The Maine B.A.S.S. Nation held its inaugural High School Championship Oct. 13, 2013, on Pleasant Pond/Cobbossee Stream at the Gardiner Sportsman’s Club. Seven teams from high school bass clubs and outing clubs who had joined the B.A.S.S. High School program were present to vie for the state title and the opportunity to advance to the 2014 B.A.S.S. High School National Championship.
The high schools represented were Dirigo, Madison, Windham Christian, Biddeford and Kennebunk. The Gardiner Sportsman’s Club provided breakfast for the high school teams and their boat captain/coaches then the teams took to the water, heading for their favorite fishing holes to try to catch a team limit of five bass.
After the fish were weighed and released, the winners were declared. The High School State Championship title was awarded to the team of Alex Williamson and Joe Curtis representing Windham Christian Academy; they had a limit of bass weighing 10.62 pounds. Finishing second was the Windham Christian Academy team of Daniel Rodgers (fishing solo) with 9.16 pounds. Thomas Behen of Biddeford High School and teammate Carter Raymond captured third place with 8.68 pounds.
Cabela’s Big Fish award went to the team of Ryan Emery and Jordan Hadley from Madison Area Memorial High School with a 2.61-pound largemouth. Following the weigh-in, all anglers and boat captains enjoyed a cook out provided by Gardiner Sportsman’s Club.
The first place team of Alex Williamson and Joe Curtis were awarded fishing rods donated by Skeeter boats and will also be part of the Maine B.A.S.S. Nation team participating in the 2014 B.A.S.S. Nation Eastern Divisional championship. Both the first and second place teams will advance to the 2014 B.A.S.S. High School Championship to compete for the national title and college scholarships.
The Maine B.A.S.S. Nation High School program is sponsored by Triton boats, Mercury outboards, Motorguide trolling motors, Lowrance electronics, Cabela’s, Skeeter boats and the members of the Maine B.A.S.S. Nation. Complete standings and photo gallery from the tournament will be posted on www.mebass.com.
