to pull off the win. There were some really strong teams competing in this qualifier."

UNC Charlotte anglers Christian Vue and Ethan Vue finished second with a weight of 14.36 pounds.

With Keller and Smith qualifying, four Red Hawks teams have qualified for the B.A.S.S. College National Championship.  

Previous qualifiers were Hunter Barrow and Kanton Trull, who won the Virginia State Qualifier; Garret Christy & Corban Chenevey, who qualified at Lake Chicamauga in Dayton, Tenn.; and Cabe Mackey & Jacob Webb, who qualified at the Harris Chain of Lakes in Leesburg, Fla.

The B.A.S.S. College National Championship will be held on Cherokee Lake in Jefferson City, Tenn. on July 10-12. The four Red Hawk teams will compete in the College Bracket Tournament with the winner of the tournament securing a spot in the Bassmaster Classic.