2026 Strike King Bassmaster College Championship in Minnesota.
Snead State Community College anglers Mason George of Albertville and Walker Griffith of Ashville recently capped a remarkable collegiate fishing season by competing in the 2026 Strike King Bassmaster College Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops on Leech Lake in Walker, Minnesota.
George and Griffith finished 64th out of 134 teams in the national championship tournament. The Aug. 20-22 championship featured the nation’s top collegiate fishing teams that qualified through Bassmaster’s Legends and Lunkers divisions.
The championship appearance marked a milestone for Snead State, as George and Griffith became the first anglers in program’s history to qualify for the national tournament. They earned the opportunity after a standout season that included being named Southern Collegiate Open Anglers of the Year and finishing No. 1 in the Southern Collegiate Open Angler of the Year standings. The duo also claimed first place at the Southern Collegiate Open on Logan Martin Lake earlier this year.
“We are incredibly proud of Mason and Walker,” said Snead State President Dr. Joe Whitmore. “Qualifying for a national championship is a tremendous accomplishment, and they represented Snead State with class and determination throughout the season and at the championship tournament.”
Team sponsor Dr. Tom Warren said the anglers’ success reflects their dedication and hard work.
“Mason and Walker have elevated the profile of our fishing program and demonstrated what student-athletes from Snead State can accomplish,” Warren said. “Their season has been one of the most successful in program history.”
The tournament was won by a team representing the University of Montevallo but with a Snead State connection. The team of Brody Robison and Peyton Sorrow captured the national championship with a three-day total of 61 pounds, 3 ounces. Robison, a Dawson native, has attended Snead State Community College as a transient student while attending the University of Montevallo. He is also the son of Tammy Robison, Career Tech Specialist at Snead State.