A Year of Hustle, a Kayak, and a Derby Victory
After a year of hard work running his trash-can and sidewalk pressure washing business, eleven-year old Rhodes Gresham bought his first kayak the night before the annual Windward Fishing Derby. The next morning, he used it to catch the largest dish in the entire competition.
Tournament best: 5 lb, 11 oz bass
Every year, Windward residents gather for the annual Fishing Derby, which was held this year on May 16th. For the Gresham family, who have called Windward home since 2008, the event has been a cherished tradition for their three sons. However, this year was different for eleven-year-old Rhodes Gresham.
After years of fishing from the community dock, Rhodes was able to get out onto Lake Windward for the first time with the help of a new kayak.
With dreams of getting onto the water and one day possibly winning the derby, Rhodes began saving money for a kayak at just ten years old. He started a trash-can pressure washing business and went door to door throughout Windward. After a year of diligence and dedication, he finally saved enough money to purchase the kayak the night before the derby.
The morning of May 16th was nothing short of exciting for Rhodes and the Gresham family,
“I didn’t really have breakfast that morning because I was so excited,” Rhodes said.
After only thirty minutes of casting, Rhodes felt a huge pull on his line. The catch turned out to be a 5-pound, 11-ounce largemouth bass, the largest fish caught in the entire derby. Not only did he win his age group (11-17yo), but he also took home the overall title.
From the shore, Bridgette watched as Rhodes fought to reel in his catch. “When he started reeling it in, I thought it was probably seaweed because he was really struggling, but then it was a really big fish and we were shocked” Bridgette said.
Reflecting on the victory, Rhodes is grateful he worked so hard, saved money, and put himself out there. Without that motivation, he believes he never would have won the derby.
“It has been great watching him because he has stayed motivated for a long time versus just having an idea and giving up on it” Bridgette said.
Rhodes' story serves as a testament to hard work, determination, and passion, a reminder that persistence can lead to incredible results. In the words of Rhodes, "keep going and don't let other people say you can't do it”.