The Benton High School Team of Dailus Richardson and Trevor McKinney take the top honors at the Illinois BASS Nation High School State Championship at Lake Springfield. This will be their last event as high Schooler as they will be attending McKendree College this fall as freshmen.

As the weigh in progressed Minooka High School team of Anthony Fazio and Grant Olsen occupied the hot seats with a 5 fish limit at 13.48 lbs. Team after team came close but they remained the leaders. After half the field weighed in their fish Tyler Lubbat and Nolan Siera, from Buffalo Grove High School came up with a big bag of their own at 16.23 lbs. and took over the hot seats. They were feeling very comfortable for a while until the Benton High School Team, Dailus and Trevor came up with what looked like a heavy bag if fish. At this point Tyler and Nolan not only had the lead but also Big Bass at 4.56 lbs. and Benton was the last team to weigh in. The Benton team reached into the bag to pull out their big bass to be weighed and it came in at 4.70 lbs. taking the Big Bass for the event. As Benton’s limit of 5 fish went on the scale all 4 anglers looked on. The scale finally stopped at an even 21lbs. putting Dailus and Trevor in the top spot for the event. Their limit at 21 lbs. is the highest recorded weight at any IBN High School Series event.

What a way to end your high school bass fishing years. Good luck at the Nationals.

By Frank Labanowski – IBN Youth Director

The Benton Team has had a great run as high school anglers. The have won too many tournaments to mention. They have qualified for the Bassmaster High School National Championship several times. They are members of the Bassmaster High School All American Team and won that event as well. Trevor and Dailus also took top honors at the Bassmaster Classic High School event. Now, after receiving scholarships, they will be on their way to McKendree College to compete as members of their Bass Fishing Team. They have been great ambassadors for Illinois High School bass fishing and the Illinois BASS Nation wishes them success in the future. They will again be going to compete at the Bassmaster High School National Championship in August.