IHSA gives its blessing for '09 event, provided it can reel in sponsors

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February 13, 2008
BY DALE BOWMAN Staff Reporter
Illinois will become the first state to have a statewide bass-fishing tournament at the high school level in the spring of 2009.

The big step came Monday. The Illinois High School Association's board of directors approved a recommendation from executive director Marty Hickman to add the bass-fishing tournament ''as an IHSA activity beginning in the spring of 2009, provided that adequate sponsorships are secured in advance for the tournament.''

That won't be a holdup. The concept is innovative enough that sponsors will flock to it. (If I've already been contacted by one of the biggest national players in outdoors since my first column about the tournament Sept. 16, I assure you the IHSA has heard from many more.)

''The level of support for a bass-fishing tournament, from both our membership and from other non-school groups, has demonstrated clearly to our board that this event is one with potential tremendous value to our schools,'' Hickman said. ''Implementing such an activity will enable our schools to provide another opportunity for students that will enrich their educational experience and keep with the association's mission.''

That's the broad vision.

Dave Gannaway, an assistant executive director at the IHSA, will handle the details of implementing the vision. He took a few minutes Tuesday from handling details for the state wrestling tournament this weekend to provide some basic steps for the bass-fishing tournament. As soon as the wrestling tournament is over, he will move on to the fishing tournament.

To begin, he will assemble a committee of interested parties from all areas of the state. Any teachers, coaches, principals or athletic directors interested in being part of the committee should contact him promptly at dgannaway@ihsa.org.

Taft science teacher Michael Mulligan, the first educator to contact me after the Sept. 16 column, already sent in his interest.

''I'm going to start lining up volunteer support and reach out to some clubs,'' he e-mailed. ''I imagine the IHSA will try to get corporate sponsorship, but I will make a few calls myself.''

I don't think clubs will be a problem, either. Rich Pinkowski, an Oak Forest man who has been a state leader in club fishing for years, grabbed me Saturday at the Tinley Park fishing show and said clubs are just waiting on details.

''Students [who want to fish] and coaches should contact their school and let them know they are interested,'' Gannaway said. ''Information will be coming in the spring relative to the details.''

Schools will need to figure out how to form teams.

''The big step for us was to get the board to give us approval,'' Gannaway said. ''Now we can get information out on how this will be shaped.''

I can't wait. And I wish it had been around when I was a kid.