Eagle Anglers look to build on past success, make statement in national rankings

Carson-Newman University’s Eagle Anglers garnered a top five pick for School of the Year in pre-season national rankings. The Association of Collegiate Anglers placed Carson-Newman at No. 4 entering the new season.

The announcement comes on the heels of The Eagle Anglers rounding out the 2022-23 season at No. 3 for the Bass Pro Shops School of Year final rankings, marking the third consecutive year for the program finishing inside the top five nationally. Only University of Montevallo and Auburn University finished higher.

Hunter Sales, head coach of the Eagle Anglers credits the work ethic of the team’s upperclassman for setting a standard.

“Our younger guys have seen how hard they work to be successful, and have matched that effort step for step,” said Sales. “The pre-season rankings reflect that those within the fishing industry have noticed this culture of excellence. We are happy to have the respect of our peers, but also feel that we have a group that is capable of exceeding expectations.”

The Carson-Newman squad will enter its first event Sept.23-24 at Kentucky Lake.

The Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia is college fishing’s only all-encompassing national rankings system.  Over the course of a 12-month season, thousands of college anglers representing hundreds of schools compete in dozens of points earning events.