“I always say we have the best students in the entire nation. This was just one example,” says Clark County Superintendent Dustin Howard.
Mr. Howard was speaking of sophomore Bryce Alfrey, who won the high school world fishing championship that past summer.
He and teammate Elijah Coleman of Montgomery County, brought the prestigious title home to Kentucky.
Along with their huge trophies, the two young men also brought home several full scholarships such as $80,000 to KCU, $128,000 to Drury University, $200,000 to Simpson University, and a $12,000 scholarship from The Bass Federation.
Both athletes have also received several external offers and college recruiting visit opportunities to help decide their future.
“You know, people wanted to take pictures with us and all the news stations were there for interviews,” recalls Bryce. “It was really a wave of emotions, but, you know, it was really just shock. I don’t think it’s set in yet, until I end up picking my college because I’ve got 20 or so offers. It’s really great.”
Bryce said he’s especially thankful for the support he’s received from his family, friends, and so many others. “It keeps me going day in, day out,” he says. “It makes me want to do better and better each day. Some people think fishing is not a sport and shouldn’t be a thing in high school. But everybody who supports me and my sport, I thank them.”
Bryce also had high praises for two of his biggest sponsors, Hammerhead Sonar and Duckett Rods. Every fish Bryce brought in was on a Duckett Micro Magic Rod. These sponsors helped Bryce barely edge out the competition and bring home the gold.
“I didn’t even know we won, to be honest,” he says. “We knew it was either first or second, but I was about 100 percent positive that we got second. We only won by only two ounces, which is nothing really. It’s a drop of water. We weighed in, and had 13 even. And then standing up there was kind of a wave of emotions.”
Fishing tournaments are just as difficult mentally as they are physically – reading the weather, watching the water, deciding what route to take and what spot to fish. These men and women are athletes, because what they do is not for the faint of heart.
“Mentally, it involves getting tackle rigged and getting a game plan with me and my partner,” Bryce explains. “It’s always kind of thinking about the next move, because fishing is not like baseball, basketball, or football, where you can prepare for one skill and be good at that. It changes day by day and week by week, but also minute by minute. A storm rolls in, it’s going to change everything. Before I’m out there, I get somewhat of a game plan, but you kind of have to confront your partner and figure it out. It’s really a mental game because if you can be good mentally, you can really be good at the sport.”
Bryce is using this recent success as his motivation to keep pushing further and further into the sport.
He has yet to decide what college he would like to attend, but due to the numerous scholarships, the options are not limited.
“The ultimate goal is to go pro in any sport, and I guess every kid has that dream,” he says. “But it’s definitely going to be college as the next big step. After that, you’ve got to be fishing the elite qualifiers to try to qualify to go pro in the sport.”
Bryce loves to see the way his sport is growing, from seeing more and more kids get involved at the younger ages to fishing being a sport at the biggest event in the world. Fishing is an up and coming sport and many young people are taking advantage of and giving it a shot.
“Fishing is not really looked at as a power five sport,” says Bryce, “I think this sport is growing. I know in 2026, it’s supposed to be an Olympic sport. So, yeah, it does makes me feel good. It makes me feel like the sport is really going to grow.”
Principal Luke Toy says Bryce makes GRC proud.
“This overwhelms me with pride, not only because it puts GRC on the map but really makes me thrilled for Mr. Alfrey,” says Mr. Toy. “I’m proud as a principal for the school and as Mr. Toy for Bryce!”
Bryce has dedicated so much of his time to bass fishing and it has paid off.
“When Bryce and his teammate went to the tournament I was hopeful they would be competitive,” said Superintendent Howard. “I remember enjoying the weekend and my phone starting to blow up about them being really competitive, and then I got the news they won. I remember literally jumping in the air and screaming, ‘Go Cards!’”
Bryce Alfrey: Student. Fisherman. World Champion.
