On Friday, June 18th, our Rio Vista High School Bass Fishing Team set out, trailering a boat provided by Mr. Dan Hurley, on their way to the National Bass Finals at Lake Hartwell in Anderson, South Carolina,
The team needed to raise a minimum of $4,000 to enable the cross-country trek. Thanks to the generosity of the Rio Vista Rotary Club and several of our residents, they raised over $7,000. Two supporters contributed $5,000 on their own.
In 4 days of travel, the group covered over 2,300 miles. They took a much-needed break in Nashville, Tennessee before making the final 400-mile push to Lake Hartwell.
The competition begins June 30th with three practice fishing days on the lake on the 27th, 28th, and 29th.
Thanks to Mrs. Amanda Hurley The Beacon is being kept up to date. She sent this recent account:
The RVHS Bass Team has started its journey across the country to Lake Hartwell in South Carolina. The team elected to take the northern route to avoid the California heat wave … The team made their way over Donner pass, into Reno, and eventually making their first stop in Coalville, Utah. The traveling experience opened my eyes to how other states differ from California, most notably the speed limit for all vehicles, even tractor-trailer trucks, nears 80 mph in many areas, and the price of gasoline rarely exceeded $3.00 per gallon.
The team was up early to start the second leg of the journey, on to Wyoming and eventually making an overnight stop in Kearney, NE. The travels brought the beautiful scenery of Wyoming and the rolling hills of Nebraska while being mesmerized during the evening drive with flashes from fireflies along the roadway. The third leg of the trip was the start of the southeastern descent, passing through Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, and into Tennessee. On day 4 the team took a well-deserved day off from travel, spending the day in Nashville, Tennessee, enjoying Southern BBQ, and sightseeing in the “Music City” making stops at the Grand Ole Opry, Tennessee Titan Stadium, Cumberland River, and touring Broadway Street.
The boys also commented on the Southern girls wearing their cowboy boots and sundresses…. The team loved Tennessee so much and with a few days to burn, decided to get a little bass fishing practice in at Watts Bar Lake and Lake Chickamauga since official practice for the National Finals does not allow for fishing on Lake Hartwell until Sunday. Stay tuned for next week as the team will make its final stop at Lake Hartwell in preparation for the finals which start June 30th.
Rio Vista wishes good luck to Daniel and Dominic in the competition. Once it officially begins there will be a LIVE Leaderboard with daily results at the TBF Student Angler Federation website.
