Top Ranked Carson-Newman Extends its Lead in the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia
Montevallo remains in 2nd, and Campbellsville holds onto 3rd
SAN ANTONIO, TX (April 18, 2024) – This past weekend, the Association of Collegiate Anglers contested its final double points event of the season for the 2023-24 Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia. 220 boats, including 23 of the Top 25 ranked teams entering the event, competed at Lake Hartwell in Anderson, SC for the Hartwell Slam. The tournament paid out over $20,000 in prizes & contingencies, as well as double points to count towards the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia.
Number one ranked Carson-Newman earned the most points of any team competing in the event to hold on to its 1st place position in the only all-encompassing National Rankings system. The University of Montevallo maintained its 2nd place ranking, and Campbellsville University held on to 3rd.
Here is a look at teams that made major moves up inside the Top 25 for the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia:
5) University of North Alabama – Previously Ranked 6th
7) LSU-Shreveport – Previously Ranked 8th
10) Adrian College – Previously Ranked 14th
19) Georgia College – Previously Ranked 22nd
20) Southwestern Michigan College – Previously Ranked 24th
The University of South Carolina-Union was the only team to move up into the Top 25 after previously being ranked on the outside looking in. USC-Union moves up two spots from 27th to 25th in the latest rankings update.
The race at the top of the rankings for the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia is really starting to take shape. 1st through 3rd are separated by less than 3,000 points, and the Top 4 teams remain in the same order after the major double points event at Lake Hartwell.
Carson-Newman University remains in 1st place for the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia. With a season total of 29,200 points, Carson-Newman leads 2nd ranked University of Montevallo by 550 points. Carson-Newman extended its lead over 2nd place by 100 points with two Top 6 finishes at the Hartwell Slam. Those two top finishes earned them a total of 3,420 points, the most of any team competing at Lake Hartwell. Carson-Newman is in pursuit of its first-ever School of the Year title.
Sitting in 2nd place is the University of Montevallo, winner of the past three Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia titles. Montevallo earned just 100 less points than Carson-Newman at the Hartwell Slam. Easton Fothergill & Nicholas Dumke got the win at Lake Hartwell, and their fellow teammates Daylon Milam & James Dubose took 19th. Montevallo currently holds the record for most School of the Year titles won by any one program. A 4th number one end-of-season ranking this year would further etch Montevallo’s name in the record books.
Rounding out the Top 3 is Campbellsville University. The team from Kentucky has a season total of 26,640 points. Campbellsville placed two teams in the Top 11 this past weekend. Ryan Lachniet & Tavin Hodgens finished in 2nd, and Evan Fields & Noah Dabney claimed 11th. Those two finishes earned the team 3,390 points, the second most of any team on-hand at Lake Hartwell. Campbellsville is also in search of its first Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia title.
Tha ACA will update the points rankings again next week, to include results from the latest Bassmaster College Series event on Kentucky Lake.
