ROSS BUCHINGER
Eight years ago, the Appleton North Fishing Team was just a dream. Our son, inspired by a segment on Larry Smith Outdoors about high school fishing, began talking about how amazing it would be to have a team at Appleton North. At the time, we encouraged him to pursue the idea and offered our support, though our own schedules were packed with other commitments.
Months later, at an outdoor show, he met Mark Boyd and struck up a conversation about fishing. Trent boldly asked if Mark would consider coaching a high school team — and to everyone’s surprise, Mark agreed. That moment marked the beginning of what would become the Appleton North Fishing Team.
To get started, Trent and Mark met with Chris Jones from the Neenah High School Fishing Team, who generously shared tips and insights on how to launch and run a successful team. They soon brought on Leon Fischer, another enthusiastic parent volunteer, to assist with coaching. Together, they started the team with just three participants.
The following year, the team grew to around 7–10 students — mostly friends who shared a passion for fishing. That’s when we officially got involved, helping out at tournaments and supporting the growing interest. Fast forward to today: the team now consists of 25–40 students each year, and our coaching staff has expanded to about 11 dedicated coaches. Although our own kids have long since graduated, we continue to coach and support the team. We’re especially proud that our children now return to help out, and we hope to see many other alumni come back in the future to give back in the same way.
The team competes under WIFA (Wisconsin Interscholastic Fishing Association), which allows our students to compete against hundreds of teams across the state. WIFA tournaments are as competitive and intense as any traditional high school sport — and our team has risen to the challenge. Over the years, we’ve consistently placed well in tournaments. Highlights include a first-place finish in a team qualifier and a top 10 finish at the state tournament this past season. Past accolades include both first and third-place finishes at the state level.
From humble beginnings to a thriving, competitive program, the Appleton North Fishing Team is a story of youth initiative, supportive mentorship, and a community brought together by a love of the outdoors.
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