Students of the RCHS yearbook staff interviewed Will Bacon and Hayden Barnett about their recent experience in the High School Bass Fishing National Championship on Lake Hartwell in Anderson, South Carolina. Together, Bacon and Barnett finished 29th out of 315 boats. To be eligible to qualify for this tournament, both boys won the Tennessee Bass Nation Southeast Championship. According to Barnett, “National championships are a 2-day thing; However, to qualify you have to be in 12th place.” Both boys agreed that most competitions they compete in are usually “catch, weigh, and release.”
During this competition, Bacon and Barnetts’ time mostly consisted of telling jokes, waiting, and contemplating whether or not to jump in the lake. These boys have been bass fishing together since they were four years old and both want to continue their career of fishing in college. Bacon and Barnett start their mornings on the water at around 4:00 am. Usually, their days do not end until 8:30-9 pm. Barnett states that in the early days of the competition it felt as if it lasted for 4 hours. In their spare time outside of the competition, these boys swam in the hotel pool and visited local restaurants. Special thanks to Hayden's dad, Kelly Barnett, for providing Will Bacon and Hayden Barnett the opportunity to compete in the High School Bass Fishing National Championship!
