At the beginning of this school year, RMA established its first-ever fishing team. Colin Baker and Jarrett Barfield founded the team to represent RMA in high school fishing tournaments throughout North Carolina. The fishing team’s members are President Jarrett Barfield, Secretary Colin Baker, Isaac Lewis, Cason Price, and Gabe Winham. 

The fishing team competed in their first tournament on October 9 at Kerr Lake, resulting in a tournament win with Cason Price and Gabe Winham taking first place. Cason and Gabe caught four fish, weighing 10.45 pounds altogether. Colin Baker and Isaac Lewis placed fifth, and Jarrett Barfield placed sixth. 

The boys did not back down when rain consistently beat down on them the entire day. The rain soaked their boats and their new uniforms. Twenty-two out of the thirty-two teams did not even show up for the tournament because of the weather, but the RMA Fishing team persevered and brought home first place! The tournament took place from six in the morning until two in the afternoon, with the results being released at four. 

The team’s next tournament will be held on November 20th at Lake Norman, near Charlotte. Although the tournament isn’t for another month, the boys will continue to practice on the weekends to prepare for what’s to come. To be successful in a tournament, the team has to find the right spots throughout the lake that will provide the bass they need to keep their winning streak alive. Someone who does not fish or does not have knowledge about the sport may think fishing is based on luck, but it requires strategy and the proper equipment. To compete in the tournament, each team within the school must have a boat with at least one member and one adult onboard.

We can’t wait to see what the future holds for the Rocky Mount Academy Fishing Team, and we wish them the best of luck!