CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. — Campbellsville University’s first-year co-ed bass fishing program will partner with B.A.S.S. High School Nation to offer athletic scholarships to the winning team at the 2014 Bassmaster High School Open, CU officials announced June 4. The Bassmaster High School Open will be June 20-21 at Douglas Lake in Dandridge, Tenn.
Each member of the winning team, provided they are a junior or senior, will be awarded a renewable $2,500 annual scholarship (up to four years) to Campbellsville University. If the winning team includes an underclassman (sophomore or below), then the scholarship will be awarded to the Top 2 upperclassmen.
“This is incredible to actually see more institutions now giving away scholarships for student anglers. The amount that Campbellsville University has committed says a lot about the caliber angler who compete with us,” said Hank Weldon, B.A.S.S. High School tournament manager. “We hope this helps not only shape Campbellsville’s fishing team as they plan to compete in the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series, but we also hope that this will help shape two anglers’ lives with a higher education.”
This is the first offer of a tournament prize scholarship by Campbellsville University coach Tommy Hall.
“The Bassmaster High School Open will be the cream of the crop. The best in the country are going to be at this tournament, and that’s what we’re looking for,” said Hall. “We’re thankful to B.A.S.S. for allowing us to award two top prospective college students a chance to fish at Campbellsville University.”
Campbellsville’s co-ed bass fishing team will be the university’s 26th sports team when competition begins in the fall of 2014. CU is the first university in Kentucky to offer athletic department scholarships for collegiate bass fishing.
“We are happy to partner with B.A.S.S. and offer college scholarships for those winning the tournament and meeting the scholarship criteria,” said Rusty Hollingsworth, CU athletic director. “We are excited about this new program at Campbellsville University and the support we are receiving from our local community.”
Competition at the Bassmaster High School Open will begin Friday morning, June 20 and conclude Saturday afternoon, June 21. Contestants will launch their boats in flights beginning at 6:30 a.m. each day from The Point Resort. Weigh-ins will begin at 3:30 p.m. each day. There is a five-fish limit with a limit of one 12-inch largemouth or spotted bass and no more than one 20-inch smallmouth bass.
The Open will qualify eight high school teams to compete in the 2015 Bassmaster High School Classic, which will be held in conjunction with the 2015 Bassmaster Classic on Lake Hartwell in Greenville, S.C., Feb. 20-22.
B.A.S.S. High School Nation began in 2013 and sponsored its first high school invitational on Wheeler Lake in Decatur, Ala., July 20, 2013. Mitchell Gowen and Brianna Tucker of Decatur Heritage won the tournament.
Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with more than 3,600 students offering 63 undergraduate options, 17 master’s degrees, five postgraduate areas and eight pre-professional programs. The website for complete information is campbellsville.edu. For website for athletic department information is campbellsvilletigers.com.
Registration for the Bassmaster High School Open is still open for teams. Please click here to register.