Major League Fishing recently announced the multi-year extension of a sponsorship agreement with eyewear manufacturer Wiley X. The continued sponsorship names Wiley X as the Official Sunglass Provider of the MLF BIG5, as well as the presenting sponsor of the 2021 Wiley X College Faceoff events and the title sponsor of the 2021 Wiley X High School Fishing Camp – the ultimate summer camp for serious high school anglers, their parents, boat captains and coaches. Complete details for the summer camp will be released in the spring of 2021.
“As a company, and as fans ourselves, we are excited to continue to engage in these great competitive events with our premium fishing sunglasses,” said Ray T. Hill IV, Vice President of Retail Sales at Wiley X. “Whether it’s pros, collegiate anglers or high school up-and-comers wanting that additional edge for success, Wiley X sunglasses bring an unmatched level of polarization and protection that can be that key differentiator, especially with our new CAPTIVATE polarized color enhancing lenses.”
Wiley X officially signed on as the Official Sunglass Provider of the MLF BIG5 in 2020, but its sponsorship with the MLF dates back to 2013.
“Wiley X has been a valued sponsor of Major League Fishing for the past eight years and we are thrilled to continue to build on our relationship with them across MLF and the MLF BIG5,” said Jim Wilburn, MLF President and CEO. “The opportunity to bring the MLF ScoreTracker to collegiate anglers across the nation through the Wiley X College Faceoff events benefits both companies and is going to be a massive hit when those young anglers feel the excitement and thrill of competing in the MLF format.”
The Wiley X College Faceoffs – originally launched in 2019 – are single-day tournaments in a four-event series in which competitors will fish in an MLF-style catch, weigh, immediate-release format at each event. The College Faceoff tournaments will occur the Saturday following an Abu Garcia College Fishing competition, on the same body of water. The results from the College Fishing tournament the previous day will determine the 20 competitors for the Wiley X College Faceoff, with the Top 2 teams (four anglers) from the Top 5 schools in the regular season tournament qualifying to fish in the 10-boat faceoff the following day.
Coverage will be provided for each Wiley X College Faceoff at MajorLeagueFishing.com and on MLF social media outlets, including interviews and a trophy presentation for top finishers. Top individual teams will be recognized, and the school with the highest total combined weight from their two participating teams will be crowned the Wiley X Faceoff Champion.
2021 Wiley X College Faceoff Schedule
> April 24: Lake Guntersville, Guntersville, Ala.
Qualifying tournament: Abu Garcia College Fishing presented by YETI at Lake Guntersville, April 23
> June 12: Lake O’ the Pines, Jefferson, Texas
Qualifying tournament: Abu Garcia College Fishing presented by YETI at Lake O’ the Pines, June 11
> July 31: Mississippi River, La Crosse, Wis.
Qualifying tournament: Abu Garcia College Fishing presented by YETI at Mississippi River, July 30
> August 21: Detroit River, Trenton, Mich.
Qualifying tournament: Abu Garcia College Fishing presented by YETI at Detroit River, August 20
