Georgia anglers dominated the 15th High School Fishing World Finals and National Championship at Lake Hartwell. The state had seven boats make the final 31-team field, three more than any other state. While a team from Georgia did not win the event, Bryson Dover and Angel Cornejo placed third with a three fish weight of 11 pounds, 14 ounces. They continued their dominance on the Savannah River lakes, where they won the 2023 GHSA state title and finished runner-up in 2024 at Clarks Hill Lake just down the river from Lake Hartwell.
Four other boats finished inside the top eight, including Cartersville’s Owen Wiggins and Bill Gaines, who finished fourth, in six was South Forsyth’s Charles Roberts and Reese Mutter, in seventh was Dawson County’s Carter Cunningham and Landon Glander and in eighth was Franklin County’s Brody Kellum and Carson Thompson.
The tournament saw over 3 million dollars in scholarships and prizes handed out to the participants. Overall, Elijah Coleman and Bryce Alfrey from Central Kentucky won the event, finishing with a final weight of 13 pounds, 0 ounces, winning the event by only two ounces. Port Barre Louisiana’s Bennett Fontenot and Braxton Speyrer finished in second with a weight of 12 pounds 14 ounces.
Place-Team -School-weight
3-Bryson Dover and Angel Cronejo-Lanier -11 pounds 14 ounces
4-Owen Wiggins and Bill Gaines-Cartersville-10 pounds 13 ounces
6-Charles Roberts and Reese Mutter-South Forsyth-9 pounds 06 ounces
7-Carter Cunningham and Landon Glander-Dawson County-9 pounds 03 ounces
8-Brody Kellum and Carson Thompson-Franklin County-8 pounds 11 ounces
9-Logan Parker and Hudson Howell-Cherokee-8 pounds 06 ounces
19-Lane Parker and Noah Dzyuba-Cherokee-6 pounds 09 ounces