In comparing the numbers after Day 2, they are strikingly similar to the Day 2 totals from the last time the Elite Series came to Lake Seminole, March 13-16, 2014. Leader Joey Cifuentes ended the day slightly ahead of the pace set by 2014 champ Brett Hite. Cifuentes had 45 pounds, 14 ounces after two days; Hite had 45-6.
Interestingly, the numbers were similar as you looked down the standings. The top 50 cut weight was 27-4 in 2014 and 28-2 yesterday. Here’s a deeper look into a comparison of the weights from the two tournaments:
| 2014 | 2023 | |
| 5th | 43-0 | 37-2 |
| 10th | 37-7 | 34-14 |
| 20th | 33-15 | 33-1 |
| 30th | 31-2 | 31-14 |
| 40th | 29-3 | 29-7 |
| 50th | 27-4 | 28-2 |
Hite ended up winning the 2014 event by 13 pounds with a four-day total of 97-10. That total came on the strength of Hite posting his two biggest bags of the event on the final two days – 26-5 on Day 3 and 25-15 on Day 4.
History may be repeating itself, as Cifuentes had already caught 20 pounds and had a 10-pound lead at 11 a.m. today.
