He’s the first student in the history of AHS to receive a scholarship to compete in fishing in college. He is a member of the Aledo Anglers high school team.
“I am grateful for my fishing brothers from Aledo who started the team and those that built a solid program,” Cerja said. “Their passion and commitment gave anglers like me the opportunity to make it to the next level.
“I am the first Aledo angler to get a college fishing scholarship but I won’t be the last.”
Cerja said Drury is located in one of his favorite parts of the country in Springfield, Missouri.
“I chose Drury because the team is led by a highly respected coach (Rick Emmitt), the fishing team is consistently ranked in the top 10 in the nation,” Cerja said. “I will learn to become a better angler, and the education I will receive at Drury is superb.”
Cerja said he be majoring in criminology at Drury.
“During my Drury college visit I had the opportunity to meet the dean of the department, criminology students, and learn about Drury’s academics,” he said. “I take law classes at Aledo.
“My Aledo law classes have been my favorite. I enjoy learning about forensics, detective work, and law enforcement.”
Cerja has many accomplishments in his fishing career, but one stands above all - so far. In July of 2022 he and his partner, Gus Richardson, won the Bassmaster Junior National Championship.
He was in the eighth grade and beat the very best junior anglers in North America, about 50,000. He and Richardson are the only team from Texas to ever win Junior Nationals.
His high school resume’ includes several major tournament championships, including two Texas Bass Nation High School tournaments, the most prestigious high school league in Texas. He was named Texas Bass Nation High School Angler of the year in 2025.
His dad, also named Mark, is also an avid fisherman. He started taking his son and daughter fishing when young Mark was about 2 years old.
“I became addicted pretty much with the very first fish I ever caught,” Cerja said. “My great grandfather was also a passionate fishermen. I inherited the love of the sport.
“I have always been obsessed with competing. Nature is your opponent/competition in fishing. Fishing is a lot like other sports you must know your opponent to be successful.”
Cerja said he exhausts himself to understand bass behavior, their prey, how to adjust to various weather conditions (wind, cloud cover, fronts etc), how each season impacts the fish. He even studies the angle of the sun, how to adjust to different water clarities, how the bottom composition affects fish, how the water temperature influences fish behavior, and the water depth the fish seem to prefer on a given day.
“Fish can be caught all over a lake. However, the more you can figure out about your opponent the better chance you will have to win a derby,” he said.
Cerja said his goal since he was about 8 years is to become a professional fishermen.
“Fishing at Drury teaches anglers what it takes to be successful at the professional level,” he said. “I have committed my life to achieve great success fishing at the high school level and earn a college fishing scholarship.”
Cerja said he took martial arts, played baseball, football, basketball, and flew through the air at motocross tracks all to become a better fishermen.
“Playing sports helped me develop supreme focus, mental toughness, stamina, agility, flexibility, hand-eye coordination, no quit all grit, athleticism, respect for powerful machines, and bring my passion to compete to the surface,” he said.
He also runs four miles, does 50 pull-ups, 50 push-ups, and 50 sit-ups daily.
Cerja said he wants to thank his family, Drury University, Lone Star Junior Bass Masters, Texas High School Bass Association, Aledo Anglers and the club’s sponsors, BASS Nation, his partner Miller Hill, Daiwa Fishing USA, and Venom Lures for all of their support and opportunities they provided.
And, of course, “My dad for being my boat captain and coach these last five years, leading me and guiding me to be the best I can be on and off the water.”
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