The University of Pikeville will be adding to its roster of sports when it starts a competitive bass fishing team.
 
The Bears plan to begin competing in the Fall 2024 semester.
 
Bass fishing will be the first addition to the athletics department since the start of co-ed archery in the Fall 2017 semester.
 
"We're always looking for ways to enhance our department of athletics," said Corey Fipps, director of athletics. "Bass fishing is a relatively new sport that is growing quickly. We're excited to offer our students this opportunity."
 
UPike will begin taking applications for the head coaching position immediately.
 
Bass fishing is a rapidly growing sport across the nation, and the Commonwealth of Kentucky is no exception. In the 2012-13 school year, the Kentucky High School Athletics Association became one of three governing bodies to add it as an official sport, along with Illinois and Tennessee.
 
There are three organizations for collegiate bass fishing: the Bassmaster College Series debuted in 2005, followed by the inaugural Association of Collegiate Anglers (ACA) Cabela's Collegiate Bass Fishing Tournament Series in 2006 and FLW College Fishing was introduced in 2009.