Illinois will become the first state to have a statewide bass-fishing tournament at the high school level in the spring of 2009.

The big step came Monday. The Illinois High School Association's board of directors approved a recommendation from executive director Marty Hickman to add the bass-fishing tournament "as an IHSA activity beginning in the spring of 2009, provided that adequate sponsorships are secured in advance for the tournament."

That won't be a holdup. The concept is innovative enough that sponsors will flock to it. (If I've already been contacted by one of the biggest national players in outdoors since my first column about the tournament Sept. 16, I assure you the IHSA has heard from many more.)

"The level of support for a bass-fishing tournament, from both our membership and from other non-school groups, has demonstrated clearly to our board that this event is one with potential tremendous value to our schools," Hickman said. read more