GSB Student Fishing Derby Hooked Family and Friends on the Beloved Sport 

Gill St. Bernard’s students, family, and friends came together on the banks of Lake Betsy, located on the sweeping front lawn of Home Winds Farm, to try their hand (or their fishing rod) at the first ever GSB Student Fishing Derby. 

Mother Nature cooperated for the day, providing a beautiful blue sky and bright sunshine, which allowed the young anglers, who ranged in age from 8 to 18, to try their luck with bait and tackle and to compete for one of three fin-tastic prizes. 

GSB Fishing Club Advisor Fernando Gomez and members of the GSB Fishing Club were on site to help with baiting, unhooking fish, special casting, and fly-fishing lessons. The young students who participated in the derby discovered that every cast comes with a pinch of hope, drama, and mystery. 

“Smiles were everywhere,” Señor Gomez said, “and anglers were kept guessing: Is the bobber moving with the breeze or for a more exciting reason? If they were to catch a fish, which would it be: a trout, perch, sunfish, bass, or the fabled ‘one that got away’?” 

This first ever fishing derby was envisioned as an introduction to Home Winds, Lake Betsy, and the lifelong sport of fishing.  

“The fishing derby at Home Winds offered a unique opportunity for the school community to gather and fish at Lake Betsy,” said Board of Trustees member Tom Fischer P’16, who co-chaired the event.  

“It was a joy to see so many students and family members catch a fish—their faces lit up! It was a great day for all those who attended, and I hope it will become an annual GSB event each spring.” 

Board of Trustees member and Fishing Derby Co-Chair Brenda Liberti P ’24, 26 agreed.  

“We were so excited to showcase how special the Home Winds Farm is to the GSB community,” Brenda said. “It was a beautiful day filled with laughter and learning, and we hope to come back next year to catch the one that got away!” 

The GSB Student Fishing Derby was a wonderful opportunity for community members to spend time with family and friends, to connect with nature, and to spend time at Home Winds Farm. The day reminded us how lucky GSB is to have a beautiful farm right on its campus. 

A special congratulations goes out to our Fishing Derby prize winners:  

Biggest Fish: William Mercado ’30 
Smallest Fish: Natalie Simonelli ’31 
Most Fish Caught: Preston Mack ’32 

To learn more about the day, enjoy our photo gallery below!