Republic High School’s bass fishing team will learn tonight how many of its duos qualify for the state championship tournament after a strong showing at Table Rock Lake last weekend.
On May 5, the team competed in the National Youth Fishing Association Tournament against hundreds of students from across the state. The event drew 224 boats in the high school division and 119 boats in the middle school division, with more than 600 students fishing at Table Rock Lake.
Republic’s Bryce Ondrick and Evan Buchanan finished 4th in the high school division, while William Brake and Raleigh Verstraete placed 7th. In the middle school division, Paden Hamilton and Leegan Thiltgen finished 8th out of 115 boats.
The previous day, they participated in a Pro-Team Association event in which parents joined their children to fish together.
Coach Jim Huson expects several of the team’s 18 boats to earn spots in the state tournament at Pomme De Terre based on their performance in the final qualifying event and throughout the season.
