Luke Davis and Kaden Raichel of the University of Montevallo have taken the lead on Day 1 of the 2025 Strike King Bassmaster College National Championship at Cherokee Lake presented by Bass Pro Shops with a total of 19 pounds, 7 ounces.
Photo by Solomon Glenn/B.A.S.S.
July 10, 2025
Raichel, Davis take advantage of morning flurry to take Day 1 lead at Cherokee Lake
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. — A game time adjustment paid off in a big way for Luke Davis and Kaden Raichel on Day 1 of the Strike King Bassmaster College National Championship at Cherokee Lake presented by Bass Pro Shops.
The University of Montevallo duo caught a five-bass limit weighing 19 pounds, 7 ounces to take the Day 1 lead at the east Tennessee reservoir, anchoring their bag with a largemouth weighing around 5 pounds.
Davis and Raichel hold a 9-ounce advantage over University of North Alabama’s Bryce Dimauro and Tripp Berlinsky, who caught 18-14 to land in second. Hunter King and Calup Williams from Blue Mountain Christian University are third with 17-5.
“We switched our game plan late last night,” Davis said. “We had been set on doing something different, but we were talking about it and decided to switch it up. I guess it was the perfect little tweak that put us on the right spot at the right time.
“There aren’t words to describe how this morning went.”
The grumblings about how tough Cherokee Lake was fishing weren’t particularly quiet during Wednesday’s registration day, but the 154 teams managed to land a total of 70 limits and only five teams failed to catch a bass during Thursday’s opening round. If the cut had been made today, a team would have needed 14-2 to advance to the final day.
After brutally hot temperatures during practice, a weather system produced overnight showers and clouds lingered for most of the morning. Those conditions helped many teams achieve early limits, including Davis and Raichel.
“We had most of our weight in 10 minutes. It was insane. At 8:30 a.m., we were completely done,” Raichel said. “At the mouth of the river I could definitely tell there was more current, and I think that got them positioned better.”
While they found bass shallow and deep, Davis and Raichel primarily focused on bass suspending under schools of threadfin shad in 20 to 30 feet of water. One presentation was key during the morning madness. As they went along the rest of the day, they found a few more baits that could produce key bites later in the tournament.
They finished Day 1 with four largemouth and one smallmouth that weighed over 3 pounds. Although they can only keep two 18-inch smallmouth a day per Tennessee regulations, Davis said they spent a lot of time looking for areas that could provide that better-than-average smallmouth, but the one they caught on Day 1 was by far their best thus far.
“That one was a healthy one,” Davis said. “We caught some 20- and 21-inch smallmouth in practice, but they were only 3 pounds. A lot of the fish are skinny, but today we pulled up on a place with fat ones.”
A couple of things could make life a little more difficult on Raichel and Davis on Day 2. For one, they will launch in a later flight. Raichel also knows of at least one team who also fished their primary area and believes they might be sharing the spot tomorrow.
Dimauro and Berlinsky, meanwhile, finished the day with all largemouth in their 18-14 limit. Considering the smallmouth regulations, the UNA duo went all in on finding largemouth and found the right quality on Day 1.
“Our practice was very slow,” Dimauro said. “We knew we saw some good ones, but we never thought we would be able to catch almost 19 pounds.”
While the day started slow, Berlinsky said they started seeing big ones as the day progressed. One particular spot produced three key bites, including a 5-pounder and two 4-pounders that anchored their day. Berlinsky estimated using between 15 or 20 rods throughout Day 1.
“We’ve really been junk fishing around structure,” Berlinsky said. “Any can hold them out here it seems like. We haven’t even been looking for big fish, we are just trying to get a bite, and it just so happened that those bass were big.”
King and Williams, meanwhile, didn’t know where they would start Day 1 until they got in the truck Thursday morning. They chose correctly and landed their limit within the first two hours of the day and finished the day with four largies and a brown fish.
“It was pretty surprising. We only caught one keeper in practice,” Williams said. “To then catch five fish by 8 a.m. is crazy.”
