By Julie Rowley
I wanted to bring to your attention an inspiring local sports story that deserves recognition.
Two outstanding high school anglers from our West Valley community recently claimed victory at the Arizona High School Bassmasters state championship, held on May 18 at Lake Havasu.
Their first-place finish earned the two-person team a coveted spot to compete at the 2025 High School Fishing National Championship, taking place June 24 to 28 at Grand Lake in Grove, Oklahoma.
In addition to representing Arizona on the national stage, these young anglers will also participate in the prestigious 16th Annual High School Fishing World Finals, held concurrently during that week.
Both anglers were born and raised in Surprise. One of the anglers, Jack Rowley, recently graduated from American Leadership Academy-West Foothills. Jack Zimmerman attended Shadow Ridge, but recently transferred to online school and just wrapped up his junior year.
Both young men grew up fishing the Surprise community pond, where their passion for the sport began. What started as weekend outgoings and long summer days has grown into a competitive pursuit that now places them among the top high school anglers in the country.
This is a major accomplishment in the competitive youth fishing world, and a proud moment for their schools and community. It’s not just a win, it’s a chance for these young men to showcase their skills on a national level and possibly open doors for future collegiate fishing opportunities and scholarships.
I am an extremely proud parent, which is why I am reaching out. I hope you will consider spotlighting this achievement in the Surprise Independent, and help celebrate the dedication, sportsmanship and success of these young men in our local sports scene.
