GILBERTSVILLE, Ky. (March 31, 2025) – The MLF High School Fishing team of Levi Simms and Karson Stone, representing Muhlenberg County High School-West Campus, brought five bass to the scale Saturday weighing 18 pounds, 3 ounces to win the MLF Abu Garcia High School Fishing Presented by Tackle Warehouse Open at Kentucky-Barkley Lakes Presented by Columbia PFG in Gilbertsville, Kentucky.
A field of 81 teams competed in the no-entry fee tournament, which was hosted by the Kentucky Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau. In MLF High School Fishing competition, the top 10 percent of teams competing advance to the High School Fishing National Championship.
The top eight teams that advance to the 2025 High School Fishing National Championship are:
1st: Muhlenberg County High School-West Campus, Greenville, Ky. – Levi Simms and Karson Stone, five bass, 18-3
2nd: Central High School Bass Club, Burlington, Ill. – Ben Chesney and Austin Lee, four bass, 14-7
3rd: Marshall County High School, Benton, Ky. – Drake Fooshee and Carson Lovett, five bass, 14-6
4th: Trinity Whitesville High School, Whitesville, Ky. – Brady Mcbrayer and Nathan Wathen, four bass, 13-15
5th: Camdenton (Mo) High School – Corbin Bailey and Kaden Messina, four bass, 12-9
6th: Trinity Whitesville High School, Whitesville, Ky. – Carson Fitzgerald and Easton Pedley, five bass, 12-6
7th: Calloway County High School, Murray, Ky. – Evan Geurin and Reagan Newton, four bass, 12-2
8th: Kokosing Valley Junior Anglers, Mount Vernon, Ohio – Caleb Inverso and Sylas Mizer, four bass, 11-5
Rounding out the top 10 teams were:
9th: Muhlenberg County High School-West Campus, Greenville, Ky. – Obadiah Melton and Clayton Shelton, four bass, 10-6
10th: Nazareth Academy, La Grange Park, Ill. – Emmett Bleskin and Brennon Hauser, four bass, 10-2
Complete results from the event can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
MLF Abu Garcia High School Fishing presented by Tackle Warehouse tournaments are free, two-person (team) events for students in grades 7-12 and are open to any MLF and TBF Student Angler Federation-affiliated high school club. The top 10 percent of teams at each Open event, along with the TBF High School Fishing state championships, advance to the High School Fishing National Championship. Tournaments held on or before March 29, 2025, advance teams to the 2025 National Championship. Tournaments held after March 29, 2025, advance teams to the 2026 National Championship.
The 2025 Abu Garcia High School Fishing National Championship & World Finals events will take place June 25-27, at Grand Lake in Grove, Oklahoma. The High School Fishing National Champions each receive a $5,000 college scholarship to the school of their choice and advance to the 2025 MLF Toyota Series Championship to compete as co-anglers.
Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Abu Garcia High School Fishing Presented by Tackle Warehouse include: 7Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, Deep Dive App, E3 Sports Apparel, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Humminbird, Lew’s, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, Polaris, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Strike King, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota , WIX Filters and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular High School Fishing updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