The majority of their bites came in 8 feet of water or less with four or five baits generating the best strikes.
Cole Hadlock and Jackson Kulijof of Murray State University currently hold Big Bass of the Tournament honors with their 4-3 largemouth.
The full field of 154 boats will launch from the TVA Cherokee Dam Launch beginning at 6 a.m. and will return for weigh-in at 2 p.m. The Top 12 anglers after Friday’s weigh-in will advance to Championship Saturday where the winner will earn a spot in the Bassmaster College Classic Bracket presented by Lew’s.
The final Bracket spot will be awarded to the overall Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops Team of the Year, which will be announced during weigh-in on Saturday.
| 2025 Strike King Bassmaster College National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops 7/10-7/12 Cherokee Lake, Jefferson City TN. (BOATER) Standings Day 1 Angler Club/School Pts 1. Luke Davis – Kaden Raichel University of Montevallo 250 Day 1: 5 19-07 Total: 5 19-07 2. Bryce Dimauro – Tripp Berlinsky University of North Alabama 249 Day 1: 5 18-14 Total: 5 18-14 3. Hunter King – Calup Williams Blue Mountain Christian Universi 248 Day 1: 5 17-05 Total: 5 17-05 4. Brendin Simich – Benjamin Travis Auburn University 247 Day 1: 5 16-06 Total: 5 16-06 5. Phillip Herring – Parker O’Bryan University of Montevallo 246 Day 1: 5 16-05 Total: 5 16-05 6. Garrett Smith – Andrew Blanton Lander University 245 Day 1: 5 14-13 Total: 5 14-13 7. Skyler Stevens – Grant McCraney Faulkner University 244 Day 1: 5 14-08 Total: 5 14-08 8. Michael Canonica – Seth Proctor University of Tennessee 243 Day 1: 5 14-07 Total: 5 14-07 9. Andrew Turner – James Sumrell Carson-Newman University 242 Day 1: 5 14-06 Total: 5 14-06 10. Brayden Batchelor – Georgia Southern University 241 Day 1: 5 14-03 Total: 5 14-03 10. Jacob Berryhill – Zach Knight Carson-Newman University 241 Day 1: 5 14-03 Total: 5 14-03 12. TJ Edwards Jr – Sawyer Brady Blue Mountain Christian Universi 239 Day 1: 5 14-02 Total: 5 14-02 13. Levi Seagraves – Scooter Ligon Jr Emmanuel College 238 Day 1: 5 14-01 Total: 5 14-01 14. Cameron Dials – Ethan Burnette Kentucky Christian University 237 Day 1: 5 13-09 Total: 5 13-09 15. Jacob Swanson – Matt Boerboom University of Montevallo 236 Day 1: 5 13-09 Total: 5 13-09 16. Adrian Urso – Corbin Templon Murray State University 235 Day 1: 5 13-07 Total: 5 13-07 17. Zach Wolfe – Brayden Ruckman Carson-Newman University 234 Day 1: 5 13-05 Total: 5 13-05 18. Luke Wenger – Braxon Hightower Dallas Baptist University 233 Day 1: 5 13-04 Total: 5 13-04 19. Paxton Giem – Nick Seitz Adrian College 232 Day 1: 5 13-03 Total: 5 13-03 20. Joe Lutz – Jake Monti UNC – Charlotte 231 Day 1: 5 13-02 Total: 5 13-02 20. Evan Newell – Dylan May Carson-Newman University 231 Day 1: 5 13-02 Total: 5 13-02 22. Cameron Yates – Harrison McCall Lander University 229 Day 1: 5 13-02 Total: 5 13-02 23. James Dubose – Daylon Milam University of Montevallo 228 Day 1: 5 13-01 