NATCHITOCHES –Three incoming Northwestern State University students were named recipients of this year’s Dylan Kyle Poche Memorial Fishing Scholarships. They are Ayden Slack of Vivian and Caleb Johnson and Colin Cosenza, both of Many, who will join NSU’s competitive Bass Fishing Team.
The scholarships are funded by the Poche family through proceeds from the Dylan Kyle Poche Memorial Bass Tournament that took place March 23 on Toledo Bend Lake. With more than 284 entries, this year’s tournament was the largest to date and raised $43,500. In addition to scholarships, proceeds from the tournament also help the NSU Bass Fishing Team to defray expenses as they attend tournaments around the country.
The Dylan Kyle Poche Memorial Fishing Scholarship was established by Poche’s parents, Burt and Shelley Poche and Misty Ott. Poche was a 2015 graduate of Natchitoches Central High School and an avid outdoorsman. He excelled at tournament fishing and was a member of the NCHS Fishing Team and the NSU Fishing Team as a freshman. He passed away in January 2016.
The NSU Fishing Team is open to all students and taps into the growing popularity of organized competitive bass fishing. The team competes in FLW, B.A.S.S. and Collegiate Bass circuits. For more information on the NSU’s Fishing Team, contact team sponsor Drake Owens at owensd@nsula.edu.
Pictured: This year’s Dylan Kyle Poche Memorial Bass Tournament raised $43,500, to support the NSU Fishing Team and scholarships for incoming anglers. From left are Burt Poche, Colin Cosenza, Caleb Johnson, Ayden Slack and Shelley Poche.
