Sibling duo reels in memorable state finale

Reed-Custer's Casting Comets once again proved they belong among Illinois' elite high school bass fishing teams as siblings Mady Meyer and Nathan Banach represented the school at the 2026 IHSA Bass Fishing State Finals on Lake Shelbyville.
Competing alongside their coach and boat captain, Pete Banach, and Head Coach Connie Rutherford, the Comets battled through two days of competition against the state's top anglers after earning their spot through an impressive postseason run.
The Reed-Custer duo entered the state tournament after capturing a regional championship and advancing through sectional competition to become one of just 60 teams statewide to qualify for the finals. Their accomplishment was even more remarkable considering more than 300 teams began the journey during regional competition.
Meyer and Banach got off to a strong start on the opening day of competition, bringing five fish to the scales for a total weight of 10 pounds, 5 ounces. Meyer landed the team's biggest fish of the tournament, a bass weighing 3 pounds, 8 ounces, helping the Casting Comets finish the day in 19th place.
Conditions proved challenging for many competitors on Day 2, but the Reed-Custer anglers once again found success on the water. The pair secured another five-fish limit and added 8 pounds, 6 ounces to their total, finishing the tournament with 18 pounds, 11 ounces.
Their second-day effort moved the Casting Comets to a final placement of 22nd in the state.
While qualifying for the state finals was an accomplishment in itself, what made this year's experience especially memorable was the family connection behind the team.
Meyer and Banach are siblings, and sharing the boat with their father, Pete Banach, serving as coach and boat captain, made the journey even more special.
The trio spent months preparing together, competing through the postseason and ultimately reaching the sport's biggest stage in Illinois high school fishing.
The season, however, is far from over.
Meyer, Nathan and Pete will be back on the water this weekend when they travel to compete in the Illinois BASS Nation (IBN) State Finals, scheduled for June 12-14.
After a successful run to the IHSA State Finals and a top-25 finish against the state's best, the Casting Comets have already made Reed-Custer proud. Now, the family team hopes to continue its momentum and create even more memories as they pursue another championship opportunity.