Lucky Catch

A little luck and a lot of planning brought the Boys & Girls Club of Bryant a new fundraiser that is sure to catch on year after year, helping to secure brighter futures for children.

When it comes to raising funds to benefit children, “nothing is out of our comfort zone,” says Debbie Broadway, a Boys & Girls Club of Bryant board member. The Saline County community leader is always on the lookout for ways to better her hometown. When she saw professional angler Scott Suggs of Bryant at a restaurant earlier this year, she thought there must be some way he could help the Boys & Girls Club. She was right.

After Debbie’s initial idea, extensive planning and support from many people created the inaugural Scott Suggs Bass Team Tournament on May 2. Hosted by the Bryant International Association of Firefighters Local 4606 and the Boys & Girls Club and sponsored by Edwards Food Giant, the event attracted more than 100 anglers to Crystal Springs on Lake Ouachita. That lake is one of Scott’s favorite fishing destinations.

Scott, the first angler to win $1 million in a single tournament when he won the 2007 Forrest Wood Cup, says he was more than pleased to join forces with the Boys & Girls Club. “Anything that can be done to encourage kids to get active, I am all for,” he says. “Cell phones, computers and other devices distract kids from what I grew up doing – standing on a pond bank with a fishing pole.”

Since he was 2 years old, Scott’s second home has been outdoors on the water fishing or in the woods hunting. “My dad and grandfather introduced me to the outdoors early on and some of my greatest memories are of them sitting on a pond bank watching me fish. When you having fishing in your family and then marry into a family who also fishes and hunts, it’s just what you do.”

This year, Scott became the first Select angler to win a Major League Fishing Cup event. The 25 fish he caught weighing 46 pounds, 14 ounces earned him the title of Jack Link’s Major League Fishing 2015 General Tire Summit Cup Champion. “The goal of the sport is to catch bass that weigh at least 10 pounds,” explains Scott.

The first 10-pounder Scott caught was on his honeymoon with his wife Kim at Lake Ouachita. “She caught three over 5,” he says, adding, “Not that I didn’t already know, but this just proved even more that we were a right match.”

Scott started fishing full-time in 2004. He’s been fortunate to continue living in Bryant, his hometown, where he and Kim have raised their daughters, Whitney and Hallie. Following their dad’s lead, they love the outdoors – a proud accomplishment for Scott in the face of all the distractions competing children’s attention. While he travels during eight months out the year, he’s never too far from home. “We’ve talked about living other places, but this has always been a good location, close to local fishing tournaments. Both of our families are here, I’ve been here all my life and we have so many memories. It couldn’t get any better. ”

“Staying humble and true to your roots is a must in this sport,” Scott adds. Before each tournament, he still gets nervous. “If you don’t, you need to stay home. If it doesn’t excite you and fire you up, it doesn’t matter. When you do it right, you still get nervous, and once you catch your qualifying five, you can relax.” Kim is a calming force in Scott’s life. “She’s always supported me, she’s my best friend; she’s everything.”

After the tournament, Scott visited students at the Boys & Girls Club at a later date. “My hope for them is that they realize there’s more to life than looking at a video screen,” he says. “There’s so much to going to a pond, throwing a rock in the water and watching it ripple on. I hope to encourage them to learn things on their own and go outside like I did as a kid. Exploring outside and figuring things out develops common sense and confidence. I learned from the best and hope I can pass down what I learned as a boy. I know it’s helped me succeed as an adult.”

Debbie says the first Scott Suggs tournament turned out better than expected. “Great memories were made, thanks to everyone involved with this tournament, from our generous sponsors, wonderful volunteers, board members, staff and anglers,” Debbie says. “I’m sure a fish tale or two was made, and more importantly, lifetime investments were made in the Bryant Boys & Girls Club for the future of our children.”

Tying for first place were anglers Larry Vaughan and Tony Udrowski of Hot Springs. Saline County finishers included: Bryce Minner and Marty Hyatt, both of Benton, second-place; Alan Cabe and Glen Loyd, both of Haskell, fifth place; Russell Schmeckenbecker of Bryant, seventh place; Derek McGrew and Josh Akers, both of Benton, 10th place.

The Bryant club started as the Bryant Youth Association in 2004 and received its charter from Boys & Girls Clubs of America in 2005. For more than 10 years, more than 4,000 Bryant youth have been served through after-school programs, summer programs and flag football leagues. The next Boys & Girls Club fundraiser takes place June 12 with the 4th Annual Swingin’ for a Reason golf tournament at Hurricane Golf and Country Club.