News

The Spring Lake Park High School Fishing Club found success in their first season competing in the Minnesota Junior B.A.S.S. high school league.

The club, which operates through SLP community education, was excited to have 16 members in their inaugural year. Teams are made up of two anglers and a team captain, which is the mandatory adult on each boat who operates the boat at high speeds and offers advice, but who otherwise can’t help the student anglers.

Throughout the 2019 season, which runs June 1-August 25, the SLPHS Fishing Club did everything from learning new casting techniques and what the weigh-in process entails to practicing tying hooks. They had great teachers in coaches Jason Bassett and Brent Payne. In fact, the team credits some of their success to all the practice they did with coach Basset, who has been a pro bass fisherman and a guide for more than 20 years.

A number of SLPHS teams finished in the top 10 in the conference, including Andrew Ullman and Evan Poppe in first place and Tanner Payne and Will Ostenson in second place. Throughout the season, they also had teams place at a number of tournaments, including first and second place at Cross and Pokegama Lakes Tournament and first and third place at Rush Lake Tournament.

The team is excited to have seven of their eight teams participate in the upcoming state tournament on August 24-25. Five of their teams qualified and two teams gained eligibility through a wild card. Good luck, Panthers!

2019 fishing team members

• 2019 Graduates: Blake Beseman, Brady Eastman, Sam Fulwider and Zach Zemlicka
• Grade 12: Jacob Bassett, Elliot Binsfeld, Tanner Payne, Evan Poppe and Andrew Ullman
• Grade 11: Kyle Elleson and Will Ostenson
• Grade 10: Adam Pattberg, Ben Skramsted, Connor VanCleave and Sam Wien
• Grade 9: Matthew Suchy and Alex Ullman