Everest Fishing Team Turns 10 Years Old

At the mention of high school ‘varsity athletics’, what comes to mind - perhaps the excitement of football and its Friday night lights? Perhaps it’s the hysteria of a frenzied field house for a Super Tuesday show-down during the basketball post-season? And maybe, just maybe, it’s fishing – yes, fishing! Recognized as a varsity sport in the states of Kentucky, Tennessee, and just across the border in Illinois, bass fishing has become more than just a favorite pastime for many teenagers in the United States. It’s a trend that looks to continue as states such as South Carolina look at adding bass fishing to their list of established varsity sports.

While fishing is not a recognized sport in schools here in Wisconsin, at least not yet, that doesn’t mean that organized fishing isn’t an option for area youth. In 2002, with Joe Szarkowitz acting as its inaugural president and Mr. Jeff Micholic as head advisor, the D. C. Everest Fishing Team was established at the Senior High. This year the Everest Fishing Team celebrates its 10 year anniversary and continues on with the mission of teaching and promoting fishing techniques and sportsmanship while fostering the dream of someday competing with other schools around the region, state, or even the nation in organized angling competition.
The Everest Fishing Team is open to all Senior High students regardless of experience level. To join the Fishing Team, students must first obtain a parental permission form from one of the advisors and return it completed and signed. As with any other WIAA student-athlete, each member of the team must maintain academic eligibility as well as remain in compliance with the athletic code.

Currently the team holds an outing once a month in which members compete for prizes based on catching one of the three largest fish registered at the tournament. In addition to monthly outings, Fishing Team members are also eligible to attend five additional annual events: Fish University, The Wisconsin River Clean Up, The Special Needs Outing, The Father-Son/Daughter Overnight Camp Out, and the Milton Kemp Memorial Picnic.

As with other school sports and programs, finding the necessary funding for supplies, materials, and other incurred costs is an on-going challenge. Fundraising, or “minnow money” as Micholic calls is, is done primarily through the sale of beef sticks at the Senior High. In addition to beef sticks, the Fishing Team has their own line of apparel for sale that includes t-shirts, sweatshirts, boxer shorts, and other items adorned with the team logo.

Between monthly outings and annual events, team members participate in hands-on clinics facilitated by the teams’ adult advisors as well as other members of the community. These clinics have included how-to properly fillet fish, rod building, reel maintenance, and other angling-relating hands-on activities such making bucktails, jig heads, and quick-strike sucker rigs. Working with Opportunity Inc., an organization that works to advance the independence, productivity and citizenship of children and adults, regardless of age or disability, team members are also involved with giving back to their community.

The value of the Fishing Team and their positive impact to the community has not gone unnoticed. Over the past 10 years several students have earned scholarships from the D. C. Everest Fishing Team, aiding in the pursuit of their post-secondary education. Jigs Meuret, a Schofield resident and Everest alumnus recently showed his support of the team by donating a 1975 Monark tri-hull powered by an 85-horsepower outboard engine. The 16-foot boat is equipped with a trailer, trolling motor, live well, and sonar.

The generous donation will be used not only to provide opportunities for the high school team members to explore area waters, some of which who have not had the chance to fish from a boat until now, but as Micholic points out it will provide an invaluable tool that will assist students in learning about the local ecosystem, boat engine and trailer maintenance, boater safety and responsibility, and boat control.

As successful as the past 10 years have been, improving and expanding the program is an on-going goal. Club advisors are looking for companies interested in furthering the advancement of fishing as a sport, especially at the high school level, and supporting the team. Congratulations Everest Fishing Team on 10 years! I’ll see you on the water…

Tight lines,