High school heats up

High school anglers launch onto Lake Springfield Sunday for a one-day regional competition in hopes of qualifying for the Costa Bassmaster High School National Championship presented by TNT Fireworks on July 22 - 25 on Kentucky Lake.

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Daylight starts breaking, and it's almost time to fish at the Costa Bassmaster High School Midwestern Open presented by TNT Fireworks, in Springfield, Ill. Registration for the event took place Saturday evening.
Daylight starts breaking, and it’s almost time to fish at the Costa Bassmaster High School Midwestern Open presented by TNT Fireworks, in Springfield, Ill. Registration for the event took place Saturday evening.
As always, lots of good Costa gear was available to the anglers at Saturday's registration.
As always, lots of good Costa gear was available to the anglers at Saturday’s registration.
Barbecue was provided before and after the tournament briefing.
Barbecue was provided before and after the tournament briefing.
Anglers ate and waited for tournament director Hank Weldon to begin the briefing.
Anglers ate and waited for tournament director Hank Weldon to begin the briefing.
The prize that awaits the winners.
The prize that awaits the winners.
Tournament briefings are important, but not necessarily exciting.
Tournament briefings are important, but not necessarily exciting.
The eating continued.
The eating continued.
Everyone is in place for the briefing at Springfield Southeast High School.
Everyone is in place for the briefing at Springfield Southeast High School.
Weldon goes over the rules, paying close attention to the ones that are easily violated by accident.
Weldon goes over the rules, paying close attention to the ones that are easily violated by accident.
Dailus Richardson of Benton High School in Illinois won a Yeti Cooler adorned with the Costa logo in the post-briefing prize raffle.
Dailus Richardson of Benton High School in Illinois won a Yeti Cooler adorned with the Costa logo in the post-briefing prize raffle.
Anglers began launching well before daylight.
Anglers began launching well before daylight.
They were asked to launch at an alternate ramp to avoid choppy waters created by an approaching thunderstorm. With few places to tie up, many just floated free until it was time for blast-off.
They were asked to launch at an alternate ramp to avoid choppy waters created by an approaching thunderstorm. With few places to tie up, many just floated free until it was time for blast-off.
Waiting patiently.
Waiting patiently.
Ready to go.
Ready to go.
An overcast morning with rain coming soon.
An overcast morning with rain coming soon.
Anglers tying up together to wait.
Anglers tying up together to wait.
All B.A.S.S. events begin with the national anthem.
All B.A.S.S. events begin with the national anthem.
The field pauses for the anthem.
The field pauses for the anthem.
Illinois anglers Michael Hannon and Nolan Feeney wait to take off in boat number 1.
Illinois anglers Michael Hannon and Nolan Feeney wait to take off in boat number 1.
Nearby smoke stacks look cool against the morning sky.
Nearby smoke stacks look cool against the morning sky.
One minute until blast-off.
One minute until blast-off.
The first two boats pull away from the launch site.
The first two boats pull away from the launch site.
Indiana anglers Lane Eubank and Casey Williams.
Indiana anglers Lane Eubank and Casey Williams.
Tyler Nelson and Bruno Siegel of Illinois.
Tyler Nelson and Bruno Siegel of Illinois.
Dailus Richardson and Trevor McKinney of Benton High School in Illinois.
Dailus Richardson and Trevor McKinney of Benton High School in Illinois.
Tanner Ward and Justin DeMoss, the only Ohio anglers in the field.
Tanner Ward and Justin DeMoss, the only Ohio anglers in the field.
Zach Hingson and Tyler Benedict of Illinois.
Zach Hingson and Tyler Benedict of Illinois.
Nebraska anglers Andrew Flair and Ethan Mally prepare for livewell and kill-switch check.
Nebraska anglers Andrew Flair and Ethan Mally prepare for livewell and kill-switch check.
Illinois anglers Jack Lawless and Nick Mishos.
Illinois anglers Jack Lawless and Nick Mishos.
Jacob Doster and Zachary Petersen of Illinois.
Jacob Doster and Zachary Petersen of Illinois.
Illinois anglers Joe Hoekstra and Gary Langkamp.
Illinois anglers Joe Hoekstra and Gary Langkamp.
Indiana anglers Jordan Mullis and Tyler Moscrip.
Indiana anglers Jordan Mullis and Tyler Moscrip.
Ethan Shaw and Brayden Zagel of Indiana.
Ethan Shaw and Brayden Zagel of Indiana.
Illinois anglers Chase Mundhenke and Patrick Rotherman.
Illinois anglers Chase Mundhenke and Patrick Rotherman.
Blake Albertson and Dylan White of Indiana.
Blake Albertson and Dylan White of Indiana.
Brothers Tyler and Hunter Lubbat of Illinois.
Brothers Tyler and Hunter Lubbat of Illinois.
Caleb Peck and Mitchell Bernius of Illinois.
Caleb Peck and Mitchell Bernius of Illinois.
George Schaffer and Jarid Tomnitz of Illinois.
George Schaffer and Jarid Tomnitz of Illinois.
Adam Puckett and Keaton Greenawald of Indiana.
Adam Puckett and Keaton Greenawald of Indiana.
Illinois anglers Anthony Fazio and Grant Olsen.
Illinois anglers Anthony Fazio and Grant Olsen.
John VanDevender and Henry Moore of Illinois.
John VanDevender and Henry Moore of Illinois.
Matt Runge and Alex Peric of Illinois.
Matt Runge and Alex Peric of Illinois.
Kentucky anglers Matt Brown and Marcus Davis.
Kentucky anglers Matt Brown and Marcus Davis.
Indiana anglers Joey Gorham and Logan Earlywine.
Indiana anglers Joey Gorham and Logan Earlywine.
Tate BlackKetter and Jacob Coryea of Indiana.
Tate BlackKetter and Jacob Coryea of Indiana.
Illinois anglers Steven Callahan and Daniel Lin.
Illinois anglers Steven Callahan and Daniel Lin.
Alex Ellerbrock and Steve Hall of Illinois.
Alex Ellerbrock and Steve Hall of Illinois.
Sean Cook and Tommy Zobel of Illinois.
Sean Cook and Tommy Zobel of Illinois.
Joshua O'Donnell and Ethan Goldstein of Illinois.
Joshua O’Donnell and Ethan Goldstein of Illinois.
Luke Jasper and Tommy Rimbo of Illinois.
Luke Jasper and Tommy Rimbo of Illinois.
Graeme Stewart and Jon Bialeschki of Illinois.
Graeme Stewart and Jon Bialeschki of Illinois.
Wally Bloomer and Hunter Litchfield of Illinois.
Wally Bloomer and Hunter Litchfield of Illinois.
A.J. Wojtowicz and Brent Beckwith of Illinois.
A.J. Wojtowicz and Brent Beckwith of Illinois.
Kentucky anglers Nick Denham and Clay Evans.
Kentucky anglers Nick Denham and Clay Evans.
The final boats pull away from the launch site. The weigh-in is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. CT.
The final boats pull away from the launch site. The weigh-in is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. CT.