HAMBURG, N.Y., – June 28, 2020 – Southtowns Walleye Association of Western New York Inc. (STWA) (www.southtownswalleye.org) held its 36th Annual Walleye Derby from June 13th through June 21st 2020, on the waters of Lake Erie and the Upper Niagara River despite the negative impacts this year due to COVID-19 and the current border closure. The organization was able to overcome these obstacles and safely and cleanly provide participants with adequate social distancing for in-person sign-ups, extended online registrations and safe weigh-in stations. With over $100,000 in cash and prizes at stake, over 870 anglers from across NY, PA and Ohio took part in this nine day event to claim the top prize for the heaviest walleye caught. This annual contest is the largest amateur fishing derby on Lake Erie and begins the big summer event season for all anglers on the waterways.
The Derby concluded with a virtual awards ceremony in order to meet social distancing guidelines on June 28th at 11am, prizes were awarded to the top 200 fish that were weighed in for this big fishing event. Top ten honors for the winners went to the adult and youth participants within each division as follows:
Adult Winners 2020: Youth Winners 2020:
1st - Justin Wekenmann – 11.90 lbs. 1st – Garret Schmitt – 9.04 lbs.
2nd - Michael Sacca – 11.61 lbs. 2nd – Fischer Sleeman – 8.34 lbs.
3rd - Eric Crawford Jr. – 11.61 lbs. 3rd – Hunter Swoope – 7.72 lbs.
4th - Delmas Lowers Jr. – 11.27 lbs. 4th – Mylana Wiese – 7.70 lbs.
5th – Kevin Coyle – 11.23 lbs. 5th – Tristen Phillips – 7.56 lbs.
6th - Bobby Malvestuto – 11.17 lbs. 6th – Carmen Nardolillo II – 7.33 lbs.
7th - Joshua Marshall – 10.82 lbs. 7th – Jacob Stephenson – 7.23 lbs.
8th - Jeffrey Milleville – 10.76 lbs. 8th – Wyatt Simonick – 7.15 lbs.
9th - Andrew Matteson – 10.72 lbs. 9th – Kaiden Dissette – 7.03 lbs.
10th - Richard Skrabski – 10.70 lbs. 10th – Ryan Mordacz - 6.89 lbs.
Southtowns Walleye Association of Western New York, Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving fishing opportunities in the region for all individuals. With a clear focus on kids, community, conservation and philanthropy, our various programs support these pillars for a strong future generation of outdoorsmen and women and our fishery. To learn more about the club, please visit us at www.southtownswalleye.org or stop by our facility located at 5895 Southwestern Boulevard, Hamburg, NY 14075, Tel.: 716.649.8202, Fax: 716.649.8237, meetings are held the third Thursday of each month at 7:30pm and are open to the public.