As the sport of competitive bass fishing has exploded in popularity, the young Bryan College Lions Fishing program has managed to stay at the forefront of top collegiate fishing programs in the nation. In their first season, the Lions earned a remarkable 18th place finish in the running for Cabela's School of the Year. This year (their second year) the Lions have steadily worked their way as a challenger for the Cabela's School of the Year race, but the difference maker has come in the month of March when Bryan jumped from the 6th spot to the 2nd ranked team in the nation after impressive performances in the Cabela's Big Bass Bash on Kentucky Lake in Paris Landing, Tenn. and the recent Cabela's Collegiate Bass Fishing Open (Dardanelle Derby) on Lake Dardanelle in Russellville, Ark.
The Association of Collegiate Anglers has designed a multifaceted Cabela's School of the Year program designed to both rank and reward collegiate fishing teams throughout the country. The program is built to reward teams that compete with the ACA in the Cabela's Collegiate Bass Fishing Series, as well as select national Carhartt College B.A.S.S and FLW events. The respective championship events for each series will count towards the Cabela's School of the Year program as well. In addition to the three national collegiate fishing trails, the ACA will also award points for select ACA-sanctioned events throughout the season. As part of the program, the ACA will award points to each competing school, based on their finish in the event in relation to field size.
Points System Description:
Teams competing on behalf of their collegiate fishing clubs in the Cabela's Big Bass Bash, Collegiate Bass Fishing Open, BoatUS Championship and other major Cabela's School of year events will earn points that accumulate in the Cabela's School of the Year race based upon the ACA Points Formula. In those events up to two teams may earn points in each of the recognized tournaments. In the event a college fishing club has more than two teams in a tournament, points will be awarded based on the two highest finishing teams' final standings. The Major Cabela's Collegiate Bass Fishing Series (The Open, Cabela's Big Bass Bash and BoatUS Championship) events are critical in shaping the final outcome as these nationally televised events are worth double points, meaning that two teams from each school may earn points.
ACA Points Formula = (The number of teams in the event) – (Team's final standings position) + 1
The winners of the 2015 Cabela's School of the Year program will receive a sponsor prize pack worth thousands of dollars and their own dedicated television highlights. An entire episode of Americana Outdoors, as well as in-show features within the Cabela's Collegiate Bass Fishing Television Series, will be devoted to the 2016 program, the ultimate winners, and their climb to the top honor of Cabela's School of the Year.
On March 11-12, the Lions traveled to Kentucky Lake to compete in the Cabela's Big Bass Bash, and thanks to strong finishes from sophomores Caleb Luzader (SO/Cleveland, Tenn.) and Connor Fogg (SO/Fayetteville, Tenn.), Bryan chipped in 778 points in the School of the Year contest to slide into 6th place. Caleb was on fire as he placed in the top-10 in three out of the eight total weigh-in sessions. Of the 436 total teams, Caleb finished 35th with a weight of 5.46 and Connor ended in 61st with a weight of 4.97. The 778 total points were more than the current team in 1st was able to produce, as the No. 1 University of Alabama Crimson Tide was only able to tally 755 points.
This weekend (Mar. 25-26) the Lions took advantage of another opportunity for a large amount of points as Bryan scored the second highest amount of points in the Dardanelle Derby. Louisiana Tech University recorded 181 points with 7th and 8th place finishes, while Bryan trailed with 176 points to claim a No. 2 ranking nationally. Chase Kanute (FR/Hayden, Ala.), Connor Thompson (FR/Fort Payne, Ala.), AJ Barnes (FR/Chattanooga, Tenn.), and Cole Sands (FR/Cleveland, Tenn.) made up the team who had a 12.52 day one weight and a 16.30 day two weight (28.82 total) for an extraordinary 6th place finish. Connor Fogg, Chandler Fogg (FR/Fayettville, Tenn.), Nathan Bell (JR/Riceville, Tenn.), and Dylan Kear (SO/Clinton, Tenn.) placed 15th after turning in a weight of 8.15 on day one and responding with a 12.88 for day two.
Head Bryan Fishing Coach, Mike Keen, has explained that the Lions have been fishing three of the most popular trails possible because of the exposure they provide and the opportunity to present Bryan College on a major stage (Cabela's, FLW, and B.A.S.S). The 334 schools that are in the Association of Collegiate Anglers are from all across the country, stretching as far west as California. The small Christian Liberal Arts College tucked away in Dayton, Tenn. is facing off against some of the largest colleges and universities in the country. SEC powerhouse, University of Alabama (1,282), leads Bryan (1,263) by 19 points. Mississippi State (1,261) rounds out the top-3, while other schools such as University of Tennessee Chattanooga, Clemson University, University of Tennessee Knoxville, Louisiana State University, North Carolina State, University of Wisconsin, Auburn University, University of Kentucky, Virginia Tech, University of Louisville, and Kansas State University all fall within the top-50… and that's just to name a few.
The School of the Year competition reflects consistency throughout the entire season, and that is what Coach Keen has his team striving to do with teamwork acting as the driving force.
"I'm very proud of these guys, because of the continuous hard work they have put forth," said Mr. Keen. "The results reflect the hard work they have given since it's them doing all the fishing… I haven't caught a fish in any of these tournaments."
When asked about the playing field and some of the intimidating schools they go head-to-head with, Mr. Keen explained, "They may have fancier boats and trucks, but when we cast out in the water, the fish have no idea who's on the other end of the line."
Mr. Keen mentioned another key to success was, "The way our school and athletic program treats our fishing team just like any other team makes it a whole lot easier to go out and compete. Not only am I really proud of our guys, but I'm really proud of our school."
The timing looks to play in Bryan's favor as they have one more obstacle in the FLW College Open (Apr. 1-2) on Kentucky Lake where several top teams will be on their home turf, but then the Lions head to Guntersville Lake in Guntersville, Ala. for the FLW S.E. Conf. (May 21) where the tables are turned and Bryan has home-field advantage.