Nov. 21, 2025
B.A.S.S. names top student athletes to 2025 High School All-American fishing team
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The Bassmaster High School All-American Fishing Team is welcoming its 12 newest members.
Nearly 200 students in grades 10-12 applied for the prestigious honor. A panel of judges consisting of representatives from the sportfishing industry carefully considered the tournament resumes and extracurricular efforts of the young applicants to determine the Top 12 high school anglers in the country.
“On behalf of B.A.S.S., I’m thrilled to welcome these 12 outstanding student athletes to the 2025 Bassmaster High School All-American Fishing Team,” said Chase Anderson, B.A.S.S. CEO. “Their dedication on the water, commitment in the classroom and leadership in their communities embody the very best of our sport. We can’t wait to celebrate their achievements this season and watch them inspire the next generation of anglers.”
The 2025 All-American team has been invited to the 2026 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour, which will be held March 13-15 in Knoxville, Tenn. Each All-American angler will be honored on the biggest stage in bass fishing and have the chance to meet and interact with some of the greatest names in the sport.
Congratulations to the following student anglers for being named to the 2025 Bassmaster High School All-American Fishing Team. Students were judged based on their conservation efforts, community service involvement and tournament success from 2024 through May 2025. Read the short biographies below to see the accomplishments that earned them each the title of Bassmaster High School All-American.
Anderson Thrower (Vestavia Hills, Ala.)
As a junior at Vestavia Hills High School, Anderson Thrower earned two victories, one Top 5 and five Top 20s, beating a field of 131 teams at an Alabama Student Angler Bass Fishing Association (ASABFA) event in September 2024 and then going on to earn an additional victory over 101 teams in an ASABFA event at Lake Eufaula that November. He wrapped up the 2024 fall season with a Top 5 in an ASABFA event at Lake Jordan. Notably, Thrower paired with Auburn University standout Hayden Marbut at the 2024 Logan Parks NSANE tournament, where the duo finished 21st out of 150 boats.
“Anderson’s resilience is particularly evident in his approach to both challenges and everyday tasks,” Vestavia Hills High School teacher Michele Kusibab said. “He possesses an unshakeable determination that allows him to learn from every experience and adapt with a positive attitude. This mental toughness is a true asset, particularly in the demanding and unpredictable environment of a competitive fishing team.”
Off the water, Thrower dedicates his time to several different service projects, including the Hand in Hand ministry at Shades Mountain Baptist Church, a program that helps special needs adults and children feel welcomed and supported. Additionally, he volunteers with aTeam Ministries, a Birmingham-based nonprofit that supports pediatric cancer families, by assisting at key events such as the Clays4Kids Clay Shoot, Champions of Chemo and the annual Heart2Heart fundraiser.
Thomas Turnbull (Crane Hill, Ala.)
Thomas Turnbull, while a senior at Evangel Christian School, accumulated several impressive finishes, including four wins, seven Top 5s and 10 Top 20s. Notably, Turnbull won a $40,000 scholarship to Western Kentucky University by winning the 2024 BassTactix AllStar Invitational. In the same 2024 season, he won two ASABFA events on Smith Lake and Lake Jordan, beating out fields of 147 and 129 teams respectively. In 2025 he became a back-to-back winner in the 6-Man Team division of the Alabama B.A.S.S. Nation High School State Championship.
“Thomas shows up early, stays late, and is always willing to put in extra time to practice and improve,” said Robert Leonard, coach of the Evangel Bass Fishing Team. “That kind of dedication is rare, and it’s made a big difference not just in his personal growth, but in the success of our whole team.”
Turnbull is an active leader in his church community, where he leads a small group of ninth-grade boys and is also a grandview leader at Church of the Highland Motion Ministries.
John Klanchar (Benton, Ark.)
As a senior at Benton High School, John Klanchar sustained success as a member of the Benton Panther Bass Team and as a Trader Bill’s High School Trail angler. In 2024 he earned two tournament victories, one at Lake Hamilton in a Trader Bill’s event and one at Lake Maumelle in an Arkansas High School Bassers event, and netted an additional seven Top 5 finishes and 12 Top 20 finishes in 2024 and early 2025. Klanchar was also the 2024 Trader Bill’s High School Angler of the Year and was third in AOY in 2025.
“John is hardworking, honest and respected by everyone who knows him,” Benton High School teacher Julie Miller said. “He’s the kind of person who stays calm under pressure, gets the job done and makes the people around him better.”
Klanchar has served as a summer camp counselor at Brookhill Ranch in Hot Springs Village, Ark., and has also hosted seminars for young anglers at Benton Bass Team events. Additionally, he hosts a fishing tournament on his birthday each year in order to raise money for Arkansas Game and Fish Commission conservation projects.
Dylan Quilatan (Windermere, Fla.)
