Georgia teen skips graduation, reels in $100,000 at bass fishing championship

Georgia’s Jack Story qualified for the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American on Lake Murray through a regional qualifier and elected to miss his high school graduation to race for the title. He captured the $100,000 first-place prize, which also earned him entries to REDCREST 2027 and the Toyota Series Championship. School leaders expressed disappointment but managed the situation as best they could, while a teacher hinted he should attend the ceremony.

Story’s victory made him the youngest winner ever, surpassing a record set fifteen years earlier by Jacob Wheeler, and he also outperformed his father, who had placed 34th in a prior All-American. The win brought increased media attention and future plans to fish for Carson-Newman and possibly the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals.