By CHAD COOPER
[email protected]
For Jackson Deel and Brody Deel, earning a chance to compete on one of the biggest stages in high school fishing was a reward for years of hard work and dedication.
The two Grundy anglers represented Buchanan County at the 17th Annual High School Fishing World Finals and National Championship, held June 23-27 on Lake Cumberland, where more than 400 two-person teams from across the United States and Canada gathered to compete for national titles, scholarships and prizes.
The local duo qualified for the prestigious event after winning a TBF High School tournament at Lake Anna earlier this year, allowing them to test their skills against some of the nation’s top young anglers.
While the tournament didn’t unfold the way they had hoped, both anglers walked away with something they say is even more valuable — experience.
“The National tournament was a very fun experience and a great opportunity; competing on the national level for the first time was exciting and something I will never forget,” Jackson Deel said. “Overall, our two practice days were good; we caught good fish and were feeling hopeful for the tournament. As the tournament approached, conditions changed, making fishing tough, and we were not catching the fish we had during practice. We made several adjustments in our strategy but still were not able to catch the quality of fish we needed. We came away with the experience of a lifetime and some new techniques to work on for future tournaments. I want to thank my sponsors and my family for making this experience possible. I would also like to thank my boat captain, who happens to be my uncle.”
The pair found promising fish during practice, but changing conditions and heavy fishing pressure during competition made Lake Cumberland a much different challenge. With hundreds of boats spread across the lake, every bite became difficult to earn.
Brody Deel said simply qualifying for the national championship was an achievement that few high school anglers ever experience.
“We just competed at the National High School Fishing Championship after earning our spot through a great season. While we didn’t come home with a win, just qualifying to compete against some of the best high school anglers in the country was an incredible accomplishment,” Brody Deel said. “The fishing was incredibly tough with more than 400 boats on the water; the lake saw an enormous amount of fishing pressure, which made finding and catching fish much more challenging. We made lifelong memories, met anglers from across the nation, learned so much, and represented our community with pride. We also wanted to say thanks to our family and sponsors. I would also like to thank our boat captain, who happens to be my dad. I am very excited and looking forward to fishing for Southern Gap High School.”
Their trip to the national championship was made possible through the support of several local businesses, including D. Deel Construction, JDD Enterprises, Twin Enterprises, TruPoint Bank, Medical Park Pharmacy, Morristown Marine, Big Sandy Soil and Water Conservation District, and West End Pharmacy.
The tournament awarded more than $1 million in scholarships and prizes and attracted thousands of anglers, families and spectators to Lake Cumberland throughout the week.
For Brody, the experience has already sparked excitement for the future. With Southern Gap High School opening its doors this fall, he is eager to represent the Eagles on the water and build on everything he and Jackson learned while competing against the nation’s best.
