KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Second-year Bassmaster Elite Series pro Fred Roumbanis of Auburn, Calif., bounced back from his rookie season in 2006 to earn the Toyota Moving Forward Award, recognizing the angler who posts the greatest improvement from season to season based on the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings. He received $10,000.
Roumbanis had a solid 2007 season, placing in the Elite 12 in three of 11 Bassmaster Elite Series tournaments to outpace his nearest competitor, Floridian Chris Lane.
“At the end of last year, my goal was to achieve this award,” said Roumbanis. “This season I learned to trust my instincts and go with what I know. I focused on catching a limit every day and one good kicker fish.”
Roumbanis highlighted his 2007 season with seven top-50 cuts in Elite events. And, while the Bassmaster Majors did not influence the Toyota Moving Forward Award, Roumbanis scored an impressive victory in the Bassmaster American in Greensboro, N.C. His first career BASS win was worth $250,000.
Runner-up Chris Lane also improved dramatically from the 2006 Angler of the Year standings. Standings will be finalized after the last day of this weekend’s Bassmaster Elite Series tournament in Kissimmee, Fla.
“Last season I had an experience I would never forget, but this year was either catch them or not fish anymore,” said Lane. “Last year I watched all of these legends in the sport compete and do well, and this year I wanted to beat those guys and I convinced myself that I could.”
Roumbanis joins past Toyota Moving Forward Award winners including Bassmaster Classic champion Denny Brauer (2006), Gary Yamamoto (2005) and Bassmaster Classic champions Davy Hite (2004) and Takahiro Omori (2003). Bassmaster Elite Series sponsors: Sponsors of the Bassmaster Elite Series include Toyota Tundra, Purolator, Triton Boats, Mercury Marine, Berkley, Advance Auto Parts, Lowrance Electronics, MotorGuide, Evan Williams Bourbon, Ramada Worldwide and Costa Del Mar.
For more information, contact BASS Communications at (407) 566-2208 or visit www.bassmaster.com. Visit www.espnmediazone.com for ESPN's latest releases, schedules and other news, plus photos, video and audio clips and more.
BASS is the worldwide authority on bass fishing, sanctioning more than 20,000 events through the BASS Federation Nation annually. Guided by its mission to serve all fishing fans, BASS sets the standard for credibility, professionalism, sportsmanship and conservation, as it has for nearly 40 years.
BASS stages bass fishing tournaments for every skill level and culminates with the Bassmaster Classic. Through its clubs, youth programs, aquatic resource advocacy, magazine publishing and multimedia platforms, BASS offers the industry's widest array of services and support to its nearly 530,000 members. The organization is headquartered in Celebration, Fla.
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