GRC excels at many things, with academics, sports, and fellowship being just a couple. One of the specific ways GRC shows its greatness in sports is through the Bass Fishing team.
GRC’s Bass Fishing team consistently qualifies for KHSAA state tournaments and, just in the past few years, has shown out as top contenders in the regional and world championships.
The Bass Fishing team allows for members, like senior Nathan Hoskins, to be a part of a team that utilizes their strengths in the boat and on the water.
“It’s a pretty good way for outdoors people to get together and try to show off their knowledge and their skills with fishing,” Hoskins said.
Being adaptable is a large part of the sport, seeing as many aspects of fishing are out of a person’s control.
“I would definitely say dealing with the weather and the conditions is the hardest part,” Hoskins said. “Every little thing that goes on outside, whether it’s rain, snow, or if the temperature drops, changes the way the bass and those fish react in the water.”
Despite the unpredictability, Hoskins has found ways to prepare for upcoming fishing competitions.
“I go on Facebook groups of local tournaments and see all the things going on,” Hoskins said. “You get to see how it’s fishing, if people are really catching them or not, or if it’s a slow bite.”
While the physical difficulties are a large part of fishing, there are mental hardships to deal with as well. Sophomore brothers Eli and Bentley Purcell agree with this.
“You have to have a lot of patience because if you’re not catching anything, then it’s definitely hard,” Eli said.
Catching fish is not guaranteed, but competitions mean more than just a big catch for the brothers and teammates.
“We have to get up very early, and fish for a couple hours,” Bentley said. “If we’re blessed enough to catch fish, then we get to weigh in and have fun. If not, then we still get to spend good time together.”
For the Purcell brothers, fishing is more than a way to bring home a title; it is a way to bring home shared experiences and bonding memories.
“My favorite thing about bass fishing is the quality time we get to spend together on the lake,” Bentley said. “Even if we’re not catching anything or we’re winning the tournament, it’s just always fun spending time together.”
