Pierce County’s newest Bear athletic team won’t be on a field.
No, the athletes will be on the lake fishing for bass.
The Pierce County Board of Education approved the creation of a bass fishing team to the Pierce County High School’s Athletic programs Monday, March 10.
High School principal Kelly Murray and athletic director Brandon Jernigan gave a presentation on the proposed new bass fishing program during the March 6 work session.
Bass fishing is a sanctioned program of the Georgia High School Athletics Association.
Murray and Jernigan said the idea of the bass team has been discussed for several years now and they both feel now is the time to try and launch it.
Students who participate in the bass fishing team would have uniforms and would complete in fishing tournaments.
Teams would be open to boys and girls and participants would pair up in groups of two with a parent/ adult coach on board the boat. The parent/adult would not be eligible to fish, but must accompany the student bass fishers.
A faculty member would be hired as coach and would receive a supplement like other coaches in the system. No coach has been identified yet, however.
“It is a non-traditional sport and all of the events are out-of-town. None are in our area,” said Murray. “But, we are one of the only systems in the area that doesn’t have a bass fishing team.”
Jernigan said the bass fishing program would provide opportunities for students who don’t participate in the system’s other 23 sports.
Superintendent Dara Bennett pointed out there are opportunities for scholarships through the bass fishing program.
Jernigan also noted the team could have its own boosters program like other sports.
“The boosters who support the bass fishing team would be unique to that sport,” Jernigan said. “They would not compete for funds with our other sports.”
In response to a question about liability, Jernigan explained the boat owners would be required to provide insurance.
The board unanimously approved the new bass fishing team.
