Editors Note: To view pictures from the Logan Parks Foundation College and High School Tournament click here.
Dec. 19, 2023 – AUBURN, AL – The Logan Parks Fishing Foundation, under the visionary leadership of Bassmaster Elite Series rookie Logan Parks, proudly concluded its inaugural High School/College Chaos Tournament presented by Abu Garcia, marking a monumental milestone in competitive fishing history. This groundbreaking event paid out 150% of the entry fees, giving out over $175,000 in cash, scholarships, and prizes to the competing anglers. The unique format of the event united 168 anglers in a way that has never been done before. 84 college anglers and 84 high school anglers traveled from 17 different states to participate. Hosted in Auburn, Alabama, this event emerged as a definitive platform, granting high school prodigies an opportunity to showcase their fishing prowess while serving as a scouting ground for college teams seeking the next wave of fishing stars.
Coach Pam Wells of Emmanuel University lauded the tournament format, offering a comprehensive view of angler abilities by pairing high school and college anglers together. “This format revolutionizes the recruitment process for college teams, providing a holistic understanding of each angler’s capabilities. I’ve always said that stats and resumes never paint a true picture of the high school angler. With traditional high school tournament formats featuring a partner and a boat captain you can never be 100% sure of their actual abilities and decision making. I, as a coach, love this format,” Wells remarked.
The Logan Parks Fishing Foundation, whose mission is to empower the future of competitive anglers by nurturing the talents of high school and college anglers, was very pleased with the turnout from this event. Rooted from a deep commitment to giving back to the fishing community and encouraging growth within the sport, this event truly gave back to the anglers who will become the future of competitive bass fishing.
“We want to ensure that youth anglers do not stop fishing because of lack of opportunity,” said Logan Parks. “The Logan Parks Fishing Foundation provides a pathway for student anglers to further their education and fishing careers.”
Taking root in the picturesque settings of Auburn, Alabama, and the pristine waters of Lake Martin, this tournament stood as a testament to innovation and inclusivity in competitive fishing. Spanning from November 8th to November 12th, the tournament format presented a thrilling, unmatched competitive fishing experience. Powered by the state-of-the-art Fishing Chaos App, participants immersed themselves in an enthralling blend of technology and angling prowess, creating a cutting-edge, tech-driven angling experience that redefined the parameters of competitive fishing.
The journey commenced with three days of official practice on Lake Martin, where anglers, high school and college alike, showcased their skills leveraging their daily catches to influence the drafting process. This unique draft system brought an element of anticipation and strategy, empowering college anglers to select their high school partners in a semi-random order based on their demonstrated skills during these rigorous practice sessions. This introduced a fascinating element of teamwork and collaboration, fostering excitement and strategic planning among participants.
Draft day, a pivotal juncture in the tournament’s narrative, transpired at the iconic Jordan Hare football stadium, a bastion of sporting glory ensconced within the esteemed Auburn University campus. Against the backdrop of Cam Newton’s Heisman trophy, anglers completed registrations and gathered their swag bags, setting the tone for an event brimming with excitement and camaraderie and forging bonds between college boaters and high school non-boaters. The day unfolded with a series of engaging activities, including a group photo session, a captivating locker room recruiting session, and a convivial communal dinner, fostering an environment ripe for collaboration and learning.
A standout feature of the tournament was the exclusive locker room recruiting hour, providing an unprecedented platform for high school anglers and parents to interact directly with top-tier college bass fishing teams. This one-on-one engagement fostered meaningful discussions between aspiring anglers and representatives from esteemed collegiate fishing programs, bridging the aspirations of high school talent with future opportunities in prestigious colleges.
The tournament’s avant-garde format, designed to challenge and mentor the young anglers, operated through a catch, weigh, photo, Fishing Chaos app submission, and release framework. The live leaderboard, a focal point of the event, tracked team progress and engaged both participants and spectators, heightening the competitive fervor and amassing almost 100,000 views throughout the event.
The competition featured three rounds: Round 1 (6:30 am – 10 am), Round 2 (10:15 am – 1 pm), and the CHAOS Round (1:15 pm – 3 pm) with two 15-minute breaks in between rounds. Teams aimed to avoid elimination by racing against time and competitors. After Round 1, the top 50 teams advanced to the SURVIVAL group while the bottom 34 advanced to the SUDDEN DEATH group, with total weights carrying over. Round 2 saw the top 12 SURVIVAL teams and the top 3 SUDDEN DEATH teams advance to the CHAMPIONSHIP group, while others enter the CONSOLATION or LAST CHANCE groups. In Round 3 (CHAOS), all weights reset, and teams competed within their respective brackets, with the live leaderboard disabled. After a 1 hour 45-minute shootout, anglers returned to Auburn, AL to discover their fate.
As the dust settled and the competition reached its zenith, the tournament witnessed the submission of an astounding 2,712 fish, culminating in the crowning of the top three triumphant teams:
1. Brooks Anderson of Emmanuel College & Rooksby Gordon of American Christian Academy
Brooks and Rooksby set an early lead in Round 1, reeling in an impressive 39.54 pounds and securing a 15-pound cushion over their competitors. They wasted no time in Round 2, creating a comfortable gap between themselves and 12th place within the Survival group that earned them the lead and a ticket to the Championship with 55.3 pounds. After weights were zeroed and the CHAOS Round began, their stellar performance propelled them to clinch the Championship with a total catch of 29.78 pounds, earning them a well-deserved $15,000 first-place prize.
