Lane Morris signs with Central Alabama Community College's bass fishing team

CHILDERSBURG, Ala. - Early mornings, long summer evenings, and weekend tournaments have long been part of the routine for Childersburg High School senior Lane Morris. That time on the water has now led him to the next level.

Morris signed a scholarship on Monday afternoon, May 11, to continue his fishing career at Central Alabama Community College, where he will be a member of the school's bass fishing team.

CACC's program competes across a wide range of circuits, from local events to national stages. The schedule regularly includes Southern Collegiate Bass tournaments, the Major League Abu College Fishing Circuit, Bassmaster College Series events, and Association of Collegiate Anglers tournaments.

For Morris, this decision came into focus as he mapped out his future.

He said he had long planned to attend CACC before eventually transferring to Auburn, but when he began exploring scholarship opportunities, he realized the school had a bass fishing team.

After expressing his interest to the program and head coach Michael McLain, that opportunity turned into a scholarship offer.

McLain, who has been involved with the program since 2013, said the team has built a track record of qualifying for national championships and consistently placing in tournaments in recent years. He expects that standard to continue with athletes like Morris.

"[Lane] is going to hold himself to a high standard, which is what we expect here at CACC."

Morris' foundation in the sport goes back to early childhood.

"I would ride in the boat with my dad and Matt Vansandt and fish Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays every week for months on end."

At Childersburg, Morris balanced his pursuit of fishing with three years on the varsity baseball team. It was not always easy. Spring schedules often collided with prime fishing time and tournaments, forcing him to make tough choices about where to be.

Still, he found a way to be keep a foot in both worlds.

He said he was able to fish on Saturdays and Sundays, though it meant missing some Sunday baseball workouts. Morris credited head baseball coach Will Donahoo for working with him along the way.

Donahoo, who coached Morris from his sophomore through senior seasons, said that commitment showed up in everything he did.

"This [scholarship] goes to show that [Lane's] work ethic on the baseball field ultimately transpired into another avenue."

Donahoo also praised Morris' parents, April and Steven, for the role they played in his development.

Morris has not slowed down in preparing for what is next.

"I'm usually trying to fish every weekend or every other weekend if I have the opportunity to fish."

That routine and time on the water will continue when he arrives at CACC this fall, with the season expected to get underway around September.