The McKendree University bass fishing team competed in the two-day 2021 Bass Pro Shops Big Bass Bash presented by Berkley over the weekend on Kentucky Lake. McKendree finished third overall, led by Harmon Marien (Eagle River, WI/Northland Pines) and Joseph Bruener (Douglas, TX/Douglas).

*portions of this release were provided by the ACA Bass Pro Collegiate Series official release

The Big Bass Bask was the first Association of Collegiate Anglers (ACA) event of the 2021 season and second to last ACA ran event before the Championship. On the line for teams competing, were double points in the race for Bass Pro Shops School of the Year (SOY) presented by Abu Garcia. The two biggest fish from each team totaled for the points counted towards the SOY standings.

The bite at Kentucky Lake was very tough and the weather was chilly and wet. There were 51 schools and 360 anglers competing for the biggest fish for their SOY points. McKendree was represented by 18 anglers.

"I am really proud of the team for their hard work, determination, and positive attitude," said Head Coach Jon Rinderer. "We had a great time and caught the key fish we needed to stay in the School of the Year race."

Leading the way for McKendree were Harmon Marien's (Eagle River, WI/Northland Pines) 5.04 and Joseph Bruener's (Douglas, TX/Douglas) 4.52 catches. Marien's catch was the seventh biggest fish caught overall, while Bruener's was the 16^th biggest. Unofficially, their combined catch earned McKendree a third-place event finish.

The Bearcats had several anglers winning top-10 session prizes throughout the two-day, seven-session weigh-in event.

Day 1, Session 1: Grant Olsen (Gardner, IL/Gardner South Wilmington) placed seventh (3.60)
Day 1, Session 2: Joseph Bruener (Douglas, TX/Douglas) placed second (4.52)
Day 1, Session 3: Colsyn Head (Poland, IN/Owen Valley) placed 10^th (3.64)
Day 1, Session 4: Colsyn Head (Poland, IN/Owen Valley) placed eighth (3.76)
Day 2, Session 1: Harmon Marien (Eagle River, WI/Northland Pines) placed second (5.04)
Day 2, Session 1: Parker Domschke (Bolingbrook, IL/Neuqua Valley ) placed sixth (3.95)

Additional McKendree anglers that competed were

Nate Doty (Decatur, IL/Sangamon Valley)
Trevor McKinney (Benton, IL/Benton Consolidated)
Tomas Matual (Chicago, IL/Nazareth Academy)
Trey Schroeder (Crestwood, MO/Lindbergh)
Trey Budach (Morris, IL/Morris)
Ethan Jones (Worden, IL/Father McGivney Catholic)
Jeremy Pinkowski (Oak Forest, IL/Oak Forest)
Tristan Barrett (Benton, KY/Marshall County)
Nick Holtgrave (Trenton, IL/Weslin)
Harper Burkeen (Paducah, KY/McCracken County)
Devon Rathbun (Springfield, MO/Parkview)
Bailey Bleser (Burlington, WI/Catholic Central)
Alec Berens (Channahon, IL/Minooka Community )

For a list of the final results, click here.

Next on the schedule for McKendree is the Major league Fishing (MLF) Central Conference Qualifier. The Bearcats will take the water of Table Rock Lake on Friday, Mar. 26 in Branson, Mo.