Alabama's bass-fishing future was on full display last week.
But when you're talking the next generation of national tournament bass anglers, don't forget Minnesota.
A strong final-day showing vaulted Brian Linder and Nathan Thompson of Eagen (Minn.) High School to a third-place finish in the Mossy Oak Bassmaster High School National Championship, which concluded Saturday, Aug. 4 on Kentucky Lake in Paris, Tenn.
On the third and final day, Linder-Thompson, along with eventual champs Grayson Morris and Tucker Smith of Alabama, were the only teams to weigh five live fish. Morris-Smith totaled 18 pounds, 9 ounces the final day to pull away with a total of 50 pounds, 2 ounces, while Linder-Thompson had the second-best final-day total of 12.0 pounds to secure third at 38-4 pounds. Gracie Herbold and Aaron Cherry, also of Alabama, finished second at 40-10.
The tournament, presented by DICK's Sporting Goods, included 670 anglers on 337 high school teams from across the nation and three countries. Also cracking the top 100 in the massive field from Minnesota were Easton Fothergill-Jack Webb of Grand Rapids (38th, 16-14), Mason Raveling-Ben Provost of Prior Lake (59th, 13-13), and Gavin Belcher-Logan Huewe, Elk River (66th, 13-4).
The high school competitors were awarded $22,000 in scholarship funds from B.A.S.S. and its sponsors, B.A.S.S. said in a news release. Bethel University presented $96,000 in scholarship money to the top two teams if they choose to attend the school in McKenzie, Tenn. Morris and Smith each earned $2,000 in scholarship money from B.A.S.S. and sponsors and $28,000 scholarships for four years from Bethel University.
A pair of Abu Garcia Revo baitcast reels were awarded to Leominster High School anglers Teddy Peznola and Nate Smith, who weighed the big bass of the tournament, a 9-6 largemouth.
For complete results, click here.
