19th Place – Arkansas Tech University

SAN ANTONIO, TX (4/28/2020) – We’ve now cracked the teens as we continue to highlight the Top 25 in the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia.  Sitting in 19th place at the moment is Arkansas Tech University located in Russellville, AR.  Arkansas Tech has earned a total of 5,130 points throughout the course of the 2019-2020 season.

“It means a lot to us that we are in the Top 25!  We’ve all worked and fished hard to get to where we are!  To be in the Top 25 is an honor, especially since in 2012 Arkansas Tech was named School of the Year,” said Tristan Weaver, Arkansas Tech University angler.

Arkansas Tech University won the first-ever School of the Year title back during the inaugural season of the program in 2012.  The small school in central Arkansas edged out the likes of Louisiana-Monroe and the University of Arkansas to take the first-ever title.  Current team members of the Arkansas Tech club respect the history of their program and want to continue to build that legacy that was established eight years ago.

“Being in that number one spot again would mean a lot to all of us on the team, and it’s something we talk about every time we get together for a meeting!  We are all looking forward to fishing more tournaments and improving our standing,” Weaver added.

That opportunity to improve their place in the standings will come at the final Association of Collegiate Anglers event of the season, the BoatUS Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops on Pickwick Lake.  1,500 points will be handed out to the winning team, and schools will be able to earn double points as well.  Right now, the Championship is what’s on Tristan Weaver’s mind.  “The Championship on Pickwick, in my mind, should be an amazing tournament!  My partner and I have been there one time.  We did decent, but definitely could’ve been better.”

The culmination of the School of the Year race and the opportunity to win a National Championship is what these anglers fish for all year long.  Everything comes down to just two days of fishing on Pickwick Lake in Florence, AL.  The stakes are high, and so are the anglers’ expectations.

“We are eager to get back there and try to redeem ourselves and hopefully catch some big fish while we are there!  No matter the outcome, it’s always a good time traveling and competing against the other colleges,” Weaver concluded.