Total: 5 13-01 23. Hunter Keller – Wes Smith II Catawba Valley Community College 228 Day 1: 5 13-01 Total: 5 13-01 23. Robert Miller – Levi Bolton Emmanuel College 228 Day 1: 5 13-01 Total: 5 13-01 26. Chase Wodzinski – Kaden Buchmann Lander University 225 Day 1: 5 12-14 Total: 5 12-14 27. Dalton DeFelice – Evan Ludlow University of Montevallo 224 Day 1: 5 12-12 Total: 5 12-12 27. Blake Wheat – Zach Helton Carson-Newman University 224 Day 1: 5 12-12 Total: 5 12-12 29. Michael Gammons – Colby Elliott Emmanuel College 222 Day 1: 5 12-11 Total: 5 12-11 30. Brett Mouw – Asa Putnam University of Montevallo 221 Day 1: 5 12-10 Total: 5 12-10 31. Hunter Hamilton – Tyler Morris LSU – Shreveport 220 Day 1: 5 12-09 Total: 5 12-09 32. Carson Owen – Dylan Reed Murray State College 219 Day 1: 5 12-08 Total: 5 12-08 33. Kolby Angell – Michael Markham University of Montevallo 218 Day 1: 5 12-07 Total: 5 12-07 34. Easton Drennon – Chase McCarter Carson-Newman University 217 Day 1: 5 12-06 Total: 5 12-06 35. Trey Marco – Jake Rowlands King University 216 Day 1: 5 12-03 Total: 5 12-03 36. Lucas Washburn – Braylon Eggerding Adrian College 215 Day 1: 5 12-03 Total: 5 12-03 37. Delaney Platt – Ryan Olsen Wabash Valley College 214 Day 1: 4 12-02 Total: 4 12-02 38. Hunter Barrow – Kanton Trull Catawba Valley Community College 213 Day 1: 5 11-15 Total: 5 11-15 39. Hunter Brewer – Fisher Heard University of North Alabama 212 Day 1: 5 11-14 Total: 5 11-14 40. Carson Winn – Ethan Tedder University of North Alabama 211 Day 1: 5 11-12 Total: 5 11-12 41. Brody Robison – Peyton Sorrow University of Montevallo 210 Day 1: 5 11-12 Total: 5 11-12 42. Caleb Bridges – Jonathan Fann Middle Tennessee State Universit 209 Day 1: 5 11-11 Total: 5 11-11 42. Alex Wood – Joe Williams Missouri State University 209 Day 1: 5 11-11 Total: 5 11-11 44. Jerry Brumbaugh Jr. – Quade Lobo Adrian College 207 Day 1: 5 11-11 Total: 5 11-11 45. Bryson Dotson – Hayden Peck Tennessee Wesleyan University 206 Day 1: 5 11-10 Total: 5 11-10 46. Ethan Fields – McKendree University 205 Day 1: 4 11-10 Total: 4 11-10 47. Ethan Elliott – Bryce Mcdonald University of Pikeville 204 Day 1: 5 11-08 Total: 5 11-08 48. Peyton Harris – Dalton Head University of Montevallo 203 Day 1: 5 11-07 Total: 5 11-07 49. Dayne Kobriger – Camden Kozikoski Drury University 202 Day 1: 5 11-07 Total: 5 11-07 50. Gage King – Banks Shaw University of North Alabama 201 Day 1: 5 11-06 Total: 5 11-06 51. Cole Divin – Grant Gale Tarleton State University 200 Day 1: 5 11-04 Total: 5 11-04 51. Garrett Sullivan – Hayes Pate Faulkner University 200 Day 1: 5 11-04 Total: 5 11-04 53. Brett Hill – Brayden Hoehn Campbellsville University 198 Day 1: 5 11-03 Total: 5 11-03 54. Dillon Robertshaw – Jake Mantovani Missouri State University 197 Day 1: 5 11-01 Total: 5 11-01 55. Chris Baker – Elijah Kelley Kentucky Christian University 196 Day 1: 5 11-00 Total: 5 11-00 56. Carty Shoen – Tyler Swan Auburn University 195 Day 1: 5 10-15 Total: 5 10-15 57. Trey McMeen – Dylan Armstrong East Texas Baptist University 194 Day 1: 5 10-15 Total: 5 10-15 58. Brock Blazier – Colby Joseph Campbellsville University 193 Day 1: 5 10-13 Total: 5 10-13 58. Colton Boelkes – Joshua Hayes University of North Alabama 193 Day 1: 5 10-13 Total: 5 10-13 60. John Michael Ortman – Max Heaton Emmanuel College 191 Day 1: 5 10-12 Total: 5 10-12 61. Riley Faulkner – Szymon Piton Carson-Newman University 190 Day 1: 5 10-09 Total: 5 10-09 62. Braden Cox – Cameron Smith Ohio State University 189 Day 1: 4 10-09 Total: 4 10-09 63. Braden Lankford – Murray State College 188 Day 1: 4 10-08 Total: 4 10-08 64. Harrison Terry – Jordan Hampton Bethel University 187 Day 1: 5 10-06 Total: 5 10-06 65. Angelo Malek – Parker Welch McKendree University 186 Day 1: 4 10-06 Total: 4 10-06 66. Noah Trant – Evan Howe Northwestern State University 185 Day 1: 5 10-05 Total: 5 10-05 67. Reece Keeney – Brantley Anders Kentucky Christian University 184 Day 1: 5 10-04 Total: 5 10-04 68. Cole Taylor – Clay Taylor Lander University 183 Day 1: 5 10-03 Total: 5 10-03 69. Elisha Colley – Storm Clark University of Montevallo 182 Day 1: 4 10-01 Total: 4 10-01 70. Evan Sutton – Jaxson Freeman McKendree University 181 Day 1: 5 09-15 Total: 5 09-15 71. Brady Metzger – Mason Bohland Purdue University 180 Day 1: 4 09-14 Total: 4 09-14 72. Clayton Ellis – Chandler Howell Blue Mountain Christian Universi 179 Day 1: 5 09-12 Total: 5 09-12 72. Carter Nutt – Dylan Nutt University of North Alabama 179 Day 1: 5 09-12 Total: 5 09-12 74. Cole McNeely – Cole Martin University of Montevallo 177 Day 1: 5 09-11 Total: 5 09-11 75. Caleb Dugger – Kolby Gambrel King University 176 Day 1: 5 09-10 Total: 5 09-10 76. Tyler Chmelar – Kase Kramer Tarleton State University 175 Day 1: 4 09-08 Total: 4 09-08 76. Justin Latham – Lake Hatfield Campbellsville University 175 Day 1: 4 09-08 Total: 4 09-08 78. Carter Doren – Ryan Lachniet Campbellsville University 173 Day 1: 4 09-07 Total: 4 09-07 79. Jeff Giffen – Cooper Gilroy University of Alabama 172 Day 1: 4 09-07 Total: 4 09-07 80. Anderson Jones – Lander University 171 Day 1: 5 09-04 Total: 5 09-04 81. Nathan Reynolds – Jake Brown University of North Alabama 170 Day 1: 4 09-03 Total: 4 09-03 82. Noah Belt – Micah Belt Southeastern Oklahoma University 169 Day 1: 4 09-03 Total: 4 09-03 83. Brayden Mercer – Corey Morris East Texas Baptist University 168 Day 1: 4 09-00 Total: 4 09-00 83. Jackson Paden – Mason Thompson University of Tennessee 168 Day 1: 4 09-00 Total: 4 09-00 83. Dalton Phelps – Peyton Rose Wabash Valley College 168 Day 1: 4 09-00 Total: 4 09-00 86. Levi Thibodaux – William Tew LSU – Shreveport 165 Day 1: 4 08-15 Total: 4 08-15 87. Hunter Russell – Richard Skiff Wabash Valley College 164 Day 1: 4 08-15 Total: 4 08-15 88. Joe Vaulton – Clay Bales Carson-Newman University 163 Day 1: 4 08-14 Total: 4 08-14 89. Owen Wheeler – Bethel University 162 Day 1: 5 08-12 Total: 5 08-12 90. Brooks Parker – Briggs Alavezos University of Montevallo 161 Day 