The 2023 Marie’s Memorial Bass Challenge took place at Lake of the Ozarks on Saturday, November 25th. A total of 146 teams converged at the PB2 ramp on Saturday morning, ready to fish and celebrate the life of Marie Terrell-Steinkuehler.
Marie was tragically killed on July 25, 2020, when the boat she was on was hit and ran over by a drunk driver who had just left Backwater Jacks on the water bar. Marie’s 13 year old daughter and husband were also on the boat, and suffered severe bodily injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and were in a coma for weeks after the drunk driving crash.
The drunk boater faced 5 felony charges for over 2.5 years, including BWI with death to another, until the newly elected prosecuting attorney stepped in and dropped all 5 felony charges. Richelle Grosvenor, the current prosecuting attorney of Camden County, charged him with 1 simple misdemeanor charge of BWI and Associate Circuit Judge, Michael Gilley, sentenced him to 2 years of probation and a $1,000 fine.
We want to thank everyone who came out to fish this event and hope you all had a great time. Thank you to Bassing Bob for providing the anglers with coffee/donuts at take-off and hot dogs/refreshments at weigh-in. Thank you to Daniel Aubuchon with DA Films for all of the media coverage, and to Brent Algeo with Purkleen for adding the $500 Marie’s Birthday Bonus.
We also want to thank Dr. Lisa Thomas, a MO House of Representatives member representing District 123, who is helping us fight for stronger laws and penalties for those that injure and kill innocent people while driving drunk on the water.
PLEASE DON’T DRINK & DRIVE. GET A SOBER DRIVER!
CONGRATULATIONS TO JUSTIN LUETKEMEYER AND JON HARDY, WINNERS OF THE 2023 MARIE’S MEMORIAL BASS CHALLENGE.
1ST PLACE BIG BASS | 1ST PLACE TOTAL WEIGHT
Justin Luetkemeyer and Jon Hardy came up one bass short of their limit on Saturday, but it turned out they didn’t need it. Jon and Justin weighed in 4 bass that locked in on 19.40 lbs., good for 1st Place Overall on the Total Weight Side. They also hooked into a giant 6.99 lb. bass, that held up and took 1st Place Overall on the Big Bass Side.
Jon and Justin caught all of their fish on topwater baits, and caught their biggest 2 with just over an hour left in the tournament. They won $2,600 for 1st place Total Weight and $2,600 for 1st place Big Bass. Congratulations to you both and thank you for fishing and supporting this event.
2ND PLACE TOTAL WEIGHT | 6TH PLACE BIG BASS
Chad Denningmann and Adam Denningmann took 2nd place on the Total Weight side with 18.85 lbs, along with a 5.75 lb. kicker that took 6th place on the Big Bass side. Adam and Chad landed a cool $2,300 payday. Congratulations gentlemen!
3RD PLACE TOTAL WEIGHT | 15TH PLACE BIG BASS
No strangers to the check line, Marcus Sykora and Bill Davenport took 3rd place on the Total Weight side with 17.06 lbs., and 15th place on the Big Bass side that went 5.04 lbs.
Bill and Marcus took home a total of $1,475. Congrats guys!
2ND PLACE BIG BASS | 14TH PLACE TOTAL WEIGHT
Matt Krekovich and Bill Niesciur landed a 6.52 lb. giant that took 2nd place on the Big Bass side, along with a 5 bass limit that weighed in at 14.14 lbs., good for 14th place on the Total Weight side. Bill and Matt won a combined $1,775. Great job guys!
3RD PLACE BIG BASS
David Short and Jason Kent landed a solid 5.97 lb. bass on Saturday, locking them in at 3rd place overall on the Big Bass side and a cool $1,200 for their efforts. Congrats gentlemen!
MARIE’S BIRTHDAY BONUS, sponsored by PURKLEEN
Dalton Hulme and Shane Brown won the $500 MARIE’S BIRTHDAY BONUS, with 3 fish that went for 8.08 lbs, which was the closest weight to Marie’s Birthday (August 20th)
Thank you to Brent Algeo with PURKLEEN for sponsoring this addition to her tournament.
> CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE RESULTS
> CLICK HERE FOR PHOTO GALLERY
Thank you all again for coming out and celebrating the life of Marie. We hope you all had a great time and we look forward to hosting it again next year.
Due to a conflict we have next year, the 2024 Marie’s Memorial Bass Challenge will be held the Saturday before Thanksgiving, which is November 23, 2024. Save the Date!
We wish you all a Happy Holiday season and we’ll see you soon.
– Terrell Family
