LEESBURG, Fla. - McKendree University's bass fishing team competed at the Strike King Bassmaster College Series Harris Chain on Friday, Jan. 21 and Saturday, Jan. 22.
The two-day Bassmaster Open on the Harris Chain hosted 250 of the best college teams from all over the country.
Senior Bailey Bleser (Burlington, Wis./Catholic Central) and sophomore Harmon Marien (Eagle River, Wis./Northland Pines) led the way for Bearcats with 18-5 on day one and 13-5 on day two for a two-day total of 31-10 to place 25th. Bleser and Marien Qualify for the Bassmaster National Championship.
Graduate student Joseph Bruener (Douglas, Texas/Douglas) and senior Alec Berens (Channahon, Ill./Minooka Community) barely missed the cut with a two-day total of 30-1 and a 32nd place finish. Senior Tyler Christy (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook) and senior Trey Schroeder (Crestwood, Mo./Lindbergh) had a two-day total of 26-7 good for 49th place.
Freshman Evan Sutton (Highland, Ill./Highland) and sophomore Kurt Litteken (Lebanon, Ill./Wesclin) placed 68th with a two-day total of 24-9.
The duo of freshman Jack Stephens (St. Louis, Mo./Lindbergh) and freshman Maxwell Trotter (Decatur, Ill./St. Teresa) made the biggest jump on day two. They were sitting in 148th place after day one with 8-7. They put something together late on day two and weighed in at 14-7, jumping from 148th all the way to 82nd with 23-1.
Freshman Kyle Hopping (Lake St. Louis, Mo./Timberland) and freshman Jaxson Freeman (Loda, Ill./Rantoul) also made a great jump on day two by catching 12-3 and moving up the leader board from 139th to 97th with 21-0. Junior Nick Holtgrave (Trenton, Ill./Wesclin) and senior Matt Cavanaugh (St. Louis, Mo./Kirkwood) had a two-day total of 17-14 for 124th place.
Freshman Lane Stephens (Talala, Okla./Oologah) and junior Devon Rathbun (Springfield, Mo./Parkview) weighed in at 13-5 for 174th. Sophomore Tomas Matual (Chicago, Ill./Nazareth Academy) and sophomore Grant Olsen (Gardner, Ill./Gardner South Wilmington) had 12-4 good for 180th and junior Harper Burkeen (Paducah, Ky./McCraken County) and senior Parker Domschke (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook) had 12-1 for 182nd place.
The Bearcats return to action on Thursday, Feb. 24 and Friday, Jan. 25 at the Major League Fishing College Open at Lake Chickamauga in Dayton, Tenn.