1: 4 08-11 Total: 4 08-11 91. Cole Moulton – Jared Hubbard Lander University 160 Day 1: 3 08-11 Total: 3 08-11 92. Lane Clark – Tallis Morrison Erskine College 159 Day 1: 4 08-10 Total: 4 08-10 93. Kai Barnett – Kyle Hopping McKendree University 158 Day 1: 4 08-09 Total: 4 08-09 94. Syler Prince – Parker Stalvey St Johns River State College 157 Day 1: 3 08-09 Total: 3 08-09 94. Triston Richardson – Johnny Hudson Jr LSU – Shreveport 157 Day 1: 3 08-09 Total: 3 08-09 96. Riley Nuessle – Garrett Cromer University of Montevallo 155 Day 1: 3 08-06 Total: 3 08-06 96. Hampton Shull – Landon Surrett Lander University 155 Day 1: 3 08-06 Total: 3 08-06 98. Luke Rokavec – Braden Fairbanks Campbellsville University 153 Day 1: 4 08-05 Total: 4 08-05 99. Cody Monlezun – Josh Kerr Texas A&M University 152 Day 1: 3 08-00 Total: 3 08-00 100. Carson Belville – Connor Hall McKendree University 151 Day 1: 3 07-15 Total: 3 07-15 101. Brett Jolley Jr. – Carson Stevens East Texas Baptist University 150 Day 1: 4 07-13 Total: 4 07-13 102. Jake Peck – Luke Wyle Auburn University 149 Day 1: 4 07-12 Total: 4 07-12 103. Allen Powe – Jonathan Combs Campbellsville University 148 Day 1: 4 07-09 Total: 4 07-09 104. Cody Abbott – Trenton Carey Lander University 147 Day 1: 3 07-09 Total: 3 07-09 105. Zach Pocos – Tucker Siminak McKendree University 146 Day 1: 3 07-08 Total: 3 07-08 106. Corban Chenevey – Garrett Christy Catawba Valley Community College 145 Day 1: 3 07-04 Total: 3 07-04 107. Jase Smith Jr. – Zachary Nolan Georgia College 144 Day 1: 3 07-04 Total: 3 07-04 108. Cabe Mackey – Jacob Webb Catawba Valley Community College 143 Day 1: 4 07-03 Total: 4 07-03 109. Peyton Bryant – Brezlyn Hightower Murray State College 142 Day 1: 3 07-00 Total: 3 07-00 110. Nick Dumke – Connor Bell University of Montevallo 141 Day 1: 2 06-15 Total: 2 06-15 111. Jeremy Monda – Florida Gateway College 140 Day 1: 3 06-14 Total: 3 06-14 112. Easton Bouma – Zachary Ward Drury University 139 Day 1: 3 06-08 Total: 3 06-08 113. Matthew Gunn – Matthew Massey Erskine College 138 Day 1: 3 06-06 Total: 3 06-06 114. Matthew Qualich – Liam Bonnett McKendree University 137 Day 1: 3 06-04 Total: 3 06-04 115. Turner Hart – Bryan College 136 Day 1: 3 06-02 Total: 3 06-02 116. Wyatt Pearman – Ridge Rutledge Campbellsville University 135 Day 1: 3 06-00 Total: 3 06-00 117. Will Wester – Jackson Thomas Emmanuel College 134 Day 1: 2 05-15 Total: 2 05-15 118. Grayson Ball – Sellers Odom University of North Alabama 133 Day 1: 2 05-13 Total: 2 05-13 119. Grant Rice – Blake Marcum Morehead State University 132 Day 1: 2 05-09 Total: 2 05-09 120. Noah Lieberman – Jacob Hiebsch Missouri State University 131 Day 1: 2 05-06 Total: 2 05-06 121. Harmon Marien – Mason Darling McKendree University 130 Day 1: 3 05-04 Total: 3 05-04 122. Blake Bullock – John Mark Berry Blue Mountain Christian Universi 129 Day 1: 2 05-01 Total: 2 05-01 123. Tucker McCoy – Skipper Stallings University of Montevallo 128 Day 1: 2 04-14 Total: 2 04-14 123. Luke