Montevallo Extends 1st Place Lead in Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia
McKendree holds firm in 2nd, and Adrian College remains in 3rd
SAN ANTONIO, TX (February 3, 2023) – The 2022-23 race for Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia has entered the second half of the season, and two major double points events were contested over the course of the past few weeks. Two separate college tournaments took place on the Harris Chain of Lakes in Florida to kick off the spring 2023 season; MLF College Series – January 20, and Bassmaster College Series – January 26-27. In the latest update to the National Rankings following these major events, defending title holder University of Montevallo is ranked number one, two-time title winner McKendree University is in second, and national power Adrian College sits in third.
Starting the spring semester, the University of Montevallo held a 55-point lead over second ranked McKendree University. Following the first two major double points event of 2023, Montevallo has a 2,445-point lead in the race for Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia.
The event that helped to set top-ranked Montevallo apart from the other contenders near the top of the rankings was the MLF College Series tournament on January 20th. Montevallo placed two teams in the Top 25 of the standings to earn a total of 2,100 points. Brooks Parker & Colton White finished in 20th, and Aaron Cherry & Hudson Choquette claimed 22nd. Neither McKendree University nor Adrian College competed in this tournament. All three of these teams are now on equal footing in regards to the MLF College Series, as they have now earned points at a total of three events each on that circuit.
That following week, also at the Harris Chain, the University of Montevallo had 10 teams compete in the first Bassmaster College Series double points event of 2023. Montevallo put a further gap between second and third, by out gaining both teams in total points. Montevallo placed two teams in the Top 30 to earn a total of 2,060 points. Easton Fothergill & Nick Dumke took 17th overall, and James Willoughby & Jacob Pfundt finished in 29th.
Second ranked McKendree University earned 1,770 points at the Bassmaster College Series event. Adrian College received 1,520 points, the fewest of any team ranked in the Top 10 that competed at the Harris Chain last week.
Here is a look at some of the biggest movers in this update to the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia:
4) Auburn University – Previously Ranked 5th
5) Carson-Newman University – Previously Ranked 7th
9) Emmanuel College – Previously Ranked 13th
17) Kentucky Christian University – Previously Ranked 20th
18) University of Tennessee – Previously Ranked 21st
View the complete updated standings.
Three different teams made major moves up in the standings to be ranked in the prestigious Top 25. Erskine College jumped from 35th up to 21st, Florida College is now 23rd after previously being in 37th, and Mississippi State University moves from 27th in to 25th.
Numerous teams failed to move up in the standings and saw their ranking drop in this latest update.
6) Murray State University – Previously Ranked 4th
11) Dallas Baptist University – Previously Ranked 9th
12) Drury University – Previously Ranked 8th
15) Wabash Valley College – Previously Ranked T-10th
24) Arkansas Tech University – Previously Ranked 19th
Three teams dropped out of the Top 25: Missouri State University, University of Nebraska, and Minnesota State University.
With the spring semester just beginning, plenty of opportunities remain for teams to earn points in the race for Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia. View a complete list of points qualifying events here.
