Community’s bass fishing team captured the inaugural Big 12 Conference championship on May 8 at Banner Marsh, sweeping both team and individual titles. 

Johnny Thomas, Nick Rosenlund and Will Newbold led the Big 12 performance, reeling in five fish totaling over 18 pounds. Their haul included a 4-pound, 14-ounce catch—just three ounces shy of earning Big Bass honors.

Community’s second boat—Adelynn McNamara, Cole Sanders, Flint Reece and Bennett Oyer—finished with three fish weighing more than 7 pounds.

Coach Derrick Schonauer said winning the inaugural Big 12 tournament was a milestone for the young program.

“We won the inaugural one, and it’s pretty cool,” Schonauer said. “We swept the team, we swept the individual boat, and then we were three ounces away from big fish of the day.”

The Ironmen’s postseason run ended at the IHSA Regional on May 15 at Lake Bloomington, where they did not advance to sectionals.

The regional introduced a new stage of postseason competition this year, requiring teams to finish in the top six to advance to sectionals.

“It’s fishing—it’s crazy. It differs day by day,” Schonauer said.

Though Community came up short, Schonauer praised his anglers for their passion this season.

“They love it. I mean, they’re obsessed with it,” Schonauer said. “They’re watching fishing on Saturday morning on TV. And any chance that they can read something or watch something and pick up some tips and tricks, they’re all for it.”