Pierce County High School’s (PCHS) new Bass Fishing team launched their inaugural season and two fishermen have made history by qualifying for state.
Grayson Arington and Chance Williams qualified for state competition during a recent tournament. High schools in Georgia compete state-wide and are not divided into regions. The top 30 teams qualify for state.
Students on the first-ever team are Luke Wall, Jackson Morris and Boat Captain Richard Allday; Blair Bennett, Bristol Bennett and Boat Captain Danny Bennett; and JT Boyett, Grayson Arington and Boat Captain Joel Porter.
The PCHS team fished in their first-ever tournament of their inaugurals season in early February at West Point Lake in LaGrange.
Weather was an added obstacle for the teams, with cold temperatures and 15 mph winds deterring decent catches.
Coach Randall Schoultz said, “Out of 266 boats, only about 50 managed to catch a weighable fish.”
Blair Bennett reeled in PCHS’s only weighable fish, a 3 lbs bass.
The tournament officially began when the first boats departed around 7:30 a.m. All three PCHS teams returned between 3:30 and 4:30 p.m., having spent the whole day on the water.
“I was very proud of the effort displayed by all the students and their boat captains,” said Schoultz. “Overall, it was a successful tournament and an invaluable learning experience for both myself and the anglers.”
Bass fishing provides an opportunity for students who don’t participate in the school system’s other 23 sports to earn college scholarships and connect with the outdoors.
Schoultz reported there has been significant interest in the sport. “However, the lakes we fish for tournaments are larger than many students and their boat captains initially expected. As we progress through the season and become more familiar with these waters, I believe we will see increased involvement in the sport at PCHS.”
Anglers currently work to improve casting skills and fishing techniques on their own time, as PCHS does not yet hold regular practices for bass fishing.
According to Schoultz, students are currently facing challenges with securing a sufficient number of committed boat captains. He said, “To qualify as a boat captain, individuals must be at least 21 years old, pass a thorough criminal background check, and possess a boat that is at least 16 feet long with the appropriate safety features and equipment, including a properly aerated livewell.”
Though Schoultz has 20 years of coaching experience, this is his first time coaching bass fishing. He is excited to combine his love for fishing with his passion for mentoring young athletes.
