Costa Bassmaster High School Southern Open Weigh-in

Josh Powers, left, and Cole Stewart of the Grundy County High School Fishing Team show off their winning catch. They claimed first place with 14 pounds, 4 ounces.

With one angler left to weigh in, tournament director Hank Weldon called Powers and Stewart from the hot seat to the scales to learn their fate.

They watched the scales closely.

When the numbers came up, it was the first time Stewart, left, cracked a smile all day.

Team captain Wesley Taylor, left, joined the anglers on stage for the plaque presentation.

The winners with the plaques they’ll proudly display back in Estill Springs, Tenn.

Noah Pescitelli and Chris Moody of Mill Creek High School in Buford, Ga., placed 13th with 10-0.

Will Garrett of the Auburn (Ala.) Anglers team weighed in 10-12 – good for ninth place.

Bassmaster High School regulars Logan Parks and Lucas Lindsay of the Auburn (Ala.) Anglers finished sixth with 11-8.

Fans rotated in and out near the weigh-in stage as their favorite anglers prepared to weigh in.

The giant field of more than 400 anglers took three hours to weigh.

Alex Heintze and Justin Watts of the Livingston Parrish Bassmasters of Denham Springs, La., finished 16th with 9-10.

Daniel George and Cody Mealer of the Odenville (Ala.) Bass Club finished 23rd with three bass that weighed 8-10. Their catch was anchored by a 4-7 largemouth that was caught on a crawfish-colored square-billed crankbait.

Anglers began entering the weigh-in line at Wind Creek State Park around 2:30 p.m.

As always, all fish were returned to competition waters alive.

Ben Muse, left, and Taylor Cox hold up four nice bass. They finished in 11th place with 10 pounds, 8 ounces.

Luke Barrett and Caz Anderson of the Western North Carolina High School Anglers placed 43rd with five bass that weighed 7-5.

Tristan Thomas and Dakota Crumley of the East Hall Anglers team from Alto, Ga., finished 16th with five bass that weighed 9-10.

Weston Partain of the Arab High Fishing Knights holds up the 4-pound, 4-ounce largemouth that claimed big-fish honors.

Tanner Jones and Clay Teague of Tuscaloosa County High School finished 28th with 8-0.

Tristan Hendrix and Seth Register of Hoover High School were 27th with 8-1.

Justin Barnes of the Monroe Student Bass Anglers holds one of the bigger largemouth caught during the event.

J.T. Russell and Jared Turnbloom of Briarwood High School notched an eighth-place finish with five bass that weighed 11-2.

One of several all-female teams in the field, Mackenzie Pennington and Allison Davis of Fayetteville High School show off their catch.

Bassmaster Elite Series pro Greg Vinson addresses the crowd with eventual winners Josh Powers and Cole Stewart on the hot seat.

Will Brown and Trent Pruett of the Glencoe Fishing Team placed 28th with 8-0.

Ryan Winchester and Justin Burris of Tennessee’s Clinton High School made the Top 10 with 11-10.

Kyle Ingleburger and Kyle Palmer, dubbed “Team Kyle” by tournament director Hank Weldon, placed 20th with 8-13. Their Grundy County High School teammates, Josh Powers and Cole Stewart were victorious.

Fischer Keel of the Auburn Anglers team fished solo and made the Top 5 with 11-13.

Zeke Gossett and Hayden Bartee of Pell City (Ala.) High School hold up their third-place catch with tournament director Hank Weldon looking on. They finished with 12-11.

Justin Selvidge, left, and Bailey Fain of Lenoir City (Tenn.) High School nearly took first place with five bass that weighed 14-1. It was good for second.

With Costa as the new title sponsor for the event, thousands of dollars in Costa merchandise was given away.