Florence, Alabama– Bethel University’s first all-girl team hit the water on Pickwick Lake in Alabama today.
The Bethel University Bass Team of Mercedes Ellis of Paris and partner Olivia Sheely made history as the very first all-girls team to fish for the nationally-known fishing program at Bethel.
A near 200 boat field of the top collegiate anglers in the country are competing in the 2021 Pickwick Slam this weekend as part of the Collegiate Bass Championship. The Pickwick Slam is a no-entry fee event that will payout the Top 20 places with over $20,000 in prizes and contingencies.
The Bass Cats have had several lady Anglers over the years, according to Coach Garry Mason of Springville, but this is the first time “that we have been able to put two Lady Anglers in one boat as a team in competition.”
Mason said, “We look forward to watching these two Bethel students compete during this event here at Pickwick Lake.
The Bethel Bass Team has eleven total boats/ 22 angler competing at the Pickwick Slam this weekend out of McFarland Park in Florence, Alabama. Weigh in today was at 3 p.m. and final weigh in will be at 1 pm tomorrow at McFarland Park.
Note: in fishing competition, each boat competing is considered as one team. So the Bethel squad has eleven teams in this tournament.
Photo: Mercedes Ellis, foreground, with Olivia Sheely. Photo courtesy of Mercedes Ellis.