Eufaula, Ala. - The Faulkner Bass FIshing had four boats compete in the Southern Collegiate BASS Open Series State Championship on Lake Eufaula at Lakepoint State Park on Sunday, April 13. The boats consisted of three duos and one solo angler. The Eagles representing Faulkner were Grant McCraney and Skyler Stevens; Connor Green and Peter West; Hayes FInch and Parke McKee; and Matthew Bennett. 

The Eagles headed up Lake Eufaula closing out the regular season with one more chance to bring in some big fish and all looking for a spot in the Bassmaster Collegiate National Championship on Lake Cherokee in July. Not only did the anglers come up with all placing inside the top 15, the duo of Skyler Stevens and Grant McCraney brought the program a state championship after an amazing first-place finish. They brought in a bag of 20.72 pounds and locked in the program's third team in the national tournament. Alongside Stevens and McCraney the other boats finished within a few pounds of their teammates. Hayes Finch and Parker McKee pulled in 17.69 pounds for 6th place. Connor Green and Peter West had 16.89 pounds for 10th place. The solo angler Matthew Bennett had 16.50 pounds for 11th place. 

"I'm very proud of all our teams for working hard all year and all of them that competed in this tournament put themselves in position to win with just needing another quality fish or two. Obviously, it's great for our program to have a team win the state championship. Really proud for Grant and Skyler and our program for now having 3 teams qualified for the Bassmaster national championship tournament." said Coach John Pollard. 

With the first-place finish Stevens and McCraney join their teammates Hayes Pate and Garrett Sullivan who qualified for the national tournament back in the fall and teammates Connor Green and Peter West who qualified this spring. 

The three teams will return to action when they head to Lake Cherokee on July 10-12 for the Bassmaster Collegiate National Championship in Jefferson City, Tenn.