During his senior year at Olympia High School, Dylan Quilatan built an impressive tournament resume, winning four high school events, including two Florida B.A.S.S. Nation events at Lake Okeechobee and the 2025 Strike King Bassmaster High School Series event at Harris Chain. Quilatan’s resume includes one Top 5 and six more Top 20s in high school competition. He also won four adult-level events, including a 2025 MLF Toyota Series event at the Harris Chain and a Florida B.A.S.S. Nation Pro-Am, and earned multiple Top 5s in Florida B.A.S.S. Nation and MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League events.
“What impresses me most about Dylan is his maturity and balance,” Olympia High School English teacher Akai Milson said. “His determination to push himself both academically and athletically embodies the values of perseverance, integrity and excellence that this honor represents.”
Quilatan is a standout off the water too. The West Orange Chamber of Commerce and Olympia High School honored Quilatan with the SOAR Award in recognition of his academic excellence and commitment to community service. He has dedicated over 100 volunteer hours to local children’s and public health initiatives.
Carter Pjesky (Sugar Grove, Ill.)
As a senior at Kaneland High School, Carter Pjesky showcased remarkable consistency as a member of the Off The Hook Bassmasters club. From 2024 through mid-2025, Pjesky earned 10 Top 5 finishes and 10 Top 20s not only in his home state of Illinois through the Illinois B.A.S.S. Nation chapter, but across the country as well. Pjesky topped the points standings in the Southern Division of the 2025 Illinois B.A.S.S. Nation Youth Series and also earned 2024 Team of the Year AOY honors on the Illinois Coaches and Student Tournament Trail. His signature win came in 2024 at the Strike King Bassmaster High School Series at Clarks Hill Reservoir.
“Carter goes after his goals and does his very best to achieve them,” said Kaneland High School teacher Michael Thorgesen. “Carter has a never-give-up attitude that has driven him to achieve his goals.”
Pjesky has a passion for conservation as well. Collaborating with Mercury Marine and Outdoor Channel host Carter Andrews, Pjesky produced a short video called “One Piece a Day,” in an initiative to help keep the planet’s waterways free from litter.
Grace Olsen (Gardner, Ill.)
From 2024 through May 2025 Grace Olsen, a then-senior at Gardner South-Wilmington High School, accumulated an impressive 10 Top 5 finishes and 12 Top 20 finishes. Olsen also won the Illinois Coaches and Student State Tournament Trail at Braidwood Lake in 2024 and was part of the 2024 Illinois B.A.S.S. Nation Youth Series Team of the Year. Additionally, Olsen was invited to participate on the 2024 USAngling USA Bass High School Youth Team that competed in Zimbabwe last December.
“Grace Olsen is the kind of student who raises the standard for her peers. She is hardworking, respectful and dependable,” said Gardner South-Wilmington High School English teacher Tyler Miller.
Olsen was part of the National Honor Society at her high school and participated in the Grundy County Sheriff’s Police Explorer Program, where she assisted with community service projects while also volunteering for ride-alongs with police officers to gain real-world experience. She also volunteered with Adopt A Highway and the local mobile food pantry truck. Olsen is the first female angler to become a two-time Bassmaster All-American.
Miles Allen (Louisville, Ky.)
As a senior at St. Xavier High School, Allen showed consistency not only in the state of Kentucky, but across the country as well. In 2024 through mid-2025, Allen won three tournaments including a 144-boat KHSAA Regional at Lake Cumberland in 2025. He also had four Top 5 finishes and six Top 20s, which included a 17th-place finish at the 2025 Strike King Bassmaster High School Series at Smith Lake and a 17th-place finish at the 2024 MLF High School National Championship on Lake Hartwell. Allen won the 2024 Kentucky B.A.S.S. Nation High School AOY for the West Trail and also won an adult Team of the Year title with the KY Bass League.
“Miles has gone above and beyond in his preparation and practice,” St. Xavier fishing coach Matt Yarborough said. “He gets out on the water every chance he gets and seeks out opportunities to improve his skill set.”
Allen has participated in a number of service projects, including L.O.U. Outreach for the Unsheltered, the Louisville chapter of Blessings in a Backpack and WaterStep, a clean water initiative.
Bennett Fontenot (Krotz Springs, La.)
During his junior year at Port Barre High School, Bennett Fontenot won a Louisiana Youth B.A.S.S. Nation North qualifier at the Red River and a Louisiana Youth B.A.S.S. Nation West qualifier at Henderson Lake, beating out fields of 150 boats in both events. Consistently competing against 200 boats or more, Fontenot registered six Top 5 finishes and seven Top 20 finishes, including an 11th-place finish at the 2024 MLF National Championship and a second-place finish at The Bass Federation High School World Finals. He accomplished all of this while also playing varsity football and baseball.
“Bennett is also a commendable character,” Port Barre High School math teacher Dona Robinson said. “He has been recognized as a ‘Dynamic Devil’ for consistently exhibiting characteristics aligned with the tenets of the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports program at Port Barre High School. This recognition underscores his positive attitude, respect for others and responsible behavior within the school community.”
