Fishing Club Makes LSCO History

August 5, 2019


LSCO Fishing Club

With dreams of big fish and big championships, the first anglers of the new Lamar State College Orange Fishing Club signed with the college, kicking off the club’s inaugural season.

Made up of all Orange County residents, the club members of Brett Fregia, Dagan Leger, Jack Tindel III, Melvin Kohn, and Trace Moore made history as the first members of the college’s Fishing Club. A signing ceremony was held Friday, August 2, 2019 in the Shahan Events Center and included the anglers, their families, LSCO faculty and staff, as well as community members.

“I’m so excited about what you’re doing,” LSCO President Dr. Thomas Johnson told the anglers. “You are the first. There may be others and that’s wonderful but you’ll always be the first. This means a great deal to our community.”

Dr. Johnson said the idea for a fishing club was first proposed to him before he officially became president of the campus last year. He praised Dean Gina Simar for the suggestion and thanked the club’s advisors, Thera Celestine and Captain Chris Horner, for being great people who know the fishing business.

Members of Fishing Club

Ms. Celestine said she loves fishing and is excited to lead the club. She, Captain Horner, and an executive board worked for months to finalize club’s details.

“We’ve spent a lot of time in meetings making this happen and I guarantee that everyone will be cheering for you,” she told the anglers.

The board members are Amie Smith, Chad Kemp, Cory Rambo, David Jones, Jack Tindel, Jessica Hill, John Gothia, Jonathan Simon, Larry Spears, Nelly Miller, and Trey Smith.

According to the club’s charter, it was created to educate anglers and develop angling skills with an emphasis on bass fishing, to promote sportsmanship through competition and fellowship, to encourage stewardship of natural resources, and to participate in community service.

“We created a fishing club to promote and compliment the great student life that we have on this campus,” Dr. Johnson said at the ceremony. “We have great clubs and organizations so our students can be part of something. We live in the best part of the world for fishing, no doubt about it.”

Dr. Johnson is quick to explain his goal with this new LSCO club.

“It’s simple – win a national championship,” he said.

The LSCO Fishing Club anglers must maintain a 2.0 GPA and be enrolled full time. The club will participate in B.A.S.S., Fishing League Worldwide, and Association of Collegiate Anglers Boats US tournaments.

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