Written by Kimberly Tiscione
160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment Public Affairs
Fort Campbell, KY – Sgt. 1st Class Mark Pierce won the 2011 Southern Divisional Bass Tournament by a mere 1 pound, 13 ounces, earning a shot at competing for a slot in bass fishing’s top tourney.
“This is without a doubt the biggest win in my short six-year tournament fishing career,” he said. “I have now qualified for my second national championship later this year and for a chance at advancing to the 2012 Bass Master Classic: the super bowl of bass fishing!”
A human resources non-commissioned officer for the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment at Fort Campbell, KY, Pierce enhances combat readiness for the nation’s most elite special operations helicopter unit.
In his limited spare time around a demanding job, Pierce is an avid fisherman, president of the Montgomery County Bass Club and founder of Clarksville’s first Junior Bass Club this year for children 18 and under. He was awarded the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal in 2010 for his work with the community.
Pierce qualified for this – his sixth consecutive – Southern Divisional Tournament by finishing fifth out of nearly 100 anglers in the 2011 Tennessee State Championship. In the last five years, he has won two state championships, finished fourth in the last two and fifth place this year.
The next challenge is never too far away.
“The exact date and location of the national championship has not been announced but once it is, I’ll do a lot of internet research on the lake to piece together the puzzle to win,” Pierce said.
