OSAGE BEACH, Mo. - The Bass Fishing Team competed in the FLW Central Qualifier on Lake of the Ozarks over the weekend. One hundred sixteen boats from over 40 different colleges competed in the event which served as the final chance to qualify for the FLW National Championship for the 2017-18 season. The top 12 finishing teams qualified for the championship which will be held on the Potomac River in June. Although the team of Ricky Huge and Cordell Beckmann missed qualifying by just over a pound, the team still had a good showing and earned some valuable School of the Year points.

Huge and Beckmann finished 18^th in the event, weighing 5 fish for 12 pounds and 14 ounces. Their teammates Cale Jausel and Evan Seggerman weighed 3 fish for 7 pounds 9 ounces. Both of the teams had a few fish found during practice, but changing conditions with cooler weather and cloud cover changed their bites. Jausel and Seggerman had to work through some midday boat issues which included returning to the ramp and replacing a battery, but still managed a 52^ndplace finish.

Huge and Beckmann's 18^th place finish in the event netted the school some coveted points in the School of the Year race put on by Cabela's. The standings are similar to the Angler of the Year race put on by Bassmaster, and measures a team's success throughout the entire season, on many different bodies of water and constantly changing conditions. Last year the team finished 25^thout of over 300 schools but plans to make a big jump this year. Next, the team is headed to Russellville, AR for the Collegiate Bass Open held on Lake Dardanelle on October 12^thand 13^th.