JACK WOLLITZ Tournament benefits community

Sixty-six anglers, with lots of help from one of the Youngstown area's busiest women, will join together to fish for the benefit of a variety of community services May 31 at Evans Lake.
The anglers are competitors in the fourth annual Youngstown/Mahoning Valley United Way Bass Classic, presented by Consumers Ohio Water Co. The three primary sponsors are BFI-Carbon Limestone, Astro Shapes and Gem Young/Progressive Insurance.
Funds collected already
Despite the fact the field of 66 anglers has yet to wet a line, this year's event already has raised nearly $15,000 for the local United Way, thanks to Jennifer Johnson. As Consumers Ohio Water's human resources and communications coordinator, Jennifer is one of the bass tournament's driving forces. She's worked tirelessly on each of the previous three fund-raising bass tournaments and is up to her eyeballs again this year in paperwork associated with running the tournament.
In addition to her full-time job, Jennifer is a volunteer in several organizations and is studying for a master's in business administration at Youngstown State University.
She admits she doesn't know a crankbait from a Texas-rigged plastic worm, but she's become one of the area's important figures in tournament bass fishing. Her work has brought prestige and visibility to the annual Youngstown/Mahoning Valley United Way Bass Classic and helped unite the local bass fishing fraternity with business and civic leaders who compete on the amateur side of the event.
Her reward? Each dollar that is raised for the United Way. By the time this year's tournament concludes, she will have helped generate more than $40,000 in funds for the local United Way since the inaugural event in 2000.
Gains support
The tournament continues to gain support. In addition to the primary sponsors, other supporters include Harrington Hoppe & amp; Mitchell law firm, Invensys Metering Systems in Pittsburgh, Burgess & amp; Niple, Aabco Landscaping, Rudzik Excavating and numerous other companies. Additional support is provided by Dick's Sporting Goods, Gander Mountain, Panera Bread, Coca Cola and R & amp;R Bait and Tackle at Viking Marine.
The entry list for the pro division reads like a "who's who" of the local bass scene. This year's field possesses an estimated 500 years of tournament bass fishing experience.
Pro entries include 2000 champion George Prvonozac of Warren, his brother Nick, 2002 champ Mike Bolevich and runner-up Dr. Mark McMurray of North Lima, and seven-time Mohawk Valley Bass Club Mr. Bass Ron Learn of Hubbard.
A number of business and professional people are vying for top amateur honors, including Hynes Industries President Bill Bresnahan, Bill Knecht of Wendell August Forge, Packer Thomas' Phil Dennison, Vinyl Profiles owner Randy Vegso, Altronic execs Rich Pisani and Joe Lepley, and CD93.3 jock Fast Freddie Woak. In addition, Essroc's Bessemer cement plant has entered two employees, Rich Gormley and Casey Koenig.
While the competition for first place is intense, the United Way Bass Classic has a decidedly fun atmosphere. Everybody wants to win, but the pro contenders also get a kick out of demonstrating bassing fine points to their partners.
Worthy cause
"I wouldn't miss it for the world," said Jim Guzman of North Jackson, who has competed in the pro division in each of the tournaments and finished second in 2001. "Evans is a great lake, everybody has fun and we raise money for a worthy cause."
Putting it all together is a labor of love for the former Jennifer Coppola of Lowellville. She has shouldered the load, but is quick to credit the assistance she's received from United Way staffers JoAnn Stock and Debbie Freudenberg, and Consumers Ohio Water co-workers, including lakes manager Larry Wehr.
Jennifer prefers to work back stage, rather than up front in the limelight, but one thing is certain: All who are associated with the annual tournament truly appreciate her efforts - even if she doesn't know the first thing about where bass live and how to catch them.
Thanks, Jennifer. No matter who wins May 31, you are the real champ.
jwwollitz@aol.com