| As you might know, the Lapp Trophy ( named after Richard and Rick Lapp who won the first ever WMT's team of the year title) is awarded to the WMT's "team of the year" winners. Up until now, the WMT's team of the year winners received the trophies and the prestige that went along with being the best muskie tournament team. Now, in addition to the title, we are awarding a prize that is befitting of such a pinnacle of achievements.
Following the WMT's 2001 precedent of awarding the 1st place winners of the WMT's Invitational Championship with a bye for the following season's Championship that has continued ever since, this year's WMT's Lapp Trophy winners will also have an automatic bye for the 2005 Invitational. As always, this years Invitational Champions will be boat number 1 next year at the Invitational followed by the Lapp Trophy winners in boat 2, and this will continue every year.
Talking to the anglers who fish the WMT, they feel as do I, that winning the Lapp Trophy is perhaps an even greater accomplishment then winning the Invitational, or at least it shouldn't be any less. And it is for this reason that the anglers should be rewarded and as we grow, the purses at the Championship will grow and it will be even more important to secure a spot for the Championship. The qualifying anglers at this years Championship will be competing for over $100,000 in cash and prizes and next years purse should be twice the amount. This is HUGE!!! Winning the Lapp Trophy title in 2004 can mean a lot, indeed!!!
Thanks and have a great season,
Tom McInnis |
