High School Central Open launch

Bret Sorrells and Tony Falcinelli of Denton (Tex.) High School are all smiles before launch of the Costa Bassmaster High School Central Open being held June 20 on Toledo Bend Reservoir near Many, Louisiana. Ninety eight teams from 10 states are entered in the event.

Dominic Falcinelli, the Denton High coach, gets ready to back down the team in the early morning hours.

A team from Anacoco (LA) High readies for launch.

Sam Houston High anglers Hunter Courville and Alex Erickson wait patiently for the start of the tournament.

Braden Blanchard of St. Amant and Ian Madere of East Baton Rouge are on opposite teams but friends, as well.

Kyle Lott from Walker (LA) High thinks deeply about the fish he’s hoping to catch on Toledo Bend.

Ashley Batey and Kyle Little of Pineville are prepped for backdown.

Dayten Schureman and Tommy Sendek were the second of 98 boats to launch on Monday morning at Cypress Bend Marina.

Robin Brown and Brenda Anderson are parents of North DeSoto (LA) anglers and made it out for the early-morning start.

Steve McBeek with the Oak Grove (Miss.) team works on a boat’s ground wire while in line to launch.

Success!! The work is done to the boat, and McBeek, Blake Bullock, and Bryce Bullock smile. Now, the real work is out on the water.

Casey Trosclair of Sulphur (LA) High School readies his electronics for the tournament.

Coach Chad Parks and angler Will May came all the way from Illinois to take part in the Costa Bassmaster High School Central Open.

Tucker Roe and Taylor Coutee of Natchitoches (LA) Central High.

Wes Rollo and Nick Wiggins of Natchitoches (LA) Central High are teammates in the high school event.

Dawson Lomax of Mississippi tosses a cold drink to his teammate Blake Broome.

Colby Vinyard of Rains (Tex.) High School holds his boat to the dock.

Gavin McAllister of Lutcher (LA) High rises for the national anthem.

Wiggins and Rollo put their hands over their hearts while the national anthem is played.

Connor Jones and Johnathon Wilbun are from Guntersville (Ala.,) so they know a thing or two about fishing on big bodies of water like Toledo Bend.

Todd Areno, Casey Trosclair, and Levi Areno from Sulphur (La.) High are ready for takeoff.

Bud Shelton, Logan Shelton, and Peyton Trimm of Northside (Ala.) High made the trip to Louisiana for the Costa Bassmaster High School Central Open.

A young angler has a bird’s eye view of the marina before Monday’s launch.

Anglers in the later flights await their number to be called.

Boats begin making their way to the start in the early morning light.

Fishing fans were around for the launch too.

B.A.S.S. officials make sure this team is ready for its first catch of the day.

The team from Hornbeck (LA) High School is idles through the start.

Mississippi anglers Jacob Boyer and John Paul Allen and their coach catch their number and float by.

A team from Sulphur (LA) High heads to the open waters of Toledo Bend, one of the largest man-made lakes in the U.S.

As soon as they are a safe distance from the dock, the boats fire up the outboards and shoot off across the water.

Dustin Wellman of DeRidder (La.) High looks up to tournament officials before heading out.

This Texas angler extends his hands awaiting a toss from B.A.S.S. officials.

Keigan Maturin of Teurlings Catholic (La.) focuses.

Tournament Director Hank Weldon looks down on the passing boats as they head out to the water.

A single file line forms before the anglers zip off into the morning.

Smiles were on the faces of all the young anglers and their coaches on Monday morning.

Well look there! Elite Series pro Matt Reed is on the water in the high school tournament as a coach for this Texas team.

Reed and his young charges are hoping they finish first in the Costa Bassmaster High School Central Open. The first of four flights is due back at 2 p.m. with weigh-in at Cypress Bend Park.