The USC Union Bass Fishing Team wrapped up a busy and successful stretch of competition across multiple lakes and tournament trails this past weekend—earning national qualifications, top finishes, and plenty of momentum heading into the next leg of their season.
The weekend kicked off at Lake Hartwell for the Major League Fishing (MLF) College Event, where the Bantams battled through tough practice conditions to deliver one of their strongest collective performances of the year. This event had 240 plus teams from 70+ schools compete in this event from around the country.
Five USC Union teams finished inside the Top 15%, officially qualifying for the 2025 MLF National Championship, which makes the accomplishment even sweeter since the championship will be held right here in South Carolina on Lake Murray in February.
Top USC Union finishers at Lake Hartwell included:
Bryson Gurley & Ethan Evatt (Sophomores) – 18th Place
Josh McGuffin & Peyton Sargent (Freshmen) – 24th Place
Hogan Benson & Jackson Pruett (Freshmen) – 26th Place
Cole Hunter & Joe Bontrager (Sophomores) – 28th Place
Jacob Jerrell & Jay Elpers (Freshmen) – 35th Place
Additional finishes included Hayden Williams & Luke Garofalo (55th), Kaleb Butts & Thomas Smith (59th), and Tyler Michael & Isaac Greene (166th).
Top USC Union finishers at Lake Hartwell included:
Bryson Gurley & Ethan Evatt (Sophomores) – 18th Place
Josh McGuffin & Peyton Sargent (Freshmen) – 24th Place
Hogan Benson & Jackson Pruett (Freshmen) – 26th Place
Cole Hunter & Joe Bontrager (Sophomores) – 28th Place
Jacob Jerrell & Jay Elpers (Freshmen) – 35th Place
Additional finishes included Hayden Williams & Luke Garofalo (55th), Kaleb Butts & Thomas Smith (59th), and Tyler Michael & Isaac Greene (166th).
Coach Coone praised the team’s grit and preparation, saying, “I’m super proud of these guys for the hard work they’ve put into this program. They’re not just competing—they’re representing USC Union at a high level every single week.”
The momentum continued at Lake Lanier in Georgia for the final Palmetto Boat Center (PBC) College Tournament Trail of the season on Saturday, October 25th. Despite having no time to practice, the Bantams fished with focus and determination, once again putting several teams near the top of the leaderboard.
Lake Lanier Results:
Dawson Carden & Austin McCall – 8th Place (18 lbs)
Nate Campbell & Cam Seay – 11th Place (17.49 lbs)
Luke Garofalo & Quentin Adams – 12th Place (17.18 lbs)
Hayden Williams (solo) – 19th Place (14.52 lbs)
CJ Chavous & Landon Bannister – 34th Place (10 lbs)
“Extremely proud of these guys for showing up down there with zero practice and just putting their head down and fishing,” said Coone.
To cap off the weekend, the Bantams made their way to Santee Cooper for the SC Bass Nation College Event on October 26th, where the team again showed out in strong fashion.
The freshman duo of Hogan Benson & Jackson Pruett continued their hot streak with a 2nd Place finish weighing in 16.73 pounds winning some hardware and prize money. Right behind them, Jacob Jerrell & Jay Elpers brought home 5th Place, and Isaac Greene, fishing solo, landed a solid 8th Place finish—rounding out another productive showing for the USC Union Anglers.
After a long weekend traveling from Lake Hartwell to Lake Lanier to Santee, the Bantams are headed back home to Union County, proud of their performance and hungry for more. With five boats already qualified for the MLF National Championship and multiple top finishes across three major tournaments, it’s clear the USC Union Bass Fishing Team is making waves statewide—and showing that the Bantams mean business every time they hit the water.
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