McCullough Makes a Splash in Her Pro Tour Debut
Knoxville, Tenn. – The MasterCraft Pro Wakeboard Tour rolled in to Knoxville today to kick off its two-day season finale at Volunteer Landing. While most of the sport’s top pros were in Knoxville to wrap up the five-city tour; one newcomer however, was there to start her pro career.
Invited to compete in the season-ending contest as a wildcard, 13-year-old Taylor McCullough made her Pro Tour debut today in the Pro Women’s division.
McCullough, who’s a four-time wakeboarding national champion in the 13 and under Girls division, wanted to use her opportunity in Knoxville to gauge her skills against the world’s top pro female riders.
“I was really nervous this morning. I wasn’t sure what to expect,” said McCullough. “There are so many talented riders here. It’s a little overwhelming.”
But the Centralia, Ill. native managed to overcome her nerves during the Pro Women’s division semifinals today, laying down an impressive stand-up run that included a massive Scarecrow, Heel-side 540 and an Indy Tantrum, among many other stylish tricks.
Despite being the lowest ranked rider of the division, McCullough’s run ended up winning her heat today to beat out top seed Amber Wing and advance to tomorrow’s Pro Women’s division finals.
“I’m really excited to make it to finals,” said McCullough. “Winning my heat today definitely gives me confidence going into tomorrow.”
Should McCullough win the Pro Women’s division six-woman final tomorrow, she will tie wakeboarding legend Dallas Friday as the youngest rider to win a Pro Tour stop.
The Pro Women’s division finals are scheduled for 2:30 p.m. tomorrow afternoon.
In addition to today’s preliminary rounds, the Pro Tour hosted the Rockstar Energy Drink Big-Air Kicker contest and the Overton’s Double Up Contest. Australia’s Dean Smith took home the $1,000 prize in the Big-Air contest after landing a Hootchie to Backside 360 off the kicker. Wakeboarding icon Parks Bonifay also picked up $1,000 in the Double Up contest for landing a Double Half Cab Roll.
Tomorrow’s finale will run from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are available at the gate: $13 (adult); $5 (ages 6-12); free (ages 5 and under).
**Saturday, August 27 Results:
**
Pro Women
Semifinal Round – Heat #1
1 Raimi Merritt USA 68.33
2 Melissa Marquardt USA 60.00
3 Miku Asai JPN 50.00
4 Alexa Score USA 36.67
Pro Women
Semifinal Round – Heat #2
1 Nicola Butler GBR 75.00
2 Emily Durham USA 66.67
3 Hayley Smith AUS 50.00
4 Corrie Dyer USA 40.00
Pro Women
Semifinal Round – Heat #3
1 Taylor McCullough USA 70.00
2 Tarah Mikacich USA 55.00
3 Amber Wing AUS 46.67
4 Anna Hajek USA 41.67
5 Christy Hutchins USA 35.00
Jr. Pro Men
Quarterfinal Round – Heat #1
1 Freddie Wayne USA 92.50
2 Kyle Evans USA 92.25
3 Yancey Crew USA 85.25
4 Gus Shuler USA 24.50
Jr. Pro Men
Quarterfinal Round – Heat #2
1 Dylan Prideaux AUS 100.00
2 Gordon Harrison USA 90.00
3 Joey Buss USA 62.00
Jr. Pro Men
Quarterfinal Round – Heat #3
1 Robby Holihan USA 91.25
2 Mike Dowdy USA 89.25
3 Joshua Twelker USA 87.25
4 Colby Bernier USA 72.25
Jr. Pro Men
Quarterfinal Round – Heat #4
1 Daniel Powers USA 97.75
2 Tony Iacconi AUS 92.25
3 Gunnar Shuler USA 75.75
4 Morgan Pedersen USA 74.25
Jr. Pro Men
Quarterfinal Round – Heat #5
1 Shota Tezuka JPN 100.00
2 Marc Kroon NED 86.25
3 Keenan Allen USA 82.25
4 Landon Kasey USA 71.50
Pro Men
Qualifying Round– Heat #1
1 Shaun Murray USA 71.67
2 Andrew Adkison USA 66.67
3 Stephen Pierce USA 41.67
4 Ben Perry USA 21.67
Pro Men
Qualifying Round– Heat #2
1 Dean Smith AUS 73.33
2 AJ Racinelli USA 61.67
3 Matt Sims USA 43.33
Pro Men
Qualifying Round– Heat #3
1 Shawn Watson USA 68.33
2 Kyle Rattray CAN 60.00
3 Tony Carroll USA 53.33
Pro Men
Qualifying Round– Heat #4
1 Adam Errington USA 71.67
2 Shane Bonifay USA 61.67
3 Olivier Derome CAN 56.67
Pro Men
Qualifying Round– Heat #5
1 Aaron Rathy CAN 76.67
2 Austin Hair USA 68.33
3 Zane Schwenk USA 50.00
Pro Men
Qualifying Round– Heat #6
1 Rusty Malinoski CAN 75.00
2 Jimmy LaRiche USA 63.33
3 Dante Digangi USA 35.00
Pro Men
Qualifying Round– Heat #7
1 Steel Lafferty USA 75.00
2 JD Webb USA 63.33
3 Phillip Aslinger USA 53.33
Pro Men
Qualifying Round– Heat #8
1 Bob Soven USA 83.33
2 Danny Thollander USA 55.00
3 Chad Sharpe CAN 50.00
Pro Men
Qualifying Round– Heat #9
1 Harley Clifford AUS 78.33
2 Joey Bradley USA 70.00
3 Jason Bannatyne CAN 60.00
Pro Men
Qualifying Round– Heat #10
1 Phillip Soven USA 80.00
2 Kirby Liesmann USA 60.00
3 Danny Burnstein USA 58.33
