Cody Thomas
Cody Thomas, a senior at Silverdale Baptist Academy, signed scholarship papers to fish on Bryan College's inaugural bass fishing team. Collegiate fishing is becoming more popular each year, but most schools still consider it a club sport and do not give scholarships. Mr. Thomas will be fishing again this year for the second-year fishing team at SBA. In addition, he also plays football and baseball for the Seahawks. Mr. Thomas said he had “no idea” that fishing would be his path to college. “It’s really neat how everything worked out. God let everything come together.”
Silverdale coach Brent Brady loves the leadership that Mr. Thomas brings. In addition, he believes his development in knowledge and adaptability on the water has come a long way in the last year. Mr. Brady says, “I feel he’ll grow in each aspect in college as well.”
Bryan coach Mike Keen said a fishing team was a “natural” fit for our college. “We’re right across the road from the Dayton Boat Dock. This year we’re putting a team together. Hopefully next year we’ll be fishing. We feel we hit a home run with Cody. I’d like to have 10 or 12 more like him. It’s easy to find kids who want to come and fish, but finding kids like this is a little more difficult – who are serious about an education and who love the Lord and want to grow spiritually.”
SBA coach Brent Brady, a 30-year pro angler said, “This is exciting to me. These kids can’t play football or baseball all their lives, but they can fish the rest of their lives.”