Two anglers from rival schools join forces to become the 2012 Arizona State High School Bass Fishing Champions
The Bass Federation (TBF), in partnership with FLW Outdoors, and the Arizona Bass Federation held the 2012 Student Angler Federation (SAF) Arizona High School Fishing State Championship on Lake Pleasant, Saturday, April 7. Students and coaches launched out of the South Ramp near Hook Up Outfitters in Peoria, Ariz.
Conditions on the lake were fierce as the anglers battled less than ideal conditions brought on by strong winds. After an eight hour grind, the teams and their captains headed back to the shores for the weigh in. Christian Borucki of Cactus Shadows High School in Cave Creek and Brandon Koon of Shadow Mountain High School in Paradise Valley were last to weigh in with an impressive 12.09 pounds. Their extraordinary efforts and unconventional approach that day amounted to a solid victory. “Owning the 2012 AZ State Championship is an incredible feeling” said Borucki, as years of effort and a carefully cultivated strategy played out on the water that day. “We didn’t fish bed fish until after we limited out later in the morning, Brandon’s big fish really put us over the top,” exclaimed Borucki. Everyone was a little surprised by its weight of only 3.36 pounds, but the team assured the crowd that it had just spawned out. This event offered The Bad Bass Fishing Team of Borucki and Koon one last opportunity to go out on top as both boys are seniors that wouldn’t be eligible for next year’s championship. They placed 3rd in 2011’s SAF State Championship so the team quickly set their sights on claiming the title in 2012. Koon is no stranger to big wins either; He was part of the team that won the 2011 High School Fishing World Finals on Lake Dardanelle last July. Continue reading