McGuffin – Rylan Green Erskine College 128 Day 1: 2 04-14 Total: 2 04-14 125. Peyton Dunn – Michael Avery Emmanuel College 126 Day 1: 2 04-09 Total: 2 04-09 126. Brennan Berglund – Colton White University of Montevallo 125 Day 1: 2 04-08 Total: 2 04-08 127. Preston Kolisek – Smith McGregor University of North Alabama 124 Day 1: 2 04-07 Total: 2 04-07 128. Trace Antunes III – Garrett Ring University of Montevallo 123 Day 1: 2 04-05 Total: 2 04-05 128. Drake Sturgill – Hudson Choquette University of Montevallo 123 Day 1: 2 04-05 Total: 2 04-05 130. Caleb Neu – Anthony Cicero IV Bethel University 121 Day 1: 2 04-03 Total: 2 04-03 131. Cole Hadlock – Jackson Kulijof Murray State University 120 Day 1: 1 04-03 Total: 1 04-03 132. Connor Green – Peter West Faulkner University 119 Day 1: 2 03-14 Total: 2 03-14 132. Josh Richardson – Nathan Vahle University of Nebraska – Lincoln 119 Day 1: 2 03-14 Total: 2 03-14 134. Peyton Matherne – Beau Landry LSU 117 Day 1: 1 03-12 Total: 1 03-12 135. Drew Blasi – Noah Amundson Kansas State University 116 Day 1: 2 03-04 Total: 2 03-04 136. Carson Hoots – Dylan Kelly Texas A&M University 115 Day 1: 1 03-03 Total: 1 03-03 137. Owen Januszewski – Brady Pinwar Adrian College 114 Day 1: 1 02-13 Total: 1 02-13 137. Grant Simmons – Missouri State University 114 Day 1: 1 02-13 Total: 1 02-13 139. Colten Drawdy – Bethel University 112 Day 1: 1 02-10 Total: 1 02-10 140. Karsten Raney – Brayson Claunch Campbellsville University 111 Day 1: 1 02-09 Total: 1 02-09 141. Dom Begier – Erich Thompson SUNY – ESF 110 Day 1: 1 02-08 Total: 1 02-08 141. Lance Denney – Jackson Slaughter University of Nebraska – Lincoln 110 Day 1: 1 02-08 Total: 1 02-08 143. Michael John Teate – Diego Alea Southeastern University 108 Day 1: 1 02-06 Total: 1 02-06 144. Kenny Price – Wyatt Loving Stephen F Austin State Universit 107 Day 1: 1 02-04 Total: 1 02-04 145. Cody Brumfield – Alex Mccarty University of Rio Grande 106 Day 1: 1 02-03 Total: 1 02-03 145. Ben Burns – Grant Pursifull Stephen F Austin State Universit 106 Day 1: 1 02-03 Total: 1 02-03 147. Matthew Norton – Ian Schroeder UNC – Charlotte 104 Day 1: 1 02-01 Total: 1 02-01 147. Brock Vogel – Kyle Zainitzer University of North Alabama 104 Day 1: 1 02-01 Total: 1 02-01 149. Dallas Copeland – Mario Botan Texas A&M University 102 Day 1: 2 00-14 Total: 2 00-14 150. Sam Ausbrooks – Eli Jaime Wabash Valley College 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00 150. Will Hammond – Parker Lambert Lander University 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00 150. Carter Teune – Nick Hawkins Southeastern University 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00 150. Tanner Wassilchalk – West Virginia University 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00 150. Will Weischwill – Cade Dornburg Texas A&M University 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00 ———————————————————————– Totals Day #Limits #Fish Weight 1 70 566 1378-12 ———————————- 70 566 1378-12 |