Making A Push

Article by Mark
Hooker

Photos Courtesy of
Jenn Ellis & Debbie Pietsch

This past Saturday October 4^th, the MISD Fishing
Team was “Making A Push” towards the Texas High School Bass Association Houston
Division Title, which would be their eleventh in twelve years of competition. Standing
in their way were 19 other High School Fishing Programs looking to make their
own marks by foiling this plan and upsetting MISD on its’ Home Waters of Lake
Conroe.

Weather conditions were favorable, as 170 Individual Teams
from 20 area High Schools set out on Lake Conroe. However, many of the Anglers
would indicate the weather was nice, but not so much the fishing, as it was
tough to bring in a 16-inch keeper. As many of you know, this bunch made up of
students from both Lake Creek and Montgomery High Schools, are a tough bunch,
and they normally find a way to get it done.

Leading the way for MISD was the Senior Team of Zane Dixon
and Tanner Gatewood. As part of the MISD Elite Fishing Team, where they earned
this distinction from their performance and rankings from last year, brought a
major bag of 5 fish weighing in at 21.36 pounds, claiming 2^nd place.
Their Captain was David Bozarth, a highly regarded local Angler who has
volunteered his time and efforts to help the Team this year. Along with their
other Captain Beau Gatewood, Dixon & Gatewood look to have another momentous
year. When asked how they caught them, the Team was understandably tight lipped
about how and where they caught their fish. Regardless, that all we know is
that they caught them on the water and in the mouth, what a day this pair had.

Backing up Dixon and Gatewood and coming in 4^th
place with a limit of their own was Landon Lutz and Brody Robb. Their limit
weighed 18.85 pounds, and they were Captained by another highly accomplished
Angler, Brinton Haskins. Once again, information about how they caught them was
not divulged, but Angler Brody Robb did elaborate with these poignant words,
“the best part for me was being out there with both Lake Creek and Montgomery
students, working as one team.”

As many of you readers that follow the Team know, for a
Program to have a legitimate shot at winning the Team Title, they must have
three Teams in the top ten. Well, that is exactly what transpired, as Elite
Team Members Brenner Kirklin and Jacob Riley brought in a 5 fish limit that
tipped the scales at 13.51 pounds, landing them in 9^th place. Their
Captain Jason Riley indicated that “Brenner and Jacob caught them out deep in
and around brush piles.” He went on to
say that “they caught them on crankbaits, shaky head trick worms, as well as
some on a Carolina Rig.

All told, the top three
Teams from MISD brought 15 Bass to the scales for a total of 53.72 pounds. This
was a close one, as MISD narrowly defeated College Station, which brought in
53.05 pounds. This was the second victory for the MISD Fishing Team in as many
tournaments this season.

 Next up for your MISD
Fishing Team will be the Lake Somerville event on October 25^th. It
will be there that these young Anglers will continue “Making A Push” towards
another THSBA Houston Division Title.