61.26 Pounds Claim 1st Place in 2026 Tough Guy Tournament
April 25, 2026 by Angela Montana
Talk about a heavy haul! The 2026 Jerry Johnston Memorial Tough Guy Tournament at Hell Creek just wrapped up, and the leaderboard is absolutely stacked. In a grueling one-day showdown on Fort Peck, the duo of Zeik Gordon and Owen Wilcox absolutely crushed the competition, securing first place with a massive total weight of 61.26 pounds. It wasn’t just a win; it was a statement, especially with their biggest fish clocking in at an impressive 13.02 pounds!!
While Gordon and Wilcox ran away with the top spot, the rest of the top five put up a heck of a fight:
- Josh Zgrabik & James Oliver locked down 2nd with 25.12 lbs.
- John Swenson & Eric Braunburger took 3rd with 24.07 lbs.
- Gage Gordon & Wayne Wilcox claimed 4th with 22.96 lbs.
- Jayson Emmett & Cash Kramer rounded it out in 5th with 22.53 lbs.
Huge props to everyone who braved the water—this tournament definitely lived up to the “Tough Guy” name!
