Rhea County High School has 49 students on its fishing team this semester.
Brian Derlak smiles in this 2005 file photo.Attach a mental sinker to that for a moment — FORTY-NINE Eagles anglers. Many football teams in the area don’t have that many on the roster. Emily Hand, who registers all of the B.A.S.S. organization’s high school teams throughout the nation, told Rhea coach Brian Derlak that his is the biggest group she’s ever processed, and that was with only 39 Eagles reaching her desk so far.
And the only reason the 49 are not an even 50 is that one angler fell short last semester of Derlak’s pass-every-class rule — no-pass-no-bass? — and has to sit out this semester.
“I have made academics the number-one priority in being able to remain on this fishing team,” the world history teacher said. “It is a reward to fish, not an entitlement.”
Apparently it’s a big enticement in the county that had three of the top 10 finishers in the elite FLW Tour’s points standings last year.