After 3 years of absence from world championship competition, the United States Angling Confederation and the USA Ice Fishing Team are honored to announce the USA Ice Fishing Team will be competing this year in the 2023 XIX World Ice Fishing Championship in TARTU, ESTONIA!
The USA Ice Fishing Team is led by Team Captain Myron Gilbert (Brooklyn, MI). Myron has been a member of the Ice Team since…well, too many years to count at this point. His impressive and commanding leadership skills, combined with years of remarkable competition experience and success, make him the perfect fit in leading this team of veteran ice anglers on the world stage.
Representing the United States of America in competition are five anglers from three different states. Those anglers are:
Chad Schaub, Sand Lake, MIChad is a long time Veteran of the USA Ice Fishing Team and gold medalist. Chad has had many successes and NAIFC tournament wins as an Angler here in the United States.
Nick Schertz , Tomahawk, WINick is also a veteran of the USA Ice Fishing Team and also an Angler on the USA Predator Fishing Team. Nick professionally fishes hard and soft water with too many to count tournament accomplishments and wins over the years.
Ben Blegen, Milaca, MNBen, another USA Ice Fishing Team veteran, also has many accomplishments and tournament wins in the world of tournament ice fishing. Ben also serves as a member to C.I.P.S. on the Athletes’ Commission where he advocates for anglers in every country around the world.
Thomas Jessup, Tustin, MIThomas is new to the USA Ice Fishing Team. Thomas earned a third-place finish in the last held USA Ice Fishing Team tryouts, proving he has all the skills to help the United States earn a medal in Estonia.
Keith Kniffen, Eaton Rapids, MIKeith has also competed overseas with the USA Ice Fishing Team and is a very accomplished tournament ice Angler. Keith’s “hard work and fight till the very end” work ethic will be what the USA Ice Fishing Team needs for success at world championship in Estonia.
Kevin Kowalski, Duluth, MN (Reserve Angler)Kevin is another veteran to the USA Ice Fishing Team with international ice fishing experience. Kevin is a very well accomplished tournament ice Angler. Kevin will serve in a very vital role as the Ice Team’s Reserve Angler.
The USA Ice Team is also supported by what all agree is the USA Ice Team’s most important positions…our support staff and spotters. These group of highly skilled, veteran Ice Team members and Anglers are led by Ice Team Veteran and Program Director Steph Sissell (Howard City, MI); Highly accomplished tournament Angler and USA Ice Fishing Team Veteran Nate Winters (Ogdensburg, WI); long time USA Ice Fishing Team veteran, US Angling BoD member and world angler Brett Root Ericksen (Washburn, IL) and USA Ice Team’s newest, most promising member and NAIFC angler, Camden Begley (McHenry, IL).
Overseas, the work the USA Ice Fishing Team’s support staff does, plays a vital role and unarguably, the most important role to achieving the Team’s success in earning a medal for the United States. These people are the eyes and ears, intelligence and logistics behind everything the anglers do on the ice during competition.
On Saturday, February 18th, the USA Ice Team will depart the United States and arrive in Estonia on Sunday, February 19th. From there they will have 5 days to prepare gear and prefish the tournament lake before the two-day competition on Saturday the 25th and Sunday the 26th.
For live results, updates on how the USA Ice Team is progressing throughout the week, and to show your support for the USA Ice Fishing Team, follow us on our Facebook page USA Ice Team and on the official 2023 world championship Facebook page…XIX World Ice Fishing Championship Estonia/Tartu 2023!
The USA Ice Fishing Team is also supported by US Angling Freshwater Sport Fishing Director Mike McNett, US Angling President Tony Forte and the entire US Angling Board of Directors.