MOUNTAIN HOME, Ark. - McKendree University's bass fishing team qualified three teams for the Bassmaster National Championships this past weekend here at Lake Norfolk.
In our first ever event on Lake Norfolk, the practice days were cold and rainy, but that quickly changed as the tournament days were hot and very windy. The 228 teams competing at the event had to adjust from where and what they were catching them on in practice.
Leading the way for the Bearcats were sophomore Colton Hill (Patoka, Ill./Patoka) and junior Trey Budach (Morris, Ill./Morris) as they placed 9th in the 228-boat field. Having a five fish limit both days and ending up with 25 pounds 7 oz to earn a trip to the Bassmaster National Championship. Two other Bearcat teams also qualified for the National Championships.
Sophomore Harmon Marien (Eagle River, Wis./Northland Pines) and senior Bailey Bleser (Burlington, Wis./Catholic Central), who previously qualified for the championship at the Harris Chain, did it again with their two-day 10 fish limit for 22 pounds 10 oz which was good for 20th place. Freshmen Kyle Hopping (Lake St. Louis, Mo./Timberland) and Jaxson Freeman (Loda, Ill./Rantoul) also had a two-day 10 fish limit. Their fish weighed in at 22 pounds 4 oz, giving them 23rd place and sealing their bid to the National Championship.
Graduate student Joseph Bruener (Douglas, Texas/Douglas) and senior Alec Berens (Channahon, Ill./Minooka Community) were right there with another 10 fish limit weighing in at 19 pounds 8 oz and placing 40th overall. The freshmen duo of Jack Stephens (St. Louis, Mo./Lindbergh) and Maxwell Trotter (Decatur, Ill./St. Teresa) weighed in a two-day total of 14 pounds 4 oz for 86th. Sophomore Tomas Matual (Chicago, Ill./Nazareth Academy) and sophomore Grant Olsen (Gardner, Ill./Gardner South Wilmington) placed 92nd with 13 pounds 14 oz. Senior Tyler Christy (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook) and senior Trey Schroeder (Crestwood, Mo./Lindbergh) weighed in 12 pounds 15 oz for 106th. Junior Nick Holtgrave (Trenton, Ill./Wesclin) and senior Matt Cavanaugh (St. Louis, Mo./Kirkwood) weighed in at 11 pounds 7 oz placing 121st.
Freshman Evan Sutton (Highland, Ill./Highland) and senior Christian Hernandez (Streamwood, Ill./Streamwood) placed 130th with 10 pounds 11 oz. Junior Devon Rathbun (Springfield, Mo./Parkview) and freshman Lane Stephens (Talala, Okla./Oologah) weighed in 7 pounds 15 oz for 163rd while sophomore Kurt Litteken (Lebanon, Ill./Wesclin) and sophomore Colsyn Head (Poland, Ind./Owen Valley) had 6 pounds 9 oz for 173rd.
The Bearcats return to action on Saturday, April 30 when they host the McKendree University Spring Invitational at Vandalia Lake.
