Vikings anglers ready for state

LONDON MILLS — With a tributary of water in its name, it seems only appropriate Spoon River Valley High School has a bass fishing team. 

Plus, the school mascot is the Vikings. 

Spoon River’s anglers are unique in that most of the school’s other athletic teams co-op with Cuba High School as the North Fulton Wildcats. Cuba also has a standalone bass fishing team, and they’re the Cardinals. 

Mike Quick, the Vikings’ coach, likes to throw a line in the water and catch cats. Fish, of course, and he’s not very familiar with casting for bass. However, four of the 10 members of Valley’s team will compete in the state bass fishing tournament this weekend at Carlyle Lake, located in southern Illinois and not far from St. Louis.