On Sept. 20, 37 total boats with 23 kids competed at the second annual Cooper Dorge Memorial fishing tournament on the Osage River at St. Thomas. The event was sponsored by the Gasconade and Osage Bass clubs.

Winners in the team event: Big Bass (Kevin Findley and Tim McGlade), Nathan and Nick Libbert and Gerard Dickneite finished first, followed by Kevin Findley and Tim McGlade, Jake Rush and John Tappel, and Brad Kempker and Jarrod Call.

A Kid’s Big Bass pot paid out seven places.

Trinity Thomas led the way with 2.46 pounds, followed by Nick Libbert (2.04 pounds), Evan Kampeter (1.84 pounds), Joey Massman (1.82 pounds), Benjamin Schulte (1.50 pounds), Ian Heckman (1.34 pounds), and Wyatt Dorge (1.20  pounds). Matt Schulte caught the smallest legal bass weighing 0.72 pounds. 

All kids in attendance won either cash, fishing equipment or gift cards.

Event chairs Gerard Dickneite and Marlan Schaefer thanked the following individuals and businesses that made donations to make the event a success: Tom and Mary Stokes, Gale Bax, N.H. Schepper’s, Speedy B’s, Binkley Excavating, Justin Bax, Marlan Schaefer, Tim McGlade, B&K Auto Glass (Brad Kempker), Tombstone Tackle, Osage Bass Club, and the Gasconade Bass Club.

“On behalf of the Dorge family, thanks again to everyone for their love, prayers and support and enjoying the day with them doing what Cooper loved,” said Dickneite, adding special thanks to the winners that donated their prize money back in Cooper’s honor, to Ben Kempker who cooked the food and to 4-Wheel Parts Plus (Jesse Reinkemeyer) for use of the pavilion, ramp and extra parking.