Two DeKalb County High School bass fishing teams have earned a spot to fish the Strike King Bassmaster High School National Championship on Lake Hartwell, in Anderson, SC in July. The three-day tournament will take place July 27-29.
The two teams going are partners Mason Taylor and Wesley Kent, and partners Jaxon Humphrey and Hasten Waggoner. Each team earned enough points throughout the regular season of the Tennessee Bassmaster High School series. The teams have fished in multiple Tennessee lakes in all kinds of weather this season.
Three teams participated in the State Championship this weekend at Lake Douglas in Dandridge Tennessee. All three teams worked in brutal heat and brought five fish limits into the scales on Saturday. That evening they were given a police escort in Smithville in celebration for their accomplishments.
The State Championship two-day totals for the DCHS teams were:
· Team 1 Emma Johnson & Tyler Dunn 16.09
· Team 2 Mason Taylor & Wesley Kent 14.57
· Team 3 Jaxon Humphrey & Hasten Waggoner 13.85
The teams will soon be actively fundraising for the National tournament. If you would like to make a donation please contact Coach Jeff Taylor at 615-428-6107.
The high school tournaments are meant to be a teaching, learning, and enjoyable experience. It is the responsibility of all coaches, school advisors, boat captains, and tournament officials to teach and ensure good sportsmanship and prepare anglers for the next level of life and tournament competition.
The DeKalb Fishing Team follows the North Central Trail, participating in tournaments at Dale Hollow, Percy Preist, Center Hill, and Old Hickory lakes, and has also fished competitions at Lay Lake in Alabama and Chickamauga Lake in Dayton, TN.
“We had a great season thus far,” said DeKalb Fishing Team’s Kim Taylor. “Our season started in Fall 2022 and for the most ended in May 2023. This season we have completed a Center Hill Lake clean-up and also helped some of our TWRA friends with painting their building at the Warren County Fairgrounds.”
“The team also had several children attend the Bassmaster Classic in Knoxville in March. Mason Taylor and Wesley Kent were picked to be Bass Marshals, riding with some of the top pros in the sport on the water and were in the Bassmaster Classic. This was an amazing opportunity,” Taylor said.
In late May, the DeKalb Fishing Team awarded a fishing scholarship to Emma Johnson, who also not only graduated from DCHS, but also Motlow as well.
The DeKalb Fishing Team wants to thank all of their small hometown community our sponsors, trail directors, boat captains and every member of our community that has helped then get where they are.