Reflecting on their win, Brooks Anderson shared, “Sharing my passion for bass fishing and witnessing Rooksby’s excitement as I taught him new techniques was incredibly fulfilling. This event not only allows high school anglers to network but also provides an invaluable learning platform for them. The best way for younger anglers to learn is to get in the boat with someone older and more experienced and that’s exactly what this event provided. I anticipate seeing the positive impact this event continues to have on upcoming anglers.”
2. Brody Robison of the University of Montevallo & Max Plemmons of Plainview High School
Brody and Max navigated a challenging route to the Championship following a setback in Round 1 after only catching 4.88 pounds. They showcased resilience in Round 2 finishing in 2nd place with a 15.52 pound total and becoming one of three teams to advance to the Championship from Sudden Death. During the CHAOS Round the team rallied to post their best catch of the day, a 17.74 pound total that earned them a 2nd place finish overall and a $5,000 prize. Max Plemmons described the tournament as “nerve-racking yet organized,” highlighting the intensity and mind-trickery of the format.
Brody Robison highlighted the event’s significance in easing the transition from high school to collegiate fishing, potentially becoming a pivotal bridge for aspiring anglers. “This event eases the intimidating transition for high school anglers entering the world of collegiate fishing. As a high school angler, the transition my senior year was a slightly scary step to take not knowing exactly what I was getting into. This tournament significantly alleviates the apprehensions and uncertainties surrounding the shift to collegiate fishing. I think this event alone could be the
reason for even more high school anglers to make the transition into collegiate fishing,” Robison added.
3. Carson Maddux of Auburn University & Brayden Tisdale of Opp High School
Carson and Brayden, local favorites, found themselves riding the cut line after Round 1, sitting in 12th place with a 15.94 pound total. The duo made a compelling surge through the ranks of the Survival group in Round 2, finishing 2nd with 46.42 pounds and punching their ticket to the Championship. They concluded the CHAOS Round with 16.4 pounds, earning a $3000 prize and a 3rd place overall finish for their efforts.
Additionally, Jake Peck of Auburn University and Grayson Cole of Tallassee High School secured a $3000 prize by topping the leaderboard in the Consolation Group, while Mitchell Dean of Georgia College and Fisher Deason of American Christian Academy claimed a $2000 prize in the Last Chance Group.
“I couldn’t imagine any reason why a high school angler wouldn’t be all over an opportunity like this,” said Auburn University angler, Jake Peck. “To be able to meet college anglers that are a few years ahead of you in the process, and build connections with teams and coaches – it’s an incredible opportunity for any high school angler who wants to pursue bass fishing at the next level.”
Taking home perhaps the most prestigious award of the event was Hunter Jenkins of Dallas Baptist University. He exemplified unparalleled mentorship and sportsmanship during the High School/College Chaos Tournament. After crossing paths with a high school competitor at a boat ramp during practice, Jenkins went above and beyond by inviting the angler to practice with him, extending invaluable guidance on his electronics, and offering insights and support both on and off the water throughout the tournament weekend. Acknowledging Jenkins’ exceptional dedication to nurturing young talent, the Logan Parks Fishing Foundation honored him with the esteemed 2023 High School/College Chaos Mentor Award. His altruism and commitment to fostering a culture of learning and growth embody the spirit of mentorship and community the tournament strives to instill in its participants.
“The inaugural High School/College Chaos tournament is just one of many ways that our foundation plans on impacting these anglers’ lives, and we are so excited to bring the event back to Auburn, Alabama in 2024. Year two is going to be bigger and better,” added Logan Parks.
The Logan Parks Fishing Foundation extends its gratitude to Abu Garcia and all sponsors for their support
in making this event a reality. With their support, the foundation is casting a brighter future for the world of competitive bass fishing, one angler at a time. Plans are underway to bring back the event to Auburn, Alabama, in 2024, promising an even more enriching and extensive experience for student anglers.
For further information about the Logan Parks Fishing Foundation and upcoming events, follow @loganparksfishingfoundation on Instagram.
For final results of the 2023 LPFF HSCC visit https://app.fishingchaos.com/tournament/2023-lpff-hscc
About the Logan Parks Fishing Foundation
The Logan Parks Fishing Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded by professional angler Logan Parks. The foundation’s mission is to empower the future of competitive bass fishing by nurturing the talents of high school and college anglers, fostering growth, supporting education, and advocating for change within existing tournament organizations. It is dedicated to promoting the sport of bass fishing among young people and investing in student anglers who are the future of the sport. The inaugural High School College Chaos Tournament creates opportunities for student anglers to better afford to advance their education and fishing careers. It provides educational and recreational opportunities for high school and college students to learn about and participate in bass fishing, while also bridging the gap between high school and college programs to smoothen the transition for student anglers. For inquiries on the LPFF or the HSCC Tournament reach out to us at loganparksfishingfoundation@gmail.com.
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