COSTA RICA - Two Ridgeview track standout graduates; twin brothers Andrew and Nick Maedel, combined endurance forces again now at age 32, to land nearly 750 pounds of fish food in a June trip to Costa Rica. Both Maedels were mile and two mile standouts for coach Paul Grybb at the time; Class of 2007.
“My dad Jim won the fishing trip opportunity by winning a tournament called the King Buster Tournament last June out of St. Augustine and the prize was the trip to Estero, Costa Rica and a fishing charter,” said Nick Maedel, now living with his wife, Shea, and two year son, Julian, in Los Angeles. “It was me, my dad and Andrew for the trip.”
The Maedels fished for four days on the six day trip landing two gigantic Blue Marlins, a Mahi Mahi beast and a Yellowfin Tuna as the prize catches.
“I got the 350 pound Blue Marlin with just a 30 pound test line with live bait; a small tuna, and it took about an hour to get him into the boat,” said Maedel. “We got him close to the boat in about five minutes, but then he ran out and we battled for 45-60 minutes. He was flying all over the place and doing everything to get away. It was spectacular.”
Not to be outdone by brother Nick, Andrew responded with his own giant Blue Marlin; this a 400 pounder, that garnered family title accolades.
“He got his trolling,” said Maedel. “He had 30 pound test and he took an hour too to get him in the boat.”
Ironically, dad Jim Maedel, who was celebrating his 73rd birthday with his two sons, landed his own Sailfish to join the success of the trio.
“He did okay for an old guy out there,” said Maedel. “Those Pacific Sailfish are really big and very acrobatic.”
Maedel, known with his brother for track at Ridgeview, continued with college track at Florida State University, Ironman Triathlon success and a 2:34:13 win at the Jacksonville Marathon in 2013 after graduation while Andrew ran cross country for University of West Florida and then Jacksonville University in 2011.
Nick Maedel was beset with a series of foot injuries that curtailed his endurance career.
“That and having my family; wife Shea and son Julian, to take care of made me move to another chapter in life,” said Maedel.