(RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – Oct.12) – The No.4 McKendree University Bass Fishing Team competed in their second ACA event of the 2020-21 School of the Year season over the weekend. The Bearcats had six boat representatives in a tournament of 148 boats from 44 schools on Lake Dardanelle.

For several of the McKendree anglers, this was their first time to see the lake. For the returners, last year's massive floods completely restructured and changes much of the lake. For most of the field on the second day, 40 teams blanked.

Each of McKendree's boats finished in the top-75 after two days of competition. Leading the way for the Bearcats in 24^th place were Devon Rathbun (Springfield, MO/Parkview) and Joseph Breuner (Douglas, TX/Douglas). The duo made the 22-spot jump after their first day on the water, and their final basket weighed-in at 13.52-lbs.

Finishing in the top-30 in 29^th place were veterans Ethan Jones (Worden, IL/Father McGivney Catholic) and Trevor McKinney (Benton, IL/Benton Consolidated). The duo's final basket weighed-in at 12.05-lbs.



Bailey Bleser (Burlington, WI/Catholic Central) and Matt Cavanaugh (St. Louis, MO/Kirkwood) finished in 45^th place after making a 19-spot jump after their first day in action. Their final basket weighed-in at 8.39-lbs.

Tyler Christy (Bolingbrook, IL/Bolingbrook) and Trey Schroeder (Crestwood, MO/Lindbergh) also made a 10-spot jump in the standings, finishing 50^th overall. The duo's final basket of the tournament weighed-in at 8.12-lbs.

Nate Doty (Decatur, IL/Sangamon Valley) and Blake Jackson (Carterville, IL/Carterville) started off strong with four catches and finished the two-days 60^th overall. Their final basket weighed-in at 7.14-lbs.

Freshmen Harmon Marien (Eagle River, WI/Northland Pines) and Grant Olsen (Gardner, IL/Gardner South Wilmington) closed out the standing for the Bearcats, finishing 71^st overall. Their basket total came to 6.01-lbs.

The 2020 AFTCO Collegiate Bass Open wan as a double-point contest, where the two highest finishing teams from each school, inside of the top-100, earned points. Rathbun and Breuner's placement combined with Jones and McKinney's placement game the team an eighth-place overall finish for the event. This finish should keep the Bearcats in great standings for the School of the Year race.

The anglers have some time to practice before their next competition on the Harris Chain of Lakes. McKendree will head to Leesburg, Flo., Oct. 29-31 for the Carhartt Bassmaster National Championship.