Aylana Marion was bursting with energy at the Peggy Roesner Memorial Fishing Derby on Sept. 19 at the Dave and Peggy Johnson Farm.

The 10-year-old kept jumping up and down and was all smiles after she caught a 20-inch catfish. She was awarded for her effort as she received a plaque for the biggest fish in the age 10-13 division.

“It’s my third catfish ever,” said Aylana, who is a fifth-grade student at Montgomery City Elementary. “Everytime I caught a catfish, it was always in this lake.”

It’s the second time Aylana earned an award for the biggest fish at the fishing derby. Two years ago, she picked up the biggest fish award in the age 6-9 division after catching two catfish, one of them was 27 ½ inches long.

Eight other children from the Montgomery County area received plaques at the fishing derby, which is sponsored by the Montgomery City Lions Club and is named after a former Lions Club member who passed away in April 2015.

The winners in the age 2-5 division were Leon Brandenburg (total fish caught), Eden Schuette (biggest fish) and Everett Roesner (smallest fish). The winners in the age 6-9 division were Saint Delagarza (total fish caught), Tucker Jones (biggest fish) and Westen Hill (smallest fish). The other winners in the age 10-13 division were Rylie Roesner (total fish caught) and Keagan Rakers (smallest fish).

A total of 23 children participated in the fishing derby, 11 of them were from the 6-9 division.

Aylana participated in her first fishing derby in 2024. She has been fishing since she was three years old.

“She’s really good at it,” said Greg Marion, Aylana’s father.

Aylana’s fish was the second biggest overall in the fishing event. Tucker caught a 21 ½-inch fish to win his third award in as many years. Last year, he earned a biggest fish award in the age 2-5 division after catching an 18 1⁄2-inch fish. The year before, he received the smallest fish award after catching a 6 ½-inch fish.

Saint, a 6-year-old from Immaculate Conception School, caught 12 fish, more than any other participant in the derby. Two years ago, he competed in the age 2-5 division, but didn’t catch any fish.

Steven Brandenburg said he was thrilled to see his 4-year-old son, Leon, catch three fish in his first fishing derby appearance.

“We tried to get him fishing a couple of years ago,” Steven said. “He’s been on and off for a while. We have a pond in our house.”

Keagan won an award at the derby for the second year in a row. Last year, he earned an award for catching the most fish with five in the age 10-13 division.