Fontenot co-founded a fishing program for underprivileged children with the Darby Foundation that offers instructional classes and water and boater safety classes to children. Fontenot has also assisted with planning a Take a Kid Fishing event with the local Lions Club, where he serves as weighmaster, and led trash pickup days around his local fisheries.
Grady Stanley (Fuquay-Varina, N.C.)
As a junior at Fuquay-Varina High School, Grady Stanley excelled as a member of the Triangle Bass Club. He had four victories in the North Carolina B.A.S.S. Nation High School Series, including a state championship victory in 2024 at the Roanoke River. He also added six Top 5 finishes and six Top 20 finishes to his resume, including a second-place finish at the 2025 Strike King Bassmaster High School Series at Buggs Island and a third-place finish at the 2025 North Carolina B.A.S.S. Nation High School State Championship at Lake James.
“Grady’s dependability, decisiveness and quiet leadership make him a standout among his peers,” Fuquay-Varina High School English teacher Tristan McKinney said. “He is thoughtful in his actions, respectful to peers and adults and consistently demonstrates strong moral character.”
Stanley is part of the National Honor Society as well as the National Technical Honor Society and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He volunteered at the Wake County Big Sweep clean-up project at Shearon Harris Lake and has assisted with AFTCO clean-up programs and a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers habitat improvement project at Falls Lake as well.
Walker LaRue (Alcoa, Tenn.)
During his senior year at Alcoa High School, Walker LaRue built an impressive resume as a member of the Alcoa Fishing Team, accruing six wins, which included victories in the 2025 Tennessee B.A.S.S. Nation High School State Championship at Dale Hollow Reservoir against 164 teams and the 2024 Bass Pro Shops-Sevierville, TN High School Championship at Douglas Lake. He also earned six Top 5 tournament finishes and 12 Top 20 finishes.
“As a dedicated member of our Tornadoes Fishing Team for all four years, Walker has demonstrated not only an extraordinary level of skill and competitiveness, but also an unwavering commitment to excellence,” said Sarah Bailey, assistant principal at Alcoa High School. “I have had the privilege of watching him embrace leadership roles in school activities and grow into one of the most accomplished student anglers in the country.”
LaRue has volunteered with numerous different youth fishing programs. He hosted and led a casting competition for over 400 children at the 2024 Mountain Music Kids Fishing Tournament at Douglas Lake and volunteered at the Duck Pond Derby for three years, assisting with youth casting competitions and activities.
Dylan Sorrells (Dallas, Texas)
As a senior at Highland Park High School, Dylan Sorrells won five tournaments across the state of Texas, each with a field size of 125 teams or more. Each win came at a different fishery, including Texas High School Bass Association (THSBA) events at Richland-Chambers Reservoir and Eagle Mountain Lake in 2025. Included in his five Top 5 finishes are a third-place finish at the THSBA State Championship at Lake Conroe against 186 teams and a second-place finish at a THSBA event at Lake Ray Roberts against 142 teams. He added nine Top 20 finishes to the resume as well, including a ninth-place showing at the 2024 MLF High School National Championship. During his time fishing THSBA events, he won four consecutive Angler of the Year titles for the Metro Division.
“His work ethic, moral integrity and unshakable commitment to excellence make him not only a phenomenal angler, but a role model in every sense of the word,” Highland Park High School Bass Team school administrator Michelle Altom said. “Dylan is the kind of angler every coach dreams of — disciplined, humble and relentless in pursuit of excellence.”
Sorrells has completed 400 hours of community service since his freshman year of high school, serving 180-plus hours during the summer of 2024 alone, with most of his time dedicated to mentoring young anglers and participating in conservation efforts. He volunteered as a counselor at the Florida Fantasy Fishing Camp in Tampa, Fla., and also collected and donated over $1,000 in fishing gear to an all-girls program at Academy of the Sacred Heart in New Orleans.
Hayden Ross (Spring, Texas)
A self-taught angler, Grand Oaks High School’s Hayden Ross has grown into a formidable angler in his home state of Texas, which he showcased during his junior year. In 2024, Ross won the Texas A&M Open against 50 other teams. Between local tournaments and high school tournaments, Ross accumulated two Top 5 finishes and seven Top 20 finishes, including a seventh-place finish at Sam Rayburn Reservoir in the 2024 Student Angler Federation State Championship.
“Hayden’s success as an angler is entirely self-made. Unlike many of his peers who benefit from multi-generational family experience, including professional angling backgrounds, Hayden’s skill is the sole product of his relentless research, self-discipline and hard work,” former Grand Oaks High School principal James Bush said. “He has achieved elite competitive status without the benefit of a family background in the sport, demonstrating that passion and personal grit are his greatest captains.”
Ross participated in numerous community service and conservation projects, including building beds for children in need through Sleep in Heavenly Peace, helping distribute food to needy families at Abundant Harvest and delivering meals to elderly residents through Meals on Wheels. He also volunteered at a program called Fishing’s Future Boo Gill at Huntsville State Park where he helped teach children about fishing and stewardship.
