Dalton Wilson’s transfer to a smaller university was actually an upgrade in his sport of bass fishing.
Wilson moved from the University of Alabama to Bethel University in McKenzie, Tenn., at the beginning of 2012. In the process, he joined the first college in the nation to classify its bass team as an athletic sport –– meaning the team recruits and provides athletic scholarships for its team members like those on baseball, basketball and football teams.
Wilson, who spent one year at Alabama, was offered an $8,000 scholarship to join the Bethel Bass Cats. It was an easy decision to accept.
“It has been a good move for Dalton,” said Wilson’s father, Jimmy. “Alabama was tough because of the size of the school. Here he can focus on his grades, he has a great scholarship to pay for his schooling and he is on one of the No. 1 teams in the nation.”
A three-time Missouri state champion, Dalton joined the Alabama bass finishing team after graduating from Houston High School in 2009. Although he had a positive experience there, he was lost in the shuffle of a big university. Also, the cost of attending classes was high for a non-resident of the state.
Bethel was familiar with Wilson from his high school days. His accolades included 28 top 10 finishes from 2005-’10 and 14 first-place finishes. He also made two appearances at the Junior World Championships.
When coach Garry Mason contacted the Wilsons about Dalton potentially joining the 2011 collegiate champions, they were extremely interested. The addition of a scholarship to pay for his tuition sealed the decision.
“They wanted him. That meant a lot,” Jimmy said.
Dalton was recruited by one of the top names in collegiate bass fishing. Bethel won the Southern Collegiate Championship and the Southern Collegiate Triple Crown in April. The university was the first bass fishing team to remain undefeated during the Southern Collegiate series in the history of that bass fishing series event. The team topped Division I teams like Alabama, Auburn, Tennessee and others. The squad also repeated as Southern Collegiate Champions this past season –– a feat Dalton compares to football teams going undefeated in the Southeastern Conference.
When Dalton signed with the university, coach Mason said he brought diversity of fishing in different types of waters to the program.
“Dalton’s move from the University of Alabama to Bethel University proves Bethel has become the who’s who of college bass fishing in America,” Mason said. “We are so glad to have Dalton join the Bethel Bass Cats.”
Dalton, who competed in numerous club events and tournaments at Alabama, said competing at the college level was much more challenging than his teenage years in Missouri.
“It’s a complete different level of fishing,” he said. “These teams select the best people they have on their teams to compete.”
“A lot of these kids come from pro fishing backgrounds,” Jimmy said. “It’s unreal the level they’re at now. They are basically the big boys, they just don’t have the money to get into the big tournaments.”
Jimmy said the move to Bethel has already benefited his son. Dalton, who is pursuing a criminal justice degree in hopes of joining the water patrol, had a 4.0 grade-point average during his spring semester at the school. He has financial assistance and has been guaranteed a roster spot on the Bass Cats’ varsity team.
Outside of college, Wilson has numerous sponsors that include Strike King Lures, Wiley X and Carhartt. He recently represented Bethel at the Bass Master Classic.
“The public around here doesn’t know because they don’t see him, but he’s knocking the socks off it down there,” Jimmy said. “For them to come wanting him and to offer such a scholarship, it was a great deal for us. He can get the education he wants and fish, too.”
The public around here doesn’t know because they don’t see him, but he’s knocking the socks off it down there”