Kennedy Finally Reaches His Goal

Steve Kennedy has enjoyed much success on a national tournament circuit, winning an event and qualifying for its championship this season. But his career goal always has been to compete in the big leagues of the CITGO Bassmaster Tournament Trail.

With an excellent season on the CITGO Bassmaster Central Open circuit, the 36-year-old from Auburn, Ala., qualified for the new CITGO Bassmaster Elite Series in 2006. And he will be among more than 100 Elite pros competing on the lucrative and highly visible 11-event circuit next year.

“I’m pretty excited about it. It does mean a lot to me,” said Kennedy, who finished eighth in the recent Open Championship in Alabama. “I’ve worked really hard to get there and I’m not going to turn down the opportunity.”

Kennedy said he worked tirelessly to qualify, after not qualifying from the Opens for several years. He first attempted it in 1992 and then tried again in the early 2000s. “I finally got to qualify, so I’m not giving it up.”

Kennedy, who still is working on a sponsor deal for his wrapped boat for the Elite Series, is a trained mechanical engineer. But he’s always wanted to fish competitively at the highest level.

“I was always working toward this,” he said. “When I got out of school, I wanted to do it and I couldn’t get in. I really didn’t understand what it took to get to this level.”

 

From BASS