LAKE GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. — East Clinton graduate Cole Floyd was part of a two-man team that finished third overall Saturday in the FLW Yet Southern Regional Tournament at Lake Guntersville, Ala.
Floyd is a sophomore member of the Bethel University Bass Cats fishing team. He teamed with classmate Carter McNeil in the tournament which was one of the largest collegiate bass fishing fields ever assembled, according to a press release from Bethel University.
More than 248 boats representing schools and universities from all over America competed in the tournament.
Floyd and McNeil brought a limit of five bass to the scales weighing 19 pounds, 12 ounces to put them in third place for the tournament. The top team had a total weight of 22 pounds, 13 ounces.
The Bethel Bass Cats fishing team is the only collegiate bass team to have three boats finish in the top 10 in a FLW Regional Championship. The Bass Cats had three boats in the top 10 at the FLW Open in 2015 and once again this past weekend at the FLW Southern Regional.
This is also the first time that one school has qualified four teams for a national championship birth in one FLW competition.
Floyd and McNeil earned a berth in the 2018 FLW National Championship tournament with their performance in this event.
“To have three teams to finish in the top 10 in a competition of this caliber is fantastic,” said Bethel head coach Garry Mason. “To qualify four Bethel teams for the national championship in one tournament is a record to be very proud of.”
The teams practiced in 70 degree temperatures on Thursday and Friday then competed in 40 degree weather on Saturday.
The cold weather did not seem to slow the Bass Cats as four Bethel teams qualified and broke collegiate records during the event.
