By Tammy Millsaps
Year four, for the Swaingler Club is already here! Plans, expectations and hopes are underway by club members and myself. Our first trip was in September four years ago at Lake Fontana 288 Boat Access. Most of the members from that year have graduated. Current Senior, Zach Franklin has been an active member since day one of the club. He states his favorite activity in the club is âgoing fishing during school and 288 is my favorite!â His hope for the club is to have more than one all-day trip, like the end of the year fishing tournament. I agree with Zach. I would love to take the students on an educational field trip. The Swainglers welcome any ideas or suggestions. Email them to Tammy Millsaps at tmillsaps@swainmail.org.
Swainglers have a lot of new faces this year with a waiting list already growing. Senior RaeAnn Hoke is new to the group. She wants to âhave fun and meet new peopleâ.
The following group of freshmen are excited and expressed their enthusiasm for the upcoming year:
Ronnie Griggs said, âIâm gonna to outfish everybody!â
Cayden Shuler said he plans to âOutfish Bubba!â
Bubba Peterson said he intends to âOutfish Cayden!â
Veteran member Campbell Fullerâs motto is âIâd rather be fishing!â
Stefan Haymond stated his plans are to âCatch a fish for once and not to fall in the water!â
As much as we all love to catch fish, itâs not the catch that counts. I love taking âmy kidsâ on our trips. The beginning, when they board the bus with fishing gear in hand and a huge smile on their faces, excited to reach our destination. Once the bus stops and the door opens, the kids practically run to their favorite honey hole in high hopes of setting the hook. Forty-five minute fishing time is over so soon. Members are back on the bus bragging about their successes and, of course, the big one that got away!
Iâm excited to see what this year brings to the Swainglers. Most of all, I pray for a safe year!
Tammy Millsaps is the Leader of The Swainglers fishing club at Swain County High School in Bryson City, North Carolina. They fish once a month of the school year during club time. Contact her at tmillsaps@swainmail.org for more information or to support this popular club.