Lake Havasu wins first high school challenge

The Lake Havasu Anglers High School Fishing Team is the winner of the inaugural Berkley High School Challenge.

LAKE HAVASU, Ariz. — The Lake Havasu Anglers High School Fishing Team is the winner of the inaugural Berkley High School Challenge.

The team was the smallest of the 150-team competition, which lasted nine months and involved engaging new anglers, developing ways to increase product knowledge and brand awareness and creating lifelong anglers as brand advocates. Team members enlisted the help of their small community to provide fishing “how-to” seminars and event fishing boats and supplies.

Chris Hockley, Berkley marketing manager, and Roxanne Coleman, senior marketing manager of youth programs for Berkley, made the announcement at the September School District Board meeting at Lake Havasu.

“Nothing makes a business trip more exciting than knowing when you reach your destination, you will be warmly welcomed,” said Coleman. “Coaches, students and parents were on hand for the announcement that included a social get-together during a pizza lunch at the high school. Everyone received a custom Berkley hat and the new Berkley silicone bracelets.”

The team won a grand prize trophy and a $4,000 check from Berkley. A surprise award of $500 cash was also given to assist with the team’s conservation and recycling efforts.

“The Lake Havasu Anglers club may not be the biggest group in the Berkley High School Challenge, but if the anglers continue to work on conservation efforts like the line recycling project they have slated for 2015, they will surely leave a giant footprint behind and a legacy for others to follow,” said Hockley.

Coaches can learn more about the program and register their fishing team for the second annual Berkley High Challenge here by Oct. 31.

The Berkley High School Fishing Club Challenge is an interactive fishing program for high school students in the United States and Canada. It encourages students to learn fishing skills and techniques, environmental stewardship and conservation. High schools can compete in monthly challenges as well for the end-of-the-year prize.