Sports

Actions

Local high schoolers fish for national championship

Local high schoolers fish for national championship
Posted at 12:16 AM, Jun 23, 2018
and last updated 2018-06-23 01:16:54-04

Nathan Bowers, Landen Bennett, Logan Drake, and Colton Zahn are some of the top high school fishermen in Central Texas.

After winning tournaments on the high school and Faith Angler circuits, the two paired teams are going to Florence, Alabama to compete in the 2018 High School World Fishing Finals.

"All week we're going to do nothing but fish, fish, fish," said Bowers, a recent graduate from Killeen High school.

The tournament pulls the best high school anglers from all 50 states, but these Texans aren't intimidated.

"I know I don't like to lose a lot," said Zahn.

The four say they've been on the water for most of their lives, and nature is in their blood.

"I caught my first fish when I was five on [Lake Belton]," said Troy native Bennett.

Even a football injury, like the torn ACL for Logan Drake of Belton couldn't keep him off the boat.

"Nah, it just made me fish more actually."

Because, for competitors like Bowers, fishing is more than just an afternoon on the boat.

"I probably went to like 50 million elementary schools and a million middle schools so when I first went to Texas it was my first time out of Kansas in like 8 years. So I was really uncomfortable with the situation. Coming out here and fishing this great lake really made me more comfortable with settling down in a new place."

These four are battling for their shot at a $50,000 scholarship and a little more.

"Honestly you fish it to get offers and try to fish for college teams," said Zahn.

Well, whether its for money, offers, or just the love of being on the water, from June 26 to 30 these four will be battling against the top anglers on Lake Pickwick in Alabama.

Copyright 2018 KXXV. All rights reserved.