ANDERSON, S.C. (Oct. 27, 2025) – The Major League Fishing (MLF) High School Fishing team of Justin Gilpin and Dalton Green, representing the Devildog Anglers from Travelers Rest, South Carolina, brought five bass to the scale Saturday weighing 12 pounds, 14 ounces to win the MLF Abu Garcia High School Fishing Presented by Tackle Warehouse Open on Lake Hartwell Presented by Columbia PFG in Anderson, South Carolina.
A field of 65 teams competed in the no-entry fee tournament, which was hosted by Visit Anderson. In MLF High School Fishing competition, the top 10% of teams competing advance to the High School Fishing National Championship.
The six teams that advance to the 2026 High School Fishing National Championship are:
1st: Devildog Anglers, Travelers Rest, S.C. – Justin Gilpin and Dalton Green, five bass, 12-14
2nd: Gaffney High School, Gaffney, S.C. – Cole Hicks and Scott Varner, five bass, 12-9
3rd: Laurens District 55 High School, West Laurens, S.C. – James Pinson and Owen Satterwhite, five bass, 11-3
4th: Triangle Bass Club, N.C. – Nathan McCoy and Levi Stanley, five bass, 10-15
5th: Cartersville High Fishing Team, Cartersville, Ga. – Britton Alery and Owen Wiggins, five bass, 10-10
6th: Central High School, Carrollton, Ga. – Wyatt Harmon and Jonah Yates, five bass, 10-8
Rounding out the Top 10 teams were:
7th: Central High School, Carrollton, Ga. – Hunter Dickinson and Case Payton, five bass, 10-7
8th: Greenbrier High School Bass Club, Evans, Ga. – Evan Beard and Tyler Wilson, five bass, 10-5
9th: Devildog Anglers, Travelers Rest, S.C. – Ben Buczkowski and Holt Gonzales, five bass, 9-10
10th: Chapman High School, Inman, S.C. – Matthew Bicknell and Carson Harrell, five bass, 9-9
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% of teams at each Open event, along with the TBF High School Fishing state championships, advance to the High School Fishing National Championship.
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.