JEFFERSON, Texas (Nov. 14, 2022) – Springfield, Missouri’s Gloria Deo Academy team of Caden Ball of Nixa, Missouri, and William Kuzemka of Springfield, Missouri, brought five bass to the scale Saturday weighing 11 pounds, 6 ounces, to win the MLF High School Fishing Presented by Favorite Fishing Open at Lake of the Pines.

A field of 43 teams competed in the no-entry fee tournament, which was hosted by East Texas Baptist University. In MLF and The Bass Federation (TBF) High School Fishing competition, the top 10% of teams competing advance to the High School Fishing National Championship.

The top four teams that advanced to the 2023 High School Fishing National Championship are:

1st: Gloria Deo Academy, Springfield, Mo. – Caden Ball and William Kuzemka, five bass, 11-6
2nd: Grand Saline High School, Grand Saline, Texas – Maddux Bartlett and Bryce Henry, five bass, 9-10
3rd: Parkway High School, Bossier City, La. – Chris Bacot and Daegan Bates, three bass, 9-6
4th: Oologah-Talala High School, Oologah, Okla. – Garin Baade and Jack Major, three bass, 9-4

Rounding out the top 10 teams were:

5th: Little Cypress-Mauriceville High School, North Orange, Texas – Jacob Longlois and Slade Nunnally, three bass, 7-2
6th: East Texas Thunder – Collin Foley of Kingwood, Texas, and Zane Parker of Goodrich, Texas, four bass, 6-13
7th: North Desoto High School, Stonewall, La. – Benton Miller and Drake Wadsworth, two bass, 6-3
8th: Quitman High School, Quitman, La. – Hayden Davis and Maddox Duck, two bass, 6-3
9th: Little Cypress-Mauriceville High School, North Orange, Texas – Jay Delk and Kevin Shae Low, three bass, 5-5
10th: Huntington High School, Huntington, Texas – Brise Hazelton and Jovanni Smith, three bass, 5-4

Complete results from the event can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

MLF High School Fishing presented by Favorite Fishing tournaments are free, two-person (team) events for students in grades 7-12 and are open to any MLF and TBF Student Angler Federation-affiliated high school club. The top 10% of teams at each Open event, along with the TBF High School Fishing state championships, will advance to the 2023 High School Fishing National Championship. The 2023 MLF High School Fishing National Championship will be held on the Mississippi River in La Crosse, Wisconsin, June 20-24, and is hosted by Explore La Crosse.

The High School Fishing National Champions will each receive a $5,000 college scholarship to the school of their choice and advance to the 2023 MLF Toyota Series Championship to compete as co-anglers.

Proud sponsors of MLF High School Fishing Presented by Favorite Fishing include: 4WP, 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, A.R.E. Truck Caps, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Gary Yamamoto Baits, General Tire, Lew’s, Lowrance, Lucas Oil, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X and YETI.

For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular High School Fishing updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.