06/03/2026
When I look back on our 2025-26 season, the word that comes to mind is growth.
Our goal every year is to put The University of South Carolina Union in a position to compete with the best collegiate bass fishing programs in the country, and this season our anglers did exactly that. Finishing 20th in the final Collegiate Bass School of the Year standings is an accomplishment that every member of this team should be proud of.
What makes this finish special is not just where we ended up in the rankings, but how we got there.
Throughout the year, our anglers competed across every major collegiate circuit, including MLF5 College Fishing, the Bassmaster College Series, and the Bass Pro Shops Collegiate Bass Fishing Series. From Florida to Virginia and throughout the Southeast, our students represented USC Union with professionalism, determination, and a willingness to compete against some of the toughest fields in collegiate fishing.
One of the biggest strengths of this year's team was our depth. We didn't rely on one boat or one group of anglers to carry us. Time and time again, multiple teams stepped up and earned valuable School of the Year points. That's what it takes to compete at a national level, and our anglers embraced that challenge all season long.
One of our most impressive performances came during the MLF College Fishing event on Lake Hartwell, where five USC Union boats qualified for the National Championship competition. Lake Hartwell continued to be good for us in April during the Collegiate Bass "Hartwell Slam," where another five USCU teams finished in the Top-20 out of a 250 boat field. Seeing multiple teams find success on a national stage was a proud moment for our program and a testament to the hard work these anglers put in both on and off the water.
We also competed in several Bassmaster College Series events continuing to gain valuable experience while earning points in one of the most competitive School of the Year races in the country. Every event mattered, and every angler who launched a boat wearing USC Union colors contributed to our success.
Of course, not every memorable moment is measured by a weigh-in. One of the highlights of the season came during the Logan Parks Fishing Foundation NSANE Tournament when Jacob Jerrell's number was drawn to win a new boat. It was an incredible moment for Jacob and one that brought a lot of excitement to our team. Opportunities like that remind us how special the fishing community can be.
What makes me most proud, however, isn't a ranking, a trophy, or a qualification. It's watching our student-athletes grow as people. They balanced classes, jobs, travel, practices, and tournaments while representing USC Union the right way. They supported one another, celebrated each other's successes, and continued building a culture that future Bantam anglers can be proud to join.
A Top-20 finish in the School of the Year standings is something worth celebrating, but I believe it's also a sign of what's still ahead for this program. We've built a strong foundation, and our anglers have shown that USC Union belongs in conversations with some of the top collegiate fishing teams in America.
I want to thank our anglers, families, sponsors, supporters, and the University of South Carolina Union administration for believing in what we're building. None of this would be possible without your support.
The 2025-26 season was a tremendous success, but we're already looking forward to the next cast, the next tournament, and the next opportunity to represent USC Union on the national stage.
