Race for Top Collegiate Angling Teams Highlights Three Schools

SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The Association of Collegiate Anglers has released the first rankings of the 2017 Cabela's Collegiate Bass School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia race, and it comes as no surprise to college fishing fans to see some of the top fishing schools in the nation holding the top three spots. With over four months and 12 events now completed, the Murray State University bass team has taken an early lead in the season long quest to be crowned the best fishing team in the nation.
The Murray State University Bass team has long been a contender since the beginning of the Cabela's School of the Year program, and by all accounts has always had their eye on winning the Cabela's School of the Year title.

Ryan Lancaster, President of the Murray State bass team, said, "Leading the Cabela's School of the Year points race this early in the year is surreal. Typically, we find ourselves somewhere between 15th and 25th in the race going into Christmas break. However, this fall we have been extremely fortunate and managed to put together some really high finishes. The Murray State Bass Anglers, as a whole, have fished extremely well this fall. We have been fortunate enough to win the last four sanctioned school-run tournaments that we have entered, including two on the same weekend. Now we move into Christmas break with momentum and high hopes to continue our winning streak into the spring season."

When it comes to their successful season thus far, Lancaster attributes that to the growth of the team saying, "With our recent success in the past few Cabela's School of the Year races, we have attracted high caliber anglers to our team. Last year, our team had approximately 47 members, however this year we are currently up to approximately 60 members. Our increase in membership has also brought a higher interest in traveling to fish collegiate tournaments. This enables us to send multiple boats to many different tournaments throughout the season, even if there are multiple tournaments scheduled on the same day. Also, being located next to Kentucky Lake has helped us become very versatile anglers, as you can be successful fishing multiple patterns on Kentucky Lake. We wouldn't be near as competitive fishing collegiately if it weren't for this lake that we still believe to be one of the best bass fishing lakes in the country."

Murray State University Bass team knows that they still have a lot of work to put in the Spring, but they are focused and have only one goal in mind. "Our team goal year in and year out is to win Cabela's School of the Year title. Although we have never been fortunate enough to win, our team has been close the past four years with two 4th place finishes, a 2nd place finish, and a 3rd place finish. It would mean the world to us to be able to finally win SOY. Our plan is to fish as many tournaments as we can in the spring season and continue our fall success into the spring. We are all extremely excited to see what the spring holds for our team and where we end up after the race ends June 30," Lancaster said.
Sitting in second are the winners of this past year's Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship, Auburn University, and in third is two-time Cabela's School of Year winners, University of North Alabama. Both of these teams know how to win and have placed emphasis on winning the title.

Darrel High, coach of the Auburn University Bass Sports Club, reveals, "Our club is very excited and determined to get to the top of the points. Winning the Cabela's Collegiate Bass Fishing National Championship has really sparked this Auburn University Bass Team to improve as well as continue the tradition since we formed back in 2006, as one of the Nation's Top Programs." With 20+ more events come this spring, Auburn University knows they still have a lot of work to put in. "So many outstanding college teams throughout the country, so our focus and determination will be to stay on top, to be respected for achievements, and show our respect to the other great collegiate teams," High said.

As many teams, have found out over the years, in order to be competitive in the Cabela's School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia race, teams must work together and share the same mind set in order to accomplish their goals. With well over 20+ events remaining in this season's race, it's going to be an exciting ride to the end of the season for all the teams vying for the title, but also to end the season ranked in the top 20 in the nation.

1 / Murray State University (Murray, KY) / 317
2 / Auburn University (Auburn, AL) / 316
3 / University of North Alabama (Florence, AL) / 304
4 / Bethel University (McKenzie, TN) / 285
5 / University of South Carolina (Columbia, SC) / 271
6 / McKendree University (Lebanon, IL) / 260
7 / University of North Georgia (Dahlonega, GA) / 257
- / Bryan College (Dayton, TN) / 257
9 / University of North Carolina - Charlotte (Charlotte, NC) / 250
- / University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa, AL) / 250
11 / Georgia College (Milledgeville, GA) / 243
12 / Jacksonville State University (Jacksonville, AL) / 242
13 / University of Tennessee - Chattanooga (Chattanooga, TN) / 224
14 / University of Tennessee (Knoxville, TN) / 220
15 / Middle Tennessee State (Murfreesboro, TN) / 219
16 / Mississippi State (Starkville, MS) / 217
17 / Western Carolina University (Cullowhee, NC) / 214
18 / Dallas Baptist University (Dallas, TX) / 213
19 / University of Central Florida (Orlando, FL) / 212
20 / University of Tennessee - Martin (Martin, TN) / 207

To see a list of complete School of the Year Rankings, click here: 2016-2017 Cabela's School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia Standings

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About the ACA
The Association of Collegiate Anglers, a division of Careco TV, is a sanctioning body developed to facilitate growth, development, and structure within competitive collegiate bass fishing. The ACA provides support to dozens of school operated regional events nationwide and owns the Cabela's Collegiate Bass Fishing Series, the largest participatory collegiate tournament circuit in the country. With dedicated collegiate fishing programming on several television networks, three nationally televised collegiate bass fishing events, and thousands of members, the ACA is the leader in competitive collegiate bass fishing. For more information on the ACA, or the Cabela's Collegiate Bass Fishing Series, visit www.CollegiateBassChampionship.com. For more information on Cabela's visit Cabelas.com, for more information on CarecoTV, visit www.carecotv.com.