More than 450 bass fishing teams from 47 high schools across Southeast Texas were recently at Lake Sam Rayburn participating in the third of five qualifying events on the Southeast Texas (SETX) High School Fishing Association trail.

Included in the mix were the 10 teams from Splendora High School (SHS). The team of Brandon Bennett and Toby Clark brought in 15.26 lbs placing them 31st and anglers Lane Goodwin and Sean Pitts followed closely at 33rd with 15.08 lbs.

Hunter Goodrum and Trey Kinard finished 72nd with 13.23 lbs. and Stormey Denton and Shelby Denton came in 81st with 12.96 lbs. Although they dropped below the 10-pound stringer mark, the following teams still crossed the stage with fish in hand: Tanner Enloe and Grant Millican, 174th, 9.60 lbs.; Sam Greenhaw and Joseph Popowitz, 186th, 9.04 lbs.; and Chandler Holloway and Austin Falls, 286th, 4.23 lbs. “Big Sam” got the best of team members William Gardiner, Tyler Okonski, Raylie Pagan, Ty Wilkinson, and Shane Sanders who were unable to catch some of the largemouth bass the lake is known for.

The team of Goodrum and Kinard are currently sitting at 10th place in the SETX High School Fishing Association standings, with the team of Bennett and Clark at 41st. In the Texas High School Bass Association Angler of the Year standings, the teams swap places, with Bennett and Clark in fourth and Goodrum and Kinard at 13th.

Led by SHS teacher and sponsor Paul Squier, the team has 20 members in its fourth year. The anglers will travel to Lake Houston in a few weeks to compete in the next THSBA event and pick up the SETX trail again in April at Lake Sam Rayburn. For more information about the THSBA, visit www.texashighschoolbassassn.com.