Fishing reels in strong finish in qualifier event

The Georgia College bass fishing team has continued to have success as they wrap up the year with some strong finishes. Their last team qualifier was held on April 2.

“The conditions were challenging. It was cold and rainy that weekend which really threw the fish off base, and working with the wind was a struggle,” senior marketing major Zach Olson said. “We caught a lot of fish, but not a lot of size.”

The April 2 qualifier was a one-day tournament held at Lake Sinclair.

With it being the last qualifier, the standings after that tournament dictate who travels the rest of the year. The points will not change until next season.

Despite the challenges faced by the team due to inclement weather, there were still some very strong finishes.

Junior marketing major Chancey Gray came in first place, followed by junior environmental science major Jonathan Rotureau in second. Sophomore pre-engineering major Grant Kelley placed third, and Olson placed fourth.

The team was recently recognized by President Dorothy Leland at a dinner held on March 31.

“The conditions were challenging. It was cold and rainy that weekend which really threw the fish off base and working with the wind was a struggle. We caught a lot of fish, but not a lot of size.”

Zach Olson, Senior marketing major

“The dinner was a really experience that we all enjoyed as a team,” said Walker Smith, a senior management major and team president.

With such high rankings, the Bass Fishing Team has gained lots of attention.

There are many seniors graduating this May, but there are great recruiting classes coming up, complete with anglers already ranked at the state level in the junior division.

College bass fishing really elevates the competition.

“Bass fishing is really getting to be more established as a sport which is awesome,” Olson said.

Smith and Grant Kelly, a sophomore pre-engineering major, traveled to northwestern Alabama this weekend to represent Georgia College and compete in the Southern Collegiate Championship at Lake Pickwick.

As two of the team’s strongest anglers, the pair has good expectations for this tournament.

“Fishing is a sport that always keeps you humble because almost every fisherman loses more than he or she wins,” Smith said. “It is also important to remember that you do not really fish against other anglers, you fish against the fish and yourself.”

With the current standings final, Olson, Kelly, Smith, and Mitchell Dockery, a sophomore pre-engineering major, will represent Georgia College in May at this year’s National Championships.

The Championships will be fully televised and held on Lake Lewisville in Texas.

The official dates are May 26 to 28. However, the four anglers will arrive in Texas two days prior to the tournament to begin practicing and preparation. For more information, visit www.gcsu.edu/bassfishingteam.

Posted by Brooks McAlister on Apr 14 2011. Filed under Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.