MILLERSPORT, Ohio — Two former Junior Bassmasters won the first Ohio B.A.S.S. Nation (OBN) High School Tournament, May 31, at Buckeye Lake.
Alex Conner and Jeremy Reese of the Central Ohio High School Bass Club caught six fish weighing 8.88 pounds to win the inaugural event. Both of the high school anglers are alumni of the OBN junior program.
Alexander Datz, former Northern Divisional junior champ, and his Sheridan High School teammate, Kyle Waller, finished second with six bass weighing 8.86 pounds. Datz also won the Big Ugly prize of a Shimano rod by catching a 2.83-pound saugeye. Third place went to the Fayette County High team of Jack Young and Tristen Walters, who caught five fish weighing 7.44 pounds and earned the big bass award with a 2.65-pounder.
The tournament drew eight teams from four schools and featured competition for a younger age group.
“It went pretty well for our first attempt,” said Al Evans, Ohio president. “We had some changes in leadership in our Nation and got a late start on our high school program.”
Todd Thompson, OBN youth director, and his wife, Jerri, ran the tournament, and Brett Reid, OBN board member, made a video of the event (see below) for the OBN website.
In the younger age group, Stryker Sprat from the SS Minnows club won with four keepers weighing 4.67 pounds. Kobe Thompson finished second, and Shane Bumgardner took third.
The tournament was one of two qualifying events to determine the OBN high school state champions.
