DREHER ISLAND, S.C. — Rashad Goodson and Steven Younginer of South Florence High School won the inaugural South Carolina B.A.S.S. Nation High School B.A.S.S. Championship Team Tournament, March 1, on Lake Murray.
The pair brought in 24.13 pounds for the one-day tournament, and they will compete in the B.A.S.S. Nation Southern Divisional, April 16-18, on Alabama’s Lake Eufaula.
“The tournament was a big success,” said Randy Vaughn, South Carolina B.A.S.S. Nation youth director, “with 39 teams competing from 11 high school teams across South Carolina.” A huge crowd of parents, coaches and campers gathered at the Dreher Island facility on Lake Murray to watch the competition.
Carter McNeil and Tucker Smith of Abbeville High School finished in second place with 22.15 pounds.
The Top 2 teams qualified to compete in the 2014 Bassmaster High School Championship, July 16-19, on Kentucky Lake and Carroll County Reservoir in Paris, Tenn.
Ben Stone and Christopher Bensel of Dixie High School weighed in the biggest fish of the tournament, a 6.49-pounder.
“Since the program began forming in mid-2013, many high school teams have expressed interest in the program,” said Vaughn, “and we expect a huge growth in the participation of other schools from across the state for our 2015 championship this fall.
“We are very excited for these four young men to represent their high schools in the first ever Bassmaster High School Championship,” said Vaughn. “Currently, South Carolina ranks second in the Nation in total participation, with only Texas ahead of us in both the number of schools and students currently enrolled in the B.A.S.S. High School program.
“We are very proud of our junior B.A.S.S. program in South Carolina, and I look forward to its success as it continues to grow.”
