Lakewood Ranch fishing tournament reels in nearly 100 kids

By Lesley Dwyer
| 2:40 p.m. October 4, 2025

East County
Neighbors

The annual Youth and Teen Fishing Tournament on Lake Uihlein had a record-breaking year.

Not only did 92 kids participate, four of them tied for third place in the 10-14 age group.

Keith Pandeloglou, CEO and president of Lakewood Ranch Activities, said Wesley Helm, Cora Ortega, Ally Miller and Jeffrey Millea will each get a trophy, but he has to order three more and put them in the mail first.

While most of the anglers between the ages of 5 and 19 were from Lakewood Ranch, kids from all over the area signed up to compete in the tournament held Oct. 4.

Sarasota’s 6-year-old Tori Bruinsma had a whistle in her mouth throughout most of the morning. She had to alert the rangers to all the fish she was catching.

Volunteers from the Lakewood Ranch Anglers Club and Premier Tackle measured each fish that was reeled onto shore.

The club organizes the catch-and-release tournament each year with the help of Lakewood Ranch Activities. Premier Tackle is a sponsor. The tackle shop provided volunteers and a custom rod and reel for the raffle.

Bruinsma’s dad Kevin Bruinsma said his daughter might not have been as successful without the help of the volunteer rangers.

“I’m not very good at putting the hook on,” he said. “(The rangers) are very helpful for people that might not know exactly what they’re doing.”

Tori Bruinsma got hooked on fishing over the summer when she won the first tournament she entered in Grand Rapids, Michigan by catching 16 fish in 45 minutes.

The tournament at Lake Uihlein was the 6-year-old’s second fishing competition. Catching eight fish earned her second place in the 5-9 age group. She caught a 6-inch turtle, too, but only the fish counted.

The winners were determined by the total inches of all fish caught within an hour and a half.

“Fishing is the first thing she’s gravitated toward,” Kevin Bruinsma said. “She’s not on any sports teams yet, so it’s been fun to watch her actually want to be involved in something.”

While the tournament is only held once a year, the Lakewood Ranch Anglers Club hosts several “Learn to Fish” events throughout the year. The next one is scheduled for Nov. 15 at Patton Park. Register at MyLWR.com.

Sarasota's Tori Bruinsma, 6, blows her whistle after catching another fish. Dad Kevin Bruinsma says that fishing is the first activity his daughter has gravitated towards on her own.

After not catching anything during last year's tournament, 11-year-old Ally Miller ties for third place this year.

Myakka City's 11-year-old Mike Helm isn't scared of wet sneakers.

Sarasota's Tori Bruinsma, 6, catches several bluegills and one turtle. The turtle is logged and measured but doesn't count towards the "total inches."

Mill Creek's Arrow Schmidt, 6, is new to the area. He moved from Pennsylvania three weeks ago.

The fish aren't biting for Ellenton's Matthew and Selah Littleton, so they opt for a snack break.

Jordan Grabski, a volunteer ranger provided by Premier Tackle, measures a bluegill that 8-year-old Irelynn Denike caught just before the final whistle blew. Denike is with her dad Rick Denike (on the right).

Irelynn and Rick Denike pose with the 8-year-old's catch of the day.

First, second and third place winners receive trophies.

Cora Ortega, Ally Miller, Jeffrey Millea and Wesley Helm share third place in the 10-14 age group. Ed Van Stedum, president of the Lakewood Ranch Anglers Club, poses with the winners.

After Lakewood Ranch's Alessia Affinito, 11, and Luca Affinito, 7, get their fishing lines tangled together, mom Valerie Affinito seeks help from volunteer Allen Pfaadt.

Ed Van Stedum, president of the Lakewood Ranch Anglers Club, presents Tori Bruinsma with her trophy.

Lakewood Ranch's 7-year-old Jacob Zelkowski catches three fish before the tournament starts.

author

Lesley Dwyer

Lesley Dwyer is a staff writer for East County and a graduate of the University of South Florida. After earning a bachelor’s degree in professional and technical writing, she freelanced for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Lesley has lived in the Sarasota area for over 25 years.