Cade Laufenberg and Sam Schollmeier of Winona State University take the lead going into the final day after weighing the largest bag of the tournament - 17 pounds, 13 ounces - putting their two-day total weight at 27-8. Photo by Kyle Wood. Anglers: Cade Laufenberg, Sam Schollmeier.

February 18, 2013 • Gary Mortenson • Abu Garcia College Fishing

(Editor’s note: Leading up to the 2013 FLW College Fishing National Championship – slated for April 19-21 on Beaver Lake in Rodgers, Ark. – CollegeFishing.com will publish weekly, in-depth features stories of each of the 25 national championship team qualifiers. At stake in the tournament is a first-place prize package that includes $30,000 in cash, a brand new, Ranger Z-117 bass boat and an automatic berth in the 2013 Forrest Wood Cup.)

Name: Cade Laufenberg (pictured on left)

Class: Junior

Major: Environmental Science

Hometown: La Crosse, Wisc.

Other interests: Snowboarding, ice fishing and cooking.

Name: Sam Schollmeier (pictured on right)

Class: Junior

Major: Law Enforcement

Hometown: Rochester, MN

Other interests: Hunting and playing lacrosse.

Club Web site: www.facebook.com/WSUFishing

Q&A

CollegeFishing.com: How were you introduced to fishing?

Laufenberg: I was introduced to fishing by taking family trips to the Mississippi River and drowning night crawlers.

Schollmeier: My dad used to take my brother and me out when we were little and I fell in love with it.

CollegeFishing.com: What style/method of fishing are you most comfortable with?

Laufenberg: Frog fishing or flipping grass.

Schollmeier: Flipping and finesse soft plastics.

CollegeFishing.com: What did it feel like to qualify for the 2013 FLW College Fishing National Championship? How do you plan to prepare for the big event?

Laufenberg: It felt amazing. I feel one step closer to realizing my life’s goal of becoming a professional angler. We plan to spend our spring break testing the waters of Beaver Lake to prepare for this event. Watch out for WSU!

Schollmeier: It was amazing. It was surreal and it took a little while to set in. I plan on doing as much research as possible and spending as much time on the water as I can.

CollegeFishing.com: Tell us something interesting about yourself that most people wouldn’t know.

Laufenberg: I’m allergic to peanuts, dogs, cats and have asthma, but none of these things keep me off the water!

Schollmeier: My right thumb is shorter than my left.