McKendree University Maintains Number One Ranking in the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia
University of Montevallo and Murray State University remain in 2nd and 3rd respectively
SAN ANTONIO, TX (October 26, 2023) – The Association of Collegiate Anglers recently contested its final event of the fall for the 2023-24 season on the Bass Pro Shops Collegiate Bass Fishing Series. The recently completed AFTCO Collegiate Bass Open took place on Lake Dardanelle in Russellville, AR, and is the second ACA double points event to count towards the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia.
Close to 240 teams representing over 50 different schools competed for two days at the no-entry-fee, nationally televised event. First place earned 1,750 points, and a total of over 150,000 points were awarded.
In the latest update to the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia, McKendree University maintained its number one ranking. The two-time title winner (2019, 2020), and one of the perennial powerhouses in college fishing, earned a total of 2,880 points at the AFTCO Collegiate Bass Open. Harmon Marien & Maxwell Trotter finished in 19th, and Tomas Matual & Jack Stephens took 45th. Though the team was able to maintain its lead over second ranked University of Montevallo, the margin between the two teams shrank by over 550 points.
Second ranked University of Montevallo placed two teams in the Top 25 to earn a total of 3,240 points at Lake Dardanelle. Peyton Harris & Dalton Head finished third, and Peyton Sorrow & Garrett Ring took 25th. Montevallo was just one of nine teams to earn over 3,000 points at the AFTCO Collegiate Bass Open.
Rounding out the Top 3 is Murray State University. The team from Murray, KY entered the latest ACA event ranked third and was able to stay in that same spot. Though its ranking did not increase, Murray State was able to close the gap between itself and the two teams ahead of them, which has them in great position for a spring time run at their first Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia title.
Murray State placed two teams in the Top 5 of the overall tournament standings to earn 3,450 points, the most of any team that competed at Lake Dardanelle. Caden Crutchfield & Micah Sowders placed in second, and Archer Smith & Jackson Kulijof took fifth.
52 different schools competed at the second ACA double points event of the season. 23 of the current Top 25 earned points at this major tournament. Here is a look at several teams that made noticeable moves inside of the Top 25 for the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia to also put themselves in position for upward momentum during the spring season ahead:
6) LSU-Shreveport – Previously Ranked 8th
8) Blue Mountain Christian University – Previously Ranked 11th
10) Drury University – Previously Ranked 14th
14) Campbellsville University – Previously Ranked 20th
18) Catawba Valley Community College – Previously Ranked 21st
Two teams moved into the Top 25 after being ranked on the outside looking in prior to the AFTCO Collegiate Bass Open. Missouri State moved from 28th to 22nd, and Northeastern State climbed from 41st up to 23rd.
