CROPWELL, Ala. — Zeke Gossett has so many tournament wins — already, at only 18 years old — it's difficult to count.
Gossett, a senior at Pell City High School, can claim the following wins: Alabama Sports Festival (twice as an individual and twice as part of a team), state high school champion for both B.A.S.S. and TBF, state junior champion (twice for B.A.S.S. and twice for TBF), B.A.S.S. Nation High School Southern Divisional, and as a member of the Alabama Student Angler Bass Fishing Association Six-Man Team.
That doesn't even count his Top 5 finishes in high school opens, regionals and national championships in B.A.S.S. and TBF, as well as a third-place showing in the Bassmaster High School Classic.
Even with all those top tournament finishes, Gossett has maintained a 3.9 GPA in school and managed to volunteer his time in several ways in his community.
"Zeke doesn't wake up each morning just to attend school and do what is required of him," said his guidance counselor, Cynthia Pruitt. "He comes to school and makes our school a better place. He has a quiet, mature character that allows others to see the potential for leadership. He pushes toward his passion but doesn't let the ball drop in other areas of his life.
"In my field, I have met many hardworking, determined, motivated, energetic and intelligent students," said Pruitt. "However, I have never met one as humble, confident and deserving as Ezekiel Gossett."
Gossett holds fishing seminars for junior clubs and high school clubs, and he even set up a day of fishing for veterans for residents in a local veterans' home.
"Zeke also works with the Renew our Rivers campaign that Alabama Power conducts yearly," said Zeke's dad and fishing coach, Curtis Gossett. "It is a conservation effort to place discarded Christmas trees in lakes for new fishing areas, as well as to help clean up the rivers."
Zeke Gossett earned his selection among the top high school anglers in the world on the 2015 Bassmaster High School All-American Fishing Team. He and his 11 cohorts will compete on Lake Barkley in Tennessee on June 6 alongside an Elite Series pro.
Gossett is a member of the Pell City Panthers Bass Fishing Team.