Halfway through the season, Republic’s fishing program has put teams in the top 10 at both events and is in the mix for what coach Jim Huson believes could be the program’s best year.
The National Youth Fishing Association runs a companion circuit called the Pro-Team Association, or PTA, at the same locations on consecutive days. Republic competes in both.
At the March 29 season opener, Leegan Thiltgen went sixth out of 175 boats in the NYFA division with a five-fish limit of 14.84 pounds, fishing solo. Devin Kirk and Wyatt Page were ninth at 14.55 pounds. In the PTA that same weekend, Drake Dishman and Luke Delahay placed eighth out of 139 boats at 14.72 pounds.
The second stop, at Lake of the Ozarks on April 25-26, was Republic’s best weekend. On Saturday in the PTA, William Brake and Raleigh Verstraete were fourth among 146 boats with 15.65 pounds. On Sunday, the NYFA high school field drew 184 teams. Dylan Delahay and Avien Ferguson finished second at 15.71 pounds. Brett Edwards and Greg Hicks were sixth at 14.13 pounds, and Dishman and Luke Delahay placed seventh at 14.02 pounds — all three pairs earning NYFA scholarships given to the top 10 finishers. Brake and Verstraete also placed 16th at 12.64 pounds.
Delahay brothers Dylan and Luke are on competing teams in the Angler of the Year race, which carries additional scholarship money. Dylan fishes with Ferguson; Luke fishes with Dishman.
Republic’s next event is May 31 at Bull Shoals, Arkansas.
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