By Bart Moss for the FCT

Belgreen fishermen Brant Bragwell and Trey Willingham, both freshmen, finished 15th out of 84 boats from 12 different schools at Wheeler Lake.

Bragwell reeled in a three-pound keeper.

Willingham’s method of catching his 3.9 largemouth bass was using a Carolina rig that he let drag across the bottom a while.

“Once I felt the bite, I let it play a while then yanked on it,” said Willingham.

Boat captain Shannon Oliver has had a love for the outdoors for most of his life and thoroughly enjoys time spent being involved with the students, school and community.

“Anytime you have the opportunity to take young ones fishing and experience the amazing creations of our Father, it is a blessing,” said Oliver. “As for our boat, we had trouble getting on fish that morning, but we stayed at it and found some fish on a roadbed. Then we had some boat trouble and had to call it at 11:30 a.m. to make it back by the 1 p.m. weigh in. Bulldogs stay together…Stan Riley’s boat with Harrison Riley and Brady Hovater (both first year seventh grade anglers) came to our aide and made sure we got back safely. They sacrificed an hour of fishing to help us … that’s what Bulldogs do for one another. All in all, it was a great day on the water.”

Oliver said the rest of the anglers and staff at Belgreen would like to thank Emily Blanton for “all the organizing that goes into this and her dedication to the Bulldog Anglers!”