Marist has always been known for its wide variety of extracurricular activities and events, and this year, a new sport has taken the spotlight: The Marist bass fishing team. Founded by students Tanner Karakis, Miller Moore, and Forrest Briesacher, this team marks the school’s first step into competitive fishing as an official Georgia High School Association (GHSA) sport.
The idea for the bass fishing team was born during a discussion in the students’ band class. “We found out that the thing we love to do most is actually an official GHSA sport,” shared Tanner. “So, we decided right then and there that we would start the team. All of us love to fish and have been fishing since we grew up. Over the last few years, we’ve all gotten more involved in the sport, spending every spare moment we can fishing. When we found out it could be a sport offered here at Marist, we knew we had to make it happen.”
The team has not only brought attention to a lesser-known sport but it also inspired other students to consider fishing as a competitive event. As interest in bass fishing grows, the team hopes to expand its membership by adding more boats and to establish a lasting tradition of excellence at our school.
Although the Marist bass fishing team was founded last year, this is the first year they have competed against other schools such as Blessed Trinity, Mount Pisgah, and St Pius X.
The team operates with eight members across two boats. Each boat is captained by a designated adult and accommodates four fishermen who rotate in pairs for tournaments. According to Tanner, “You’ll have, for example, Miller and Haze fish one tournament. Then Flynn and I fish the next one.”
Each tournament lasts from around sunrise to sunset and can have anywhere from 50 to 250 boats in the water. By the end of the day, the boat with the five heaviest-weighing fish wins the tournament.
The creation of the Marist bass fishing team would not have been possible without the dedication and support of several key people. “A huge thanks to Coach Jordan, Coach Keppen, Coach Bazemore, and Mr. Waugh for helping us get this team up and running,” Tanner said.
Their efforts have not only made the team a reality but have also given these students a team where they can fish with friends for their very own school.
