|
Photos of Wes Townsel and his two sons, Cody and Tanner, were set up at the WTC (Wes, Cody and Tanner Townsel) Memorial Family Fishing Fun Day held Saturday at Sunbeam Lake. (Elizabeth Varin Photo / May 20, 2012) |
SEELEY — Though 4-year-old Michael Zavala wasn’t using his own fishing pole, he still caught one of the longest fish of all the kids who surrounded Sunbeam Lake on Saturday.
More than 18 inches long, the catfish wiggled as he pulled it out of the lake to show off what he had caught. He likes to go fishing, and Saturday provided an opportunity to head out with more than 100 other Imperial Valley residents to support local scholarships and a family that had lost much.
The Townsel family held its annual WCT Townsel Memorial Family Fishing Fun Day on Saturday morning, drawing crowds to the lake stocked full of fish. This was the fourth year of the event, and the turnout this year was great, said Jayme Wilson, sister of Jennifer Townsel.
The event is in memory of Wes Townsel and his two sons, Cody and Tanner, who died in May 2009. The three were heading out to fish when a large tanker truck hit their pickup.
The fishing day is free for those who attend, and 100 children got free fishing poles at the beginning of the event, Wilson said. Even more wanted them, though.
While the event was free, the group raised funds at booths. The money goes toward two scholarships and into the college fund for Haleigh Townsel, the youngest child of Wes and Jennifer Townsel.
Luis Heinecke, 17, of Central Union High School and Skylar Leal, 18, of Imperial High School were both awarded the scholarships and said they were happy when they were told about it, though neither knows how much they will get this year.
“I felt honored that I actually got the scholarship because I know it’s a big thing in the Valley,” Luis said.
Both plan to head off to colleges, Neumont University for Luis to study computer science and the University of Oregon for Leal to study music.
The awards are given to swimmers at both schools because Wes Townsel went to Central Union High School and Jennifer Townsel went to Imperial High School, where she coaches swimming.
Beyond the funding for scholarships, many were out there just to enjoy themselves.
Alma Moreno brought her son Nicholas to the event, and though they hadn’t caught anything midway through the event, it was still fun, she said. Her family goes every year to the event because they like to fish.
“They’re enjoying themselves,” she said. “That’s what matters.”
Larissa Wilson, 9, of Holtville was also enjoying herself as she threw her fishing line in the water. She doesn’t fish that much, but has gone out to the family fishing event before when it was held at Bucklin Park. It’s a lot of fun, she said.
Staff Writer Elizabeth Varin can be reached at evarin@ivpressonline.com or 760-337-3441.
To comment on this story click here to be directed to Facebook.
