Taft HS seeks boats for bass fishing team so more students can compete

by BRIAN NADIG

Taft High School has the only competitive bass fishing team in the Chicago Public Schools and is seeking the donation of bass fishing boats for the program.

Coach Scott Plencner said that many freshmen and sophomores are interested in the team, which competes in the fall and spring.

“I think we’re going to be strong for the next few years,” Plencner said. “We have 12 kids on the roster right now, but only two to five usually can participate in our tournaments due to the lack of boats.”

More than 70 schools participate in the IHSA-sanctioned sport. “It’s a lot of downstate schools,” he said.

Taft usually finishes “in the middle” in the state tournament, Plencner said. “You win by catching the five heaviest fish (for) a boat,” he said.

Some of the places the team fishes include Fox Chain O’Lakes, Delavan Lake and Skokie Lagoons.

The program is another option for students who may not be interested in other sports or clubs at the school, which has many to choose from. Taft, with about 4,250 students, is one of the largest schools in the state and has 34 varsity sports and more than 100 clubs.

The team is looking for boats with a livewell and a motor, preferably with a trolling motor, Plencner said.

“Or we need volunteers who have a boat like this and want to spread their love of fishing by driving a boat during a tournament,” he said, adding that volunteers play a key role to the team’s success. “It is actually kind of fun to watch the kids fish and coach them to victory.” Volunteer drivers do have to go through a routine background check per CPS rules.

The team was founded in 2009 by science teacher Mike Mulligan and was an inaugural member of the first IHSA fishing league.

The team also participates in the Illinois Coaches and Student State Tournament Trail.

For more information, contact Plencner at smplencner@cps.edu.

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