Reviewing the Current Rankings in the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia
ACA staff takes a closer look at teams ranked 12th – 15th compared to their pre-season ranking entering this year
SAN ANTONIO, TX (January 11, 2023) – In today’s feature, we will be highlighting teams ranked 12th – 15th in the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia. Due to a tie at 10th, we will only be covering four teams today and six teams tomorrow.
12. Blue Mountain College
Total Points: 11,215
Pre-Season Ranking: 8th
Blue Mountain College has become a perennial top team in collegiate bass fishing. The Toppers Bass Team checks in ranked 11th at the halfway mark of the 2022-23 race for Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia. Picked 8th in the ACA Pre-Season Poll, BMC has earned a total of 11,215 points this season.
Entering the 2022-23 season, BMC had a clear set of goals they were hoping to achieve. “Being recognized as a school that ranks in the Top 10 of this field means more than words,” said Jake Kimbrough, a junior on the Blue Mountain College Bass Fishing Team. “We want to make our school, family, and sponsors proud. We are blessed with a great support system and school that allows us to do this.”
As we move in to the spring of 2023, Blue Mountain College is making their supporters proud. The Toppers Bass Team earned over 3,000 points at the Bass Pro Shops Big Bass Bash presented by Berkley on Kentucky Lake. BMC secured two Top 35 finishes at the first ACA double points event of the season. Chandler Pruett finished in 16th and Fisher Overton took 31st.
The following month at Lake Dardanelle for the AFTCO Collegiate Bass Open, Blue Mountain College earned an additional 2,680 points.
Knocking on the door of the Top 10, look for the Toppers Bass Team to have a strong spring season and continue to move up in the rankings.
13. Emmanuel College
Total Points: 11,070
Pre-Season Ranking: 15th
Emmanuel College is exceeding expectations that were placed upon them to start the year. The team from Georgia was picked 15th in the ACA Pre-Season Poll. Emmanuel College currently sits in 13th with 11,070 points.
Emmanuel College has been very busy this season. Emmanuel has earned points at the maximum number of School-Run events allowed per team this season, which is a total of 10.
While staying busy at local events near their campus, Emmanuel traveled to both ACA double points events. After a disappointing showing at the Bass Pro Shops Big Bass Bash presented by Berkley on Kentucky Lake, the team bounced back at Lake Dardanelle for the AFTCO Collegiate Bass Open by earning over 2,000 points. Matthew & Easton claimed Emmanuel’s highest finish at the event by placing 38th.
Emmanuel has set themselves up for success this season. They currently stand to send four teams to the triple points BoatUS Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops at Lake Hartwell this upcoming May. Familiar with many of the fisheries in South Carolina and Georgia, the final ACA event of the year could be a breakthrough event for Emmanuel that lands them in the Top 10, or even higher.
14. Bryan College
Total Points: 10,870
Pre-Season Ranking: 10th
Sitting in 14th is another former winner of the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia(2017). Selected to
finish 10th entering the year, Bryan College has accumulated 10,870 points so far.
Bryan College made the trip over from eastern Tennessee to compete at the Bass Pro Shops Big Bass Bash presented by Berkley back in September. Rob Lindsey finished in 13th and Austin Goins claimed 33rd. Those two Top 35 finishes earned Bryan College over 3,000 points.
Bryan College also earned over 3,000 points at the Bassmaster College Series National Championship.
It will take several more 3,000 plus point performances this season for Bryan College to reach the top of the standings.
15. East Texas Baptist University
Total Points: 10,565
Pre-Season Ranking: 16th
The next team we are highlighting in this particular feature is East Texas Baptist University. Picked to finish 16th overall at the start of the year, ETBU is now ranked 15th in the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia. ETBU has earned a total of 10,565 points this season.
ETBU has earned over 2,000 points at every major double points event they’ve competed in this season.
At the AFTCO Collegiate Bass Open on Lake Dardanelle in Russellville, AR, ETBU claimed 2,650 points. Brett Jolley & Cade Nettles notched the team’s highest finish at the event as they placed 41st overall. Cason Ragsdale & Hudson Gentry finished 46th.
At the mid-season review last year, ETBU was ranked 16th. They proceeded to finish 22nd overall. It goes without saying, the team from east Texas will be hoping to improve upon their current ranking of 15th come year’s end.
