CROWN POINT, NEW YORK. – At the beginning of the season, current angler Ethan Fields along with former anglers, Bailey Bleser and Trey Schroeder set out to earn their positions in the highest group of Bassmaster anglers in the world, the Bassmaster Elite Division. Trying to qualify for the Bassmaster Elite division is an incredibly tough journey, but that exactly what three McKendree anglers are in contention to accomplish. 
 
Bassmaster set up two qualifying divisions where hundreds of the best anglers on the planet could go head-to-head in hopes of making it to the prestigious group known as the Bassmaster Elites. These two Open divisions are each four tournaments in length, and an angler must finish in the top fifty out of hundreds of anglers to move on to the second round of qualifying tournaments known as the EQs. Ethan and Bailey both fished a single division of four tourneys and Trey fished both four tournament divisions. 
 
As the Opens finished up, all three anglers moved on to the first of three 104 boat Elite Qualifier (EQ) tournaments. Ethan moved on by finishing 6th overall in his division. Bailey also advanced by taking 43rd, and Trey qualified in both divisions by finishing 14th and 25th. At the end of the three EQs, an angler must be in the top ten to move on to the Elites.
 
The first EQ was held on Lake Champlain in New York. In this 3-day event, Ethan was the highest McKendree finisher taking 23rd. Trey was right on his heels finishing 24th, and Bailey placed 53rd. Their finishes in this event keep all three of them in great contention to fulfill their dream and make it to the Bassmaster Elites. 
 
"It's another great day to be a Bearcat!" states head coach Jon Rinderer.
 
The next EQ is on Lake Wheeler in Alabama on October 2-4 and the final and deciding EQ will be on Lake Okeechobee in Florida on November 13-15.