Page 91 - wmo-51st-magazine

MIKE HANNAN | 1989 CHRISTIAN PHILLIPS | 2009

Assistant to the Weighmaster • Calligrapher Lead Fishman • Lead Dock Hand

With 34 years of service, Mike is longest tenured member of the dock Christian has been part of the WMO Dock crew for 15 years and does
crew and is Alex’s right hand man. Together they have provided 66 it all from helping to secure the boats to the dock (he is our best rope
years of expertise and industry to the docks. Mike and Alex are the man), to carrying the fish from boat to scale in his indomitable style, to
first on the boat to measure any billfish to see if they qualify. They providing comic relief for the rest of the crew. Christian was born and
handle this important job efficiently, accurately and with utmost integ- raised in Salisbury and still resides in the town. When he is not getting
rity. Make no mistake about it, Alex and Mike ARE the dock crew of covered in fish blood during tournament week, he is a commercial real
the WMO. They have seen it all, done it all and handled it with humility estate agent.
and professionalism.

Mike’s handiwork on creating our photo chalkboard for each placehold-
ing fish is a WMO tradition and one that is appreciated by the anglers GARRETT MOTSKO | 2000
and the photographers alike. His impeccable printing is seen by tens of
thousands each year! Mike’s “other” job is running the downtown Berlin Scribe • Assistant Fishman
post office. Mike hails from Salisbury and currently lives in the coolest
small town in America, Berlin
Along with his brother Connor, Garrett has been part of the tournament
since his birth. Once old enough, his roles with the WMO have included
selling t-shirts, acting as our first on-staff EMT and most recently as our
scribe, recording the salient information about each catch. When needed,
he is available to help handle some of the bigger catches.

CONNOR MOTSKO | 1998 Garrett grew up in Baltimore and is a 2023 graduate of High Point Uni.
When not working the WMO, he is a graphic designer in Charlotte, NC.
Lead Fishman • Bir thday Boy

RYAN DUNCAN | 2019
Connor was born a day after the 1998 tournament ended and has been on
the docks ever since. He often celebrates his birthday during the tourna- Assistant Fishman • Assistant Dockhand
ment and grew up with thousands spectators signing him Happy Birthday
each year.

Ryan is the newest member of the crew having joined in 2019. He is still
He has always been around the boats and the fish. Early on in his work learning the ropes but is an eager learner and a hard worker. He large-
with the White Marlin Open, he could be found on the upper stage of the ly helps Christian with the docking of the boats and is ready to pull his
scale operating the winch. He has since moved down from that perch and weight should a big fish come in. Ryan was born right here in Ocean City,
is now part of the muscle that transfers the fish from the boats to the MD and currently lives in Baltimore.
scales. Connor resides in Ft Lauderdale, FL and is a principal in Kings of
the Sea, a charter boat business.
When not docking boats at the WMO, Ryan sells custom ceilings.

90 visit us online at www.WhiteMarlinOpen.com 91