On Oct. 27, USC Union Anglers Jacob Butts and Mark Kershaw won 2nd place in the Major League Fishing National College Event. One of 250 teams from different colleges around the country, their total catch weighed in at 15 pounds and 13 ounces with an impressive 5 lb 4 oz spotted bass. The two anglers also qualified for the MLF College National Championship this spring at Lake Toho in Florida.
“To get 2nd place in at national level tournament is insane,” said Kershaw, who will begin his senior year at USC Union this spring. “It hasn’t quite set in yet.” A graduate of Fort Mill High School and former York County High School angler, he says he chose to attend USC Union because he “knew that the team would be well managed” by Head Coach Cameron Coone and well supported by the school. “What I enjoy most about the sport is competing against anglers from all over the country who all have a passion to win,” he said. “Some of the guys we fish against are professional bass fishermen in college. There were 250 of the best college anglers in the tournament so it’s a huge accomplishment.” Despite a challenging season where the two anglers had to fish solo several times, he feels confident about their upcoming national tournaments. Kershaw says that he and Butts, a junior from Starr, SC and graduate of Crescent High School, tend to do very well in the winter going into spring. “I am looking forward to going to the national championships and trying to win one,” he said.
“I can’t express how proud I am of Mark and Jacob’s performance during the MLF Tournament,” said Head Coach Cameron Coone. “Hartwell has been a thorn in our side the last few years with some bad luck and weather changes, but the lake finally played into Mark and Jacob’s wheelhouse. They went toe-to-toe with 250 of the best anglers from across the country.” Coone added that the anglers “sandbagged” him at the weigh in, reporting to him that they only had about 12lbs. “I had no idea they had that kind of weight in their livewell until they weighed the fish on the stage and jumped to 2nd place in the standings.”
Several other USC Union Anglers have placed in tournaments over the past few weeks. Cole Hunter finished 4th solo at the Palmetto Boat Center tournament at Lake Lanier on November 4 with 17.66 lbs. On the same day, MJ Lutz and Thomas Smith finished 8th at the SC Bass Nation event on Lake Greenwood with Kyler Murray and Chase Rogers following in 9th place. On November 12, Caleb Hudson and Tanner Hadden finished 7th at the Clarks Hill “King of the Hill” Championship with 26.55lbs for two days and Kyler Murray and Chase Rogers followed in 8th place with 26.49lbs for two days. “It’s been a busy few weeks, but I’m pleased with all of the hard work and the dedication that these anglers are putting into their tournaments,” said Coone. “Results are showing from all of their hard work.”
Featured image: Jacob Butts and Mark Kershaw
The Bantam Blog 