Grayson Goss and Wally Wolcott of Hot Springs Lakeside High School ran away with the senior division of the Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation’s eighth annual Commissioners’ Cup presented by Xpress Boats.
The competition took place May 16 on Lake Hamilton. The local pair caught five bass totaling 18.39 pounds. Their closest competitor, Carson Pennington, fishing alone, brought in 12.73 pounds with his five bass, including the tournament’s “big bass” of 5.27 pounds.
The Commissioners’ Cup, sponsored in part by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s seven commissioners since its inception, brings together high school and junior high anglers for a statewide bass fishing competition. Prizes were awarded to the top 10 in both junior and senior divisions, and the top three in the senior division went home with thousands of dollars in gear, plus scholarships ranging from $1,000 for the third-place team to $3,000 for first place. Scholarship money was sponsored by the AGFF and the AGFC commissioners.
“Our goal with the Commissioners’ Cup is to give young people an unforgettable experience that fosters a permanent connection to the Arkansas outdoors,” said Deke Whitbeck, president of the Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation. “We owe a massive thank you to Xpress Boats, our dedicated volunteers and all of our sponsors. The fishing industry goes all out for this tournament every year because they understand that at the end of the day, it’s all about the kids and the future of The Natural State.”
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