Louisiana Anglers Hope To Reel In College Scholarships At Bassmaster High School Combine
Published 10:50 am Friday, September 9, 2022
Louisiana Anglers Hope To Reel In College Scholarships At Bassmaster High School Combine
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Eleven Louisiana student-athletes will be among 100 young anglers from across the country hoping to impress colleges and score college scholarships at the Abu Garcia Bassmaster High School Combine presented by Skeeter Sept. 16-18 in Decatur, Ala. Fishing coaches from 18 colleges are attending this showcase for top high school anglers.
Testing their skills against some of the country’s best young anglers will be Teurlings Catholic High School senior Baylen Guy of Breaux Bridge, West St. John High School junior Devrin Harper of Edgard, Assumption High School senior Braden Pujol of Napoleonville, junior Frank St. Philip of Covington and Silliman High School senior Cambre Webb of Pine Grove. Joining them will be French Settlement High School juniors Samuel Cobb and Destin Morales of Livingston, Live Oak High School senior Bryce Distefano and junior Rowdie Thacker of Denham Springs and Catholic High School junior Connor Hebert of Bueche and senior Tyler Morris of Port Allen.
The inaugural High School Combine in 2021 generated more than $2.6 million in scholarship offers. One of the first students to sign a scholarship offer onsite at the combine was Levi Thibodaux of Thibodaux, La., who won the overall title and is now fishing for the Louisiana State University Shreveport Pilots.
“Response to the High School Combine has been incredible,” said Glenn Cale, B.A.S.S. Nation tournament manager for the College, High School and Junior series. “The fact that high school anglers are traveling here from as far away as Minnesota, New Hampshire and Connecticut really speaks to the massive growth and appetite for high school and college bass fishing over the past few years.
“Hearing anglers share from the weigh-in stage at the High School National Championship that they were heading on to fish in college as a direct result of meeting a coach at the inaugural combine was a huge testament to the impact this event can have on the sport and the skill level that will be on display.”
Among the athletes attending the combine are 41 students — including seven from Pelican State — who competed in August’s Abu Garcia Bassmaster High School National Championship presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors and four anglers who were named to the prestigious 2022 Bassmaster High School All-
Along with a ninth-place finish, French Settlement High School’s Morales and Cobb claimed the Big Bass of the Tournament title at the National Championship. More than 300 teams from around the country and Canada qualified to compete in the tournament.
At the High School Combine, anglers will perform multiple tasks to not only show their skill set on the water, but also display their knowledge of the sport as a whole. After the first day, colleges will have the opportunity to select anglers for a “second look” where they can further explore everything that angler has to offer and see if they would be the perfect fit for their fishing program.
While the High School Combine
Unlike many other high school sports, college fishing coaches do not get years of “game film” on recruits or the opportunity to be in the boat watching them compete, which presents a variety of challenges.
“With the sport growing as it is, this kind of program is beneficial in many ways,” explained legendary tournament angler and Emmanuel College coach Pam Martin-Wells. “It allows us as coaches to be able to observe them in a setting outside a high school tournament and without a boat captain. Plus, we have the opportunity to watch them perform certain fishing-related tasks, talk with the individuals and get to know them as more than just a stat.
“Tournament results are definitely a plus but not necessarily a determining factor. I like to figure out what kind of angler they are, what their demeanor is and what kind of team player they’ll be.”
For Webb, who also attended the 2021 combine, this event is all about networking and following a dream.
“Fishing professionally has been my dream since I was five. I’m hoping to gain the relationships needed to pursue my career on and off the water,” said Webb. “This combine is hands down the best opportunity to reach bass fishing coaches … I’m just ready to get there!”
Only colleges offering bass fishing scholarships were invited to attend the event. The following schools will participate in the Bassmaster High School
- Auburn University (Auburn, Ala.)
- Blue Mountain College (Blue Mountain, Miss.)
- Campbellsville University (Campbellsville, Ky.)
- Carson-Newman University (Jefferson City, Tenn.)
- Catawba Valley Community College (Hickory, N.C.)
- East Tennessee State University (Johnson City, Tenn.)
- East Texas Baptist University (Marshall, Texas)
- Emmanuel College (Franklin Springs, Ga.)
- Faulkner University (Montgomery, Ala.)
- Kentucky Christian University (Grayson, Ky.)
- Lander University (Greenwood, S.C.)
- Louisiana State University Shreveport (Shreveport, La.)
- Shelton State Community College (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
- Southeastern University (Lakeland, Fla.)
- Troy University (Troy, Ala.)
- University of Montevallo (Montevallo, Ala.)
- University of North Alabama (Florence, Ala.)
- Webber International University (Babson Park, Fla.)
The 2022 Abu Garcia Bassmaster High School Combine presented by Skeeter is being hosted by Decatur Morgan County Tourism.
2022 Bassmaster High School
2022 Bassmaster High School
2022 Bassmaster High School
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 515,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series presented by Mossy Oak Fishing, TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Series, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Abu Garcia Bassmaster High School Series presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Team Championship, Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series powered by TourneyX, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic.
