(LEBANON, Ill., Feb. 14)—The McKendree University bass fishing team returned to the water on Sunday by participating in the Cabela's Texas Lunker Challenge hosted on Lake Sam Rayburn in Brookland, Texas.
 
After an unseasonably cold winter and an incoming cold front with strong winds, the conditions were very rough on tournament day, according to McKendree head coach Jon Rinderer. The Cabela's Texas Lunker Challenge saw 200 anglers show up from all over the country to try and land the biggest bass of the day.
 
McKendree's Jacob Louis caught a 3.94-pounder which gave him a 36^th place finish overall on the day. In this unique Big Bass format, judges use the two largest fish weighed in by a school to award School of the Year points. Louis' fish, along with Taylor Schmitt's 3.36-pounder earned McKendree 18^th place overall in the School of the Year race and earned the Bearcats some very valuable points.
 
Up next for the McKendree bass fishing team will be the FLW Open March 6-7 on Kentucky Lake in Gilbertsville, Ky.