SAN ANTONIO, TX – For the first time this season, a new school sits atop the rankings in the race for Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia. Two-time school of year title winner McKendree University (2019, 2020) jumped up from third in the previous update to take over the top spot in the latest National Rankings just released by the Association of Collegiate Anglers.
After earning over 4,600 points through recent high finishes at several events, McKendree University is now in first place with 18,835 points.
Sitting in second place, less than 700 points behind McKendree, is another back-to-back School of the Year champion, the University of Montevallo (2021, 2022), with 18,155 points. Adrian College drops from the top spot for the first time this season. Adrian falls to third with 18,120 points and is now just over 700 points behind first place.
McKendree University’s top ranking is a major benchmark for a program that is a two-time winner of the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia. This marks the first time since McKendree claimed its last title in May of 2020 in which they have been ranked number one in the nation.
McKendree’s charge to the top spot was bolstered over the last few weeks by two strong showings at major college tournaments. Following the AFTCO Collegiate Bass Open on Lake Dardanelle in Russellville, AR earlier this month, McKendree traveled north to Lake of the Ozarks to compete in the MLF Central Regional. Then ranked third in the nation, McKendree placed two teams in the Top 10 to earn over 2,400 points. Matthew Cavanaugh & Jason Qualich finished in fourth with 15 pounds 14 ounces, and Kai Barnett & Gage Blimling took seventh with 14 pounds 10 ounces.
Their next tournament stop took McKendree University to Pickwick Lake for the MLF Southeast Regional. Jack Stephens & Evan Sutton finished in ninth with 14 pounds 3 ounces, and Colsyn Head & Tucker Siminack finished in 30th with 11 pounds 11 ounces. The two Top 30 finishes netted McKendree an additional 2,130 points.
With two major double points events occurring over the past several weeks, there has been a lot of movement in the standings amongst the top teams in the nation. Here is a look at several teams who made major moves inside of the Top 25 in the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia:
6) Campbellsville University – Previously Ranked 8th
9) Wabash Valley College – Previously Ranked 14th
15) Bethel University – Previously Ranked 20th
17) Tarleton State University – Previously Ranked 23rd
