Bassmaster Elite Series angler Skeet Reese announced today that he has agreed to sponsor the Oklahoma State University fishing team, making him the first pro angler to officially provide sponsorship support and mentorship to a collegiate fishing team.
OSU competes in the B.A.S.S. College Fishing Series.
As a part of the sponsorship, Reese will provide each team member with some of his signature Wright & McGill Co. fishing rods and Victory reels as well as Lazer TroKar hooks. The six-time B.A.S.S. winner will provide also 2 days of hands-on mentorship of the team.
"I have always felt strongly about sharing my love of fishing in the hopes of being a part of growing the sport of bass fishing," said Reese. "College fishing programs are one of the most immediate ways to inject new anglers into the competitive side of the sport, and I want to be a part of helping foster their growth in the sport.
"These students have proven to be passionate anglers who will go to some of the same lengths to compete as we do on tour, and helping them with a little bit of gear is a way to help offset costs," he added. “But, really, spending some time to give them some of the things I've learned throughout my career; both on and off the water, is really what this is about."
Chase Edmiston, president of the OSU fishing team, said he and his teammates are excited about having Reese’s support.
"Our goal every year is to win the School of the Year program," said Edmiston. "The Association of Collegiate Anglers ranks all college teams according to participation and overall performance in all collegiate tournaments throughout the year. In my opinion, an award like this is the greatest honor in fishing because it represents the body of work throughout an entire season.
"What better way to accomplish this goal than to have Skeet Reese as our mentor? He knows what it takes to win and to succeed in the business. The entire team was ecstatic to hear that Skeet would be mentoring us; we are excited for him to come speak to us about his career and give us pointers on how to succeed. Providing us with some of his sponsor product in Wright & McGill Co., Eagle Claw and TroKar is also a really nice added benefit as well."
