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At the Decatur County Board of Education meeting on Thursday night, the 2022 GHSA State Tournament Bass Fishing Champions Shane Dill and Bowynn Brown were presented with their state championship rings by principal Chris Merritt alongside Coach Matthews. 

In May of 2022, Dill and Brown secured the State Championship on Clarks Hill with a total weight of 17lbs and 12oz as the Bass Cats took home the trophy in acompetition that saw over 100 competitors. 

Among four BassCat teams that traveled to Clarks Hill, the team of Dill and Brown had a successful day catching the five fish limit and outdueling over 120 competitors. 

​​“Nine years ago we started Bass Fishing as a program at Bainbridge High S

chool, and the credit goes to the dedication of the student anglers and the work they put in to be successful in the sport, as well as the support of their parents, who are traveling all over the state, helping these anglers be the best they possibly can,” said Coach Matthews. 

The Bass Cats have been just as active since May as they competed in the Abu Garcia Bassmaster High School Series in A

ugust where Brown and Dill put up a weight of 21lbs and 14oz.

“From top 10 finishes to tournament wins and the GHSA State Championship,” said the BassCats in a facebook post. “They have been all over the state of Georgia and Florida representing Bainbridge and being ambassadors for the sport. They could not have done it without the support of parents, sponsors, and our community.”