Bass Fishing Competes in Bassmaster College Series; Four Bearcat Angler Teams Punch Their Tickets to Nationals

SMITH LAKE, Ala. - The McKendree University bass fishing team competed in the Bassmaster College Series Feb. 26-27 on Smith Lake in Alabama on 250 boat field.

Junior Connor Hall and freshman Carson Belville were 69th after day one. They made a great decision to focus on a small area on day two, and it paid off big. They weighed in 15-11 on day two and jumped up the leaderboard to 9th place with a two-day total of 27-9. Their finish qualified them for the Bassmaster National Championship.

Senior duo Evan Sutton and Jaxson Freeman also put together two excellent days, weighing in 14-7 and 12-9 for 27-0 for a 16th place finish, qualifying them for the Natty as well. Junior Ethan Fields had another incredible tournament. Fishing solo, he had previously qualified for the national championship at the last Bassmaster and repeated the feat at Smith Lake. He started day one tied for second with 15-2. After boating another limit, weighing 11- 8, he finished the event in 21st place, double qualifying for the national championship and setting himself up extremely well for a shot at the Bassmaster Team of the Year in their Legends Division with only one tournament remaining. Senior Kyle Hopping and junior Kai Barnett were the fourth Bearcat team to qualify. Their outstanding two-day performance included weights of 13-4 and 12-10 for 25-14 and a 31st place finish, punching their ticket to the national championship.

Senior Maxwell Trotter and freshman Chase Logue made the biggest jump up the leader board for the Bearcats. They put together one of the heaviest bags of the entire tournament on day two, jumping from 153rd place with 8-13 into 45th place with five bass for 16-1 and a total of 24-14.

Other Bearcat Anglers Weighing In:
58th - Jack Stephens & Lane Stephens - 23-13
109th - Ryan Foster & Colton Hill - 19-7
131st - Zach Pocos & Tucker Siminak - 17-8
140th - Henry Fleddermann - 16-15
183rd - Evan McCormick & Cole Sampson - 11-12
197th - Harmon Marien & Mason Darling - 9-12
200th - Parker Welch & Angelo Malek - 9-2
232nd - Liam Bonnett & Matthew Qualich - 1-13

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Players Mentioned

Kai Barnett: 5' 10"; Junior

Carson Belville: 5' 10"; Freshman

Liam Bonnett: 5' 9"; Freshman

Mason Darling: 6' 3"; Freshman

Ethan Fields: 5' 10"; Junior

Henry Fleddermann: 5' 10"; Junior

Ryan Foster: Sophomore

Jaxson Freeman: 5' 9"; Senior

Connor Hall: 6' 2"; Junior

Colton Hill: 6' 1"; Graduate Student

Players Mentioned

Kai Barnett
: 5' 10"; Junior

Carson Belville
: 5' 10"; Freshman

Liam Bonnett
: 5' 9"; Freshman

Mason Darling
: 6' 3"; Freshman

Ethan Fields
: 5' 10"; Junior

Henry Fleddermann
: 5' 10"; Junior

Ryan Foster
: Sophomore

Jaxson Freeman
: 5' 9"; Senior

Connor Hall
: 6' 2"; Junior

Colton Hill
: 6' 1"; Graduate Student