Presented by Yamaha Motor Corp USA and Warrior Boats Inc.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Aug. 30, 2023
Contact: Denny Fox, 920-505-0122
Anglers Insight Marketing LLC (AIM™)
Green Bay Seals AWWS Wisconsin Team Of The Year For
Father-Son Team Of Rick and Matt Wachowiak
Just as important as the right electronics is consistency when it comes to winning anything, including Team Of The Year, and that was proven again by the father-son team of Rick and Matt Wachowiak, who clinched the Yamaha Motor Corp. USA Wisconsin Team Of The Year at the AIM Weekend Walleye Series Garmin/Navionics Wisconsin State Championship on the Bay of Green Bay at Oconto.
“The Wachowiaks proved that you don’t need to win all events, all the time, to be winners,” said Denny Fox, AIM national tournament director. “They clinched a spot in the AIM Warrior Boats National Championship Shootout by using their knowledge of the water to be nimble and score that beautiful Yamaha T9.9 with electric start and power trim over the entire season, besting some great sticks.”
The Wachowiaks are both from Muskego, with Rick the father. They consistently finished up the ladder, taking third on the Fox River at Green Bay, fourth at the Oconto qualifier in May, on Winnebago they took 38th and 8th at the Oconto championship. They did not fish at Winneconne, so per AIM rules, they “threw out” that event to win.
“We were fortunate enough to be consistent. In three of the four we finished near the top. I think the fact that we fish a lot, and all these events were challenging. In the first on April 2 there was poor weather the day before, so we just went to a spot we knew to be historically good and were fortunate that fish were there,” Rick Wachowiak said. “The third out of Oconto we pre-fished, but there was a good chop on tournament day, and we couldn’t get where we wanted to, so we went to an alternate spot and fortunately the fish were there.
“On Winnebago, we didn’t consider ourselves that strong so, the goal was to finish in the top 30, and we were close enough to keep in the running. That day included getting two 20-inch fish in the last 20 minutes,” he said, otherwise, that would have sunk them. And the championship?
“We had a horrible pre-fish and went to a spot that has traditionally been good, and we were fortunate,” he said.
There’s that word again, “fortunate.” One could interpret that as “luck.” One could also interpret that as “experience.” We choose experience, and that ability to adapt and adopt.
“The ability to adapt with a good knowledge base is what allowed us to do it,” Wachowiak said.
“You’ve got to know where fish are. It’s a combination. Electronics is becoming more and more important. I think there are a lot of people who are getting better. And hopefully you have a knowledge base, so you’ve got the confidence to try different spots when your plan doesn’t work out,” Wachowiak said.
“This will be our first opportunity to fish in the Shootout, and it’s super exciting. We’re thankful to be in and hope that we’ll give it a good run. We were in second for Team Of The Year going in, and unfortunately the leaders (21-year-olds Carter Greening and Carter Dittman) didn’t have a good day. That’s quite an accomplishment for those two young guys. Good for them,” he said.
We’re certain to hear more from the “Two Carters” in the near future. Watch for these rising stars in 2024.
Placing second were the championship event winners, Tyler Mueller and his father Todd, both from Appleton. Because they double-qualified, that meant their teammates Jake and Dave Becker of Genoa City moved into the last available slot for the Shootout.
“The fact that we double-qualified provided our teammates with the last spot, which is a great thing. They were in the top five going in and they didn’t have a good tournament, but luckily they got that last spot. We fished hard all year, and it paid off,” Tyler Mueller said. “To be able to take second is a special thing,” he said, especially doing it with his father.
In third for TOY were Steve Meyer of Birnamwood and Danny Woodke of Gillet. Because they also double-qualified, another team moves up to qualify via TOY points. In fourth, and another Shootout double-qualifier, were Mark Kumorkiewicz of Pleasant Prairie and Lynn Niklash of Oconomowoc. Finishing fifth in TOY were Trevor Krueger of Omro and Wesley Robl of Oshkosh.
Because of the double-qualifying teams, two other teams qualified for the Shootout based on TOY points besides the Beckers mentioned above. They are: Mark Maas of Appleton and Gregory Stein of Neenah, and Slawomir Wiater of Franklin Park, IL, and Kamil Kania of Chicago.
The week of Sept. 8-9, watch for the leadup to the Yamaha Motor Corp. USA North Dakota State Championship and TOY award on Lake Sakakawea at Beulah.
Then, the AIM Rivers Division takes the stage, starting with the Mississippi qualifier at Clinton, IA Sept. 10, then Oct. 1 in Dubuque, IA, for the last division qualifier. That division’s championship and Team Of The Year will be decided Oct. 21-22 on the river at Prairie du Chien, WI. We’ll have updates prior to each of those events coming up. Stay tuned.
You can still register for those Rivers Division qualifiers, and early next year, 2024’s event registration will open. Learn how at aimfishing.com.
You know you want to. You know you can.
Anglers Insight Marketing LLC (AIM™) is a unique tournament organization created and owned by many of the most accomplished and recognizable professional walleye anglers, along with others who share the mission of advancing competitive walleye fishing and making it sustainable into the future.
AIM is committed to marketing excellence on behalf of its tournament competitors, the tournament host communities, and the brands that partner with it. AIM is also committed to maintaining healthy fisheries across the nation by the development of the exclusive AIM Catch-Record-Release™ format which is integral to its dynamic events and unparalleled consumer engagement. For more information about AIM™, AIM Pro Walleye Series™, AIM Weekend Walleye Series, AIM sponsors and AIM anglers, visit www.aimfishing.com.
AIM Presenting Sponsors: Yamaha Motor Corporation U.S.A. and Warrior Boats inc.
AIM Supporting Sponsors: Mercury Marine, Garmin, Navionics, Power Pole, Worldwide Marine Insurance, Off Shore Tackle, Gemini Sport Marketing, Moonshine Lures Shiver Minnow, JT Outdoors Products, McQuoids Inn, Rosemore Outdoor Gear, Outdoor Authority fish house rentals, Island Bar and Grill, Bait Box on the Rock, Oconto County WI, Odyssey Battery.