Southridge freshmen win 2015 Indiana State High School Fishing Championship

Colton O'Brien (left) and Eli Lubbehusen took first place in the 2015 Championship. Photo provided — Colton O’Brien (left) and Eli Lubbehusen took first place in the 2015 Indiana State High School Fishing Championship. *Photo provided*

A pair of Southridge freshmen won the Indiana State High School Fishing tournament this year.

The Southridge High School freshmen team of Eli Lubbehusen and Colton O’Brien brought a five-bass limit weighing 15 pounds, 8 ounces, to place first and win the championship.

The Southridge High School Bass Club had four teams enter the 2015 Indiana State High School Fishing Championship at Patoka Lake Sunday, May 31st. The four teams all placed in the top 15 spots among the 32 teams that competed. Jasper High School and Perry Central also competed.

With the first place win, Eli and Colton earned the title of state champions and qualified to compete in the High School Fishing Central Conference championship on Lake Carlyle, Illinois in September. The top two teams from the Indiana State High School Fishing Championship at Patoka Lake advance to the Central Conference Championship, the second place team was from Bloomington.

Coleman Gerber, Chad Meyer, Eli Lubbehusen, Colton O’Brien, Brandon Oxley and Ben Lubbehusen Not available for the picture Trent Dischinger and Jeremiah Mundy. Photo provide — From left: Coleman Gerber, Chad Meyer, Eli Lubbehusen, Colton O’Brien, Brandon Oxley and Ben Lubbehusen. Not available for the picture Trent Dischinger and Jeremiah Mundy. *Photo provide*

Besides the freshman team, juniors Chad Meyer and Coleman Gerber placed 10th with a weight of 4 pounds, 14 ounces with two bass. Seniors Trent Dischinger and Jeremiah Mundy brought in two bass weighing 4 pounds. Juniors Brandon Oxley and Ben Lubbehusen placed 14th with two bass weighing 3 pounds, 15 ounces.

Each team consists of two anglers and a boat captain. The captain drives the boat while the students do all the fishing.

The Southridge High School Bass Club is coached by Stacy Moore who started the club three years ago. Stacy, a competitive fisherman, credits the success of the Southridge team through the techniques he has taught them as well as their hard work.

Stacy also started the Bass Club for the kids.

“It is all about the students having a chance to receive scholarships” Stacy explained. “It is a great showing for all four of the Southridge High School Bass Club teams to place in the top 15. There are great opportunities for these students doing something they already enjoy doing.”

In 2013, Brandon Oxley and Ben Lubbehusen also finished 8th in the Indiana State High School Fishing Championship.