WALKER, Minn. – McKendree anglers battled through rough weather and technical difficulties and still prevailed at the Bassmaster National Championship.
After the first day, Graduates Evan Sutton and Jaxon Freeman lead the way for the Bearcats. The three-day tournament on Leech Lake hosted 47 schools and 135 boats. Sutton and Freeman finished fifth place after a five bass limit of smallies for 21-2. Right on their heels are Graduates Ethan Fields and Lane Stephens with another outstanding limit of smallies weighing 19-7 good for sixth place. Sophomores Chase Logue and Mason Darling ended in 48th with 13-11. Junior Ryan Foster and senior Henry Fledderman also fished their limit for 12-10 and 60th place. Graduate Maxwell Trotter and senior Kai Barnett finished in 81st with four for 10-4. Graduate Jack Stephens and junior Angelo Malek finished in 85th with three for 9-13. Senior Connor Hall and sophomore Carson Belville had three for 8-10 and 93rd place.
On the second day, Fields and Stephens led the way for the Bearcats, weighing five for 21-5 and jumped up the leaderboard into third place with a two-day total of 40-12. Sutton and Freeman faced a host of problems losing all power to their pumps, graphs, live wells and motor. Despite this they were able to weigh in a limit of 13-14 and place 10th with a total of 35 pounds. They used a bait bucket bubbler and a five-gallon bucket to keep their fish alive from 10:00 AM until weigh-in. Logue and Darling placed 39th with a two-day total of 27-14. Foster and Fledderman finished 52nd with 25-14. Stephens and Malek placed 79th with 23-5. Trotter and Barnett weighed 18-10 for 92nd. Hall and Belville fished a 16-10 and placed 99th. Senior Tucker Siminak made a huge comeback weighing 16 pounds for 105th.
Head coach Jon Rinderer was quoted saying "McKendree had eight boats that qualified for this year's national championship, which was the third highest amount qualified by any of the 47 schools there. We are incredibly proud of all these outstanding young men for their hard work, dedication, positive attitudes, and overall impressive character. I am so proud of all our teams that earned a bid to this year's national championship".
The top twelve final day was a real nail biter. The McKendree teams that made Championship Saturday accomplished something that most college anglers never get a chance to do. They went head-to-head with the best teams in the country trying to win it all.
Fields and Stephens started the day just shy of 4 pounds behind the leaders and sitting in third place. They battled high winds and big waves all day and still managed to catch 19-7, the second largest bag of the day. At the end of day three, their catch fell a mere nine ounces behind the winners and helped them gain over a five-pound margin on the third-place team. They secured a total of 60 pounds and 10 ounces, which was enough for a second-place finish.
Sutton and Freeman had a phenomenal season and finished up strong. They were able to put together another solid limit on the third day, finishing with 14 pounds and move back up the leaderboard and finish the championship in eighth place with 49 pounds.
UP NEXT
The Anglers are heading to the Association of Colligate Anglers (ACA) Bass Pro Shops Big Bass Bash in Paris, Tennessee fishing in Kentucky Lake.
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