On Thursday, ConVal Bass Fishing team captains Lawton Fagiano and Tyler LeBlanc traveled to Moultonborough with coach Phil Mathewson to compete in the state qualifying tournament on Lake Winnipesaukee.
35 high school bass teams from across New Hampshire launched from Lee’s Mills boat launch in Moultonborough at 8 a.m. for the 6-hour NHIAA Bass Nation tournament.
Seniors Fagiano and LeBlanc are members of the six person bass team at ConVal High School. The two are joined by John Grossi and Jeffrey Pinkham, also seniors, and freshmen Skyler Fortin and Dalton Charleston who joined this year.
Head Coach Phil Mathewson has coached Fagiano and LeBlanc since bass fishing was added to ConVal’s Varsity sports program in 2013. This year, the team saw the addition of Assistant Coach Tim Grossi.
Fagiano and LeBlanc, who also took the 1st place trophy in the John Stark Regional High School Bass Invitational on Horace Lake on Sept. 10, landed 6 fish on Thursday for a total weight of 9.78 lbs. The total placed them in the top third of all schools competing, and was more than enough to secure their spots in the championship being held on Saturday, October 1 on Winnisquam Lake.
This is the 2nd trip to the championship for Fagiano and LeBlanc.