To challenge students to build greater character, stronger minds, and bigger faith through fishing and the outdoors.
Riley foresaw a nationally competitive fishing team, one with an inviting culture that brings students together by creating a fun, safe place to belong.
“Hey Mr. Schwartz!
I have an idea and lots of ways to go about it and I think it would be good for Weddington! I have a TON of friends who love to fish and said they would for sure join a team or club if we had one (hopefully fishing team). I have a close family friend who is best friends with a bassmaster whom both live in my home town back in Illinois. They coach a team for a local high school and they are looking into what it takes to make it a sport in public schools for me tomorrow!
They have been in the bassmaster tournament (a huge deal!) and they hand make lures and river hooks. They have just recently started making them for the public and have a website for it. They love the idea of students going out and fishing as a sport and being serious about it. They host these huge outdoor conventions and are trying to help out here. We live in the semi-countryside and there are plenty of high school fishers. I think it would be cool to get our school and maybe some other schools to get teams for friendly competition.
These guys that wanna help are both strong Christian men and are all for students getting out and fishing and think it’s a good way to keep all of us out of trouble and have a good time. I know you love sports and are heavily involved in Weddington High School. What do you think about the idea? I’d like to know your opinion about it. PS. Code Orange Revival is so great! If you need seats and can’t get in let me know!
My family is really involved with elevation and can get u reserved seats with us! I’ve never felt so different and good as I have been recently after elevation. I don’t know where I would be without elevation right now. It’s helping my life a lot and who knows maybe I could even get some of the fishing team to come too, but let me know what u think!
Thanks, really appreciate it! Riley Laymon.”
7 days after this letter was written, Riley tragically lost his life in an automobile accident. In the wake of their son’s death, Riley’s parents, Tom and Lisa Laymon, received a copy of the letter that Riley had written outlining his desire to see a fishing club started at his school. With the support of friends, family, and the Charlotte community, the Laymon’s launched Riley’s Catch, a high school bass fishing club, and laid the foundation to see Riley’s dream come to life. Since Riley’s Catch began, hundreds of students have been impacted by Riley’s vision, with fishing and the outdoors as the context for inviting them into a greater life and stronger community.
