OSAGE BEACH, Mo. - McKendree University bass fishing took 11 boats to compete in the Major League Fishing Lake of the Ozarks Tournament in Osage Beach, Mo., this past weekend. Two Bearcat duos finished in the top 20 of the 230 boats from 61 different colleges to earn a bid to the MLF National Championship.  

With the cold early-morning temperatures, many of the boats struggled to bring in the five-bass limit. Three of the 32 teams who weighed in the limit were McKendree pairs, including junior Colton Hill and sophomore Maxwell Trotter with a total of 15 pounds, 15 ounces to place 10th overall. The second team to weigh a five fish was fifth-year senior Trey Schroeder and junior Colsyn Head who weighed in 15 pounds, 1 ounce for 16th place. The two McKendree top-16 teams punched their tickets to the MLF National Championship. 

Sophomore Evan Sutton and junior Grant Olsen were the third Bearcat team to bring in five fish, weighing in the catch at 10 pounds, 8 ounces to seal 32nd place.  

Below are more results for McKendree boats: 

39th – Sophomore Lane Stephens and senior Devon Rathbun – 9 pounds, 12 ounces  

44th – Freshmen Gage Bliming and Kai Barnett – 9 pounds, 0 ounces 

82nd – Freshmen Tucker Siminak and Connor Hall – 5 pounds, 6 ounces 

104th – Sophomore Kyle Hopping and freshman Zach Pocos – 4 pounds, 3 ounces  

133rd – Sophomore Jack Stephens and junior Harmon Marien – 2 pounds, 2 ounces 

134th – Junior Tomas Matual and senior Trey Budach – 2 pounds, 7 ounces 

152nd – Senior Harper Burkeen and junior Jason Qualich – 2 pounds, 2 ounces 

156th – Senior Nick Holtgrave and sophomore Jaxson Freeman – 1 pound, 15 ounces 

Coming up, the Bearcats are back in action next weekend on March 30-April 1 at the Bassmaster Cherokee Lake Tournament in Rutledge, Tenn.