Photo By Jeff Nagan | Indiana University Senior Andrew Yazdi (right) shows off his catch during a fishing...... read more read more
What started off as merely a conversation between two avid anglers a month ago, turned into a full-blown bass tournament on May 1, 2022, with the Indiana University and Purdue University fishing clubs partnering with service members to fish Naval Support Activity Crane’s Lake Greenwood.
Members of the two fishing teams were paired with service members from Naval Support Activity Crane, area recruiting stations, and Indianapolis Military Entrance Processing Station, who took 13 boats out on the installation’s 900-acre lake in search of the biggest catch.
“It was a super cool opportunity to be invited onto the base and take the various military personnel out for the day,” said Adam Troyer, an IU sophomore studying finance. “I wanted to participate in this event to give back, because without all of these service members we would not be able to do what we love each and every day.”
While the Sailors learned the art of bass fishing from the university students, they in turn learned a bit about the Navy and military missions in the state, added Troyer. Between reeling in fish, they shared stories and their experiences, becoming friends by the end of the day with a common passion for fishing.
“I wanted to participate in the event to learn more from and network with some members of the Navy,” said Andrew Yazdi, a senior from IU studying finance. “It was a lot of fun being able to fish with someone who we would normally never have the opportunity to fish with. Everyone had a great time fishing a great lake.”
Each pair caught dozens of fish, added Yazdi. Although many fish were smaller, some teams managed to reel in some bigger ones, with the largest catch being nabbed by Yazdi's partner Navy Lt. Cmdr. Luke Rayfield, the commanding officer for the Indianapolis MEPS.
“I liked spending the day outdoors on a beautiful lake with a great fishing partner,” said Rayfield. “It is great to continue to strengthen the relationship with the community that supports us. Bringing in the community and spending time with them on a personal level is very important.”
Plans are already underway to have a similar tournament between participating universities at NSA Crane next year, added Rayfield.
“I’d love to partner like this again,” said Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Ulric Mitchell, a regional Navy recruiter. “This gives the military the opportunity to get to know members of their community since a lot of times we may not be from the area. Likewise, the college team members may not know any service members. So it provides a wonderful opportunity to bring everyone together for a bit of fun.”
Although it was a competitive tournament, most of the collegiate anglers left the installation with a greater appreciation and understanding for Indiana’s military mission.
“I would love to do this again in the coming years,” said Troyer. “It provides us with a way to give back to the community in a way that’s personal to us. It is also a learning experience and a great way to meet new people who share the love of this sport.”
| Date Taken: | 05.01.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 05.04.2022 13:54 |
| Story ID: | 419899 |
| Location: | CRANE, IN, US |
| Hometown: | BLOOMINGTON, IN, US |
| Hometown: | WEST LAFAYETTE, IN, US |
| Web Views: | 312 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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