Every spring, thousands of high school student athletes sign with a post-secondary institutions to continue their athletic careers. Lawrence County has been blessed with many who have accomplished this feat.
However, this is the first collegiate signing for a high school bass fisherman in Lawrence county.
Barriers, especially in sports, are broken everyday, and this is no exception. It is amazing that a sport such as bass fishing now has college teams dedicated to the sport and students can earn scholarships for their passion.
Michael’s signing is another positive spotlight on Lawrence county and eastern Kentucky.
However, after speaking to some out-of-state college fishermen and their parents today, not all colleges are as supportive as one would assume. This is not Michael’s case. Michael has been blessed with an opportunity to attend one of the most supportive colleges of bass fishing in the nation, Campbellsville University.
Coach Tommy Hall and his coaching staff provide amazing opportunities to the fishermen at Campbellsville.
(Click on Photo for video of Michael signing)
CU set to host Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Championship
“We are excited to take our national championship to central Kentucky,” said Bassmaster College Series tournament manager Hank Weldon. “With the support of such a great host and school, we expect this tournament to be the premier event in college fishing.”
At the national championship, the entire field competes on the first two days. On the third day, the field is trimmed to the Top 12 teams catching the heaviest cumulative five-bass daily limits.
“This is a great opportunity for Campbellsville University and our town to be selected as the hosts for this national championship event,” said Rusty Hollingsworth, CU director of athletics. “We are excited to welcome the best college anglers from across the country to Green River Lake.”
No matter what the anglers catch bass on, the tournament is bound to be a good one to watch, said Weldon, tournament director for the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series.
“We are so grateful to be having this tournament here in Campbellsville, Ky.,” said Alisha Nelson, executive director of Taylor County Tourist Commission. “This weeklong event will not only be bringing dollars into our community, but we also hope these anglers and their families will fall in love with our area and come back for future visits.”
“It’s going to be a great event,” Weldon said. “Campbellsville University is hosting the tournament, and everyone on the campus has been so welcoming and accommodating. Tommy Hall, the bass fishing coach at Campbellsville, has really been pushing bass fishing at the collegiate level, and the school even has its own bass fishing scholarship program. It’s an honor to be there.”
Competitors qualified for the championship through regional events. A total of 89 teams from 62 colleges throughout the United States will be competing.
All 89 teams will compete on Days 1 and 2. After the Day 2 weigh-in, the field will be cut to the Top 12 teams for the final day of competition.
Competitors will take off each day at 6:30 a.m. ET at Green River Marina, located at 2892 Lone Valley Road in Campbellsville. The weigh-ins will be held daily at 3:30 p.m. ET on Stapp Lawn on the Campbellsville University campus. A fan expo will open at 1:00 p.m. daily and continue through the weigh-in. All events are free and open to the public.
Weigh-ins will be streamed live at Bassmaster.com each day. Updates between now and the event will be posted at Bassmaster.com/College.
Colleges that will be represented are listed below by state:
Alabama: Auburn, Jacksonville State, Alabama, North Alabama, South Alabama, Faulkner, Wallace State Community College, Jefferson State Community College
Arizona: Northern Arizona
Arkansas: Arkansas, Arkansas Tech
California: Chico State, Humboldt State
Colorado: Colorado Mesa, Colorado State
Florida: Daytona State, University of Central Florida, Florida, Embry-Riddle Aeronatical
Georgia: Columbus State, West Georgia, Georgia College, North Georgia
Idaho: Idaho
Illinois: McKendree, Illinois State, Illinois
Kansas: Kansas State
Kentucky: Murray State
Louisiana: University of Louisiana-Monroe, Louisiana Tech, Nicholls State, Northwestern State, LSU-Shreveport
Michigan: Schoolcraft
Minnesota: Bemidji State
Mississippi: Itawamba Community College, Mississippi State
North Carolina: Strayer, UNC-Charlotte, East Carolina, Western Carolina, NC State, Haywood Community College
Ohio: Ohio State
Oregon: Oregon, Oregon State
Pennsylvania: Penn State
South Carolina: Lander, South Carolina
Tennessee: Bethel, UT-Martin
Texas: Texas A&M, Lamar, Dallas Baptist, Texas Tech, Tarleton State, Texas State
Washington: Eastern Washington
Wisconsin: UW-Whitewater, UW-Stevens Point, UW-Platteville
