The Bellville Herd

 

NEWSROOM

 

A Brahma Video Productions Student Newsroom

Billy Joe Scheil
Bellville Branglers Coordinator
Email: 

Laura Novak
BHS Contact
Room:  301
Email: lnovak@bellvillebrahmas.org

The Bellville Branglers are Bellville High School students who participate in competitive bass fishing through the Texas High School Bass Association (THSBA). Follow the team throughout the season for tournament results, student accomplishments, and stories about the anglers and their experiences on the water.

  • Upcoming tournaments and schedules
  • Tournament results and standings
  • Individual and team accomplishments
  • Qualifying and championship opportunities
  • Angler profiles and feature stories
  • Tournament preparation and strategy
  • Team activities and special events

For information, begin with Laura Novak, the BHS contact. She can help connect you with Billy Joe Scheil, the program sponsor, and the students involved when needed.

Covering the Bellville Branglers Beat

Start Here

  1. Introduce yourself to Mrs. Novak and explain that you are covering the Bellville Branglers for the BVP Newsroom.
  2. Mrs. Novak is your BHS contact for this beat. Billy Joe Scheil is the Branglers’ program sponsor but is not a Bellville ISD employee.
  3. Ask Mrs. Novak how she prefers you to communicate with her and how you should contact Mrs. Scheil when information or an interview is needed.
  4. Ask for the team’s current tournament schedule and any other important dates.
  5. Find out which Bellville students are currently participating and how the team is organized.
  6. Check with Mrs. Novak regularly for updates, but be prepared to communicate with Mrs. Scheil when you need information directly from the program.
  7. When you discover a possible story, submit it as a pitch before beginning full coverage unless your teacher tells you otherwise.

Your Responsibilities

  • Check for Branglers updates at least once each news cycle.
  • Keep track of upcoming THSBA tournaments and other team activities.
  • Maintain contact with Mrs. Novak and, when appropriate, Mrs. Scheil.
  • Watch for activities, accomplishments, and competitions that could become stories.
  • Pitch promising stories to the newsroom.
  • Arrange interviews and coverage in advance.
  • Confirm student names, tournament locations, weights, standings, and results before publication.
  • Follow up after tournaments to obtain results, photographs, and reactions.

Important

The Bellville Branglers participate in the Texas High School Bass Association (THSBA). Billy Joe Scheil is the program sponsor, while Laura Novak serves as the BHS contact for BVP students covering the team.

Fishing tournaments may take place away from campus and outside normal school hours. Do not assume you are authorized to attend a tournament. Discuss any plans for on-location coverage with your teacher in advance.

A tournament result is only the starting point of the story. Don’t simply report where the Branglers finished. Find out how they got there—what happened on the water, what worked, what didn’t, what challenges they faced, and what the result means for the anglers and their season.

Reporting Your Branglers Stories

Possible Story Ideas
  • The Branglers prepare for an upcoming THSBA tournament.
  • Bellville anglers compete in a tournament.
  • A team or angler earns a high tournament finish.
  • A team qualifies for a championship or advances in competition.
  • An angler catches an especially large or noteworthy fish.
  • The Branglers reach a team or individual milestone.
  • A new student joins the Branglers.
  • An experienced angler helps or mentors a newer team member.
  • Students explain how they prepare for competitive bass fishing.
  • A feature follows an angler through tournament preparation.
  • Students discuss choosing fishing locations, lures, and techniques.
  • Weather or lake conditions create an unusual challenge.
  • A tournament produces a close or unexpected result.
  • A Bellville angler earns recognition through THSBA.
  • The team participates in a fundraiser, community activity, or special event.
  • A graduating senior reflects on competing with the Branglers.
  • The team prepares for or competes in its final tournament of the season.
Signs There May Be A Story

Pay attention when:

  • A tournament is approaching.
  • Bellville anglers return from a tournament with results or photographs.
  • An angler or team earns a high finish.
  • Someone qualifies for the next level of competition.
  • An angler catches an unusually large fish.
  • A student achieves a personal best.
  • The team accomplishes something for the first time.
  • Weather, water conditions, or another challenge significantly affects a tournament.
  • An angler makes an unusual comeback or overcomes a difficult start.
  • A student has an interesting reason for becoming involved in competitive fishing.
  • A new angler joins the program.
  • A student develops significantly during the season.
  • A tournament has an especially close or unexpected finish.
  • Someone receives an award, scholarship, or other recognition.
  • You hear an angler, sponsor, parent, or teammate say, “We’ve never had that happen before.”
Questions to Ask: The 5 W's and 1 H

You will not necessarily ask every question below. Select the questions that fit your story and ask follow-up questions whenever an answer is unclear or incomplete.

Who was involved?

  • Which Bellville anglers competed?
  • Who fished together as a team?
  • Who served as the boat captain?
  • Who helped the anglers prepare?
  • Who earned recognition or placed in the tournament?
  • Who should be recognized for helping make the competition possible?

What happened?

  • What tournament did the Branglers compete in?
  • What happened during the tournament?
  • What were the team’s or anglers’ results?
  • What was the total weight of the fish weighed in?
  • What was the largest fish caught?
  • What went particularly well?
  • What problems or challenges did the anglers encounter?
  • What made this tournament different or noteworthy?

When did it happen?

  • When was the tournament?
  • What time did competition begin and end?
  • How long did the anglers have to fish?
  • When did the team begin preparing?
  • When is the next tournament?

Where did it happen?

  • What lake or body of water hosted the tournament?
  • Where was the tournament weigh-in?
  • How far did the team travel?
  • Where on the lake did the anglers spend most of their time, if they are comfortable discussing it?
  • Where is the next tournament scheduled?

Why does it matter?

  • Why was this tournament important?
  • Why did the anglers choose the strategy they used?
  • Why did conditions make the tournament easier or more difficult?
  • Why did the student become involved in competitive fishing?
  • Why was this result significant for the angler or team?
  • What does competitive fishing require that people unfamiliar with the sport might not realize?

How did it happen?

  • How did the anglers prepare?
  • How did they decide where and how to fish?
  • How did weather and water conditions affect their strategy?
  • How many fish did they catch and weigh in?
  • How is a THSBA tournament scored?
  • How did the team finish compared with the rest of the field?
  • How did the anglers adjust when their original strategy wasn’t working?
  • How does the result affect the remainder of their season?

Questions for Bellville Anglers

  • How did the tournament go from your perspective?
  • What was your strategy going into the tournament?
  • What conditions did you encounter?
  • Did you have to change your strategy during the day?
  • What was the biggest challenge?
  • What was the most memorable moment?
  • Was there one catch that made a major difference?
  • What were you thinking as you approached weigh-in?
  • What did you learn from this tournament?
  • What would you do differently next time?
  • How did you get involved in competitive bass fishing?
  • What do people misunderstand about tournament fishing?
  • What are you working to improve before the next tournament?
  • What comes next for you and the team?

Questions for the Program Sponsor/Boat Captain

  • How did the Bellville anglers perform?
  • What stood out about their performance?
  • What conditions did the anglers face?
  • How did the students prepare for this tournament?
  • How have the anglers improved during the season?
  • What skills are students developing through competitive fishing?
  • How does THSBA competition work?
  • How significant was this result?
  • What should people know about the work that goes into a tournament?
  • What comes next for the Branglers?
People You May Need to Interview

Depending on the story, consider interviewing:

  • The Bellville anglers involved in the story
  • Billy Joe Scheil, Branglers program sponsor
  • Laura Novak, BHS contact
  • The student’s fishing partner
  • The team’s boat captain
  • An angler who earned a notable finish
  • A first-year Brangler
  • A graduating senior
  • Parents or others who assist the team, when appropriate
  • Other Bellville anglers who can explain what happened
  • Tournament or THSBA representatives when information needs clarification

Whenever possible, interview the students themselves. Mrs. Novak can help you make contact and locate information, but she is the BHS contact rather than the program sponsor and may not have firsthand knowledge of everything that occurred at a tournament.

What You Need to Collect

Before writing or producing the story, collect:

  • Complete and correctly spelled names of everyone involved
  • Each student’s grade level
  • Names of fishing partners/teams
  • Name of the boat captain, when relevant
  • Official tournament name
  • Tournament date and location
  • Name of the lake or body of water
  • Number of teams or anglers competing, when available
  • Bellville’s official finishing position
  • Number of fish weighed in
  • Official total weight
  • Weight of the largest fish, when relevant
  • Any awards, qualifications, or recognition earned
  • Verified tournament results
  • An explanation of what made the performance noteworthy
  • Information about weather and water conditions when they affected the story
  • What happened during the competition—not merely the final result
  • What happens next for the anglers
  • At least one useful quote from a Bellville angler
  • A useful quote from the sponsor, boat captain, or another knowledgeable adult when appropriate
  • Photographs or video from the tournament when available
  • Identification of everyone shown in photographs
  • The source used to confirm official results

For tournament-result stories, also collect:

  • Official standings
  • Bellville’s place in the field
  • Total weight
  • Number of fish weighed
  • Any advancement or qualification resulting from the finish
  • Enough information to explain what the result means in the context of the season
Before You Leave

Ask yourself:

  • Do I have the correct spelling of every name?
  • Do I know each student’s grade level?
  • Do I know who fished together?
  • Do I know the boat captain, if relevant?
  • Do I have the exact tournament name?
  • Do I know when and where it happened?
  • Have I confirmed the official results?
  • Do I have the correct finishing position?
  • Have I verified fish totals and weights rather than relying on someone’s memory?
  • Do I understand what made this tournament or performance noteworthy?
  • Do I know what conditions the anglers faced?
  • Do I know what happened during the tournament, not just the final result?
  • Do I know what happens next?
  • Did I interview at least one Bellville angler?
  • Do I have a strong quote—not merely “It was fun” or “I’m excited”?
  • Do I have usable photographs or video?
  • Can I identify everyone shown in my photographs?
  • Do I know who confirmed the official results?
  • If I don’t understand a fishing term, rule, or result, did I ask someone to explain it before I left?