Fishing for fellowship: Mainland football players bond over bait and tackle

The Buccaneers had a day of fellowship with a fishing outing before the grind of preseason practice.

  • By Michele Meyers
  • | 7:00 a.m. July 31, 2026
  • Ormond Beach Observer
  • Sports
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Fishing and fellowship were the only topics on the Mainland Buccaneers’ agenda on Wednesday, July 22, at Port Orange Causeway Park.

For the third year in a row, Mainland football coach Jerrime “Squatty” Bell invited his players and staff to take a break from the typical off-season grind and join him for a little team bonding and camaraderie. This year, it was at the fishing pier under the Dunlawton Bridge, days before the state of preseason practice.

Bell said before he had kids with hectic schedules of their own, he would sit by the river after work and immerse himself in its beauty and peace.

“These guys actually share it with me now, because I don’t get out as often, and they’re usually on the water fishing,” he said. “They know the right spots and all this type of stuff. It’s good to see what once was my passion is now their passion.”

Following a grueling summer of 7-on-7 competitions, practice in “feels-like” temperatures of over 100 degrees, lifting and team analytics, Bell said it is important for his players to build friendships outside the sport.

“It’s important to get the boys together outside of just sports and the hustle and bustle that comes with the sport,” he said. “To have them come out and enjoy each other’s company outside of football is vital. They get to find out what each other’s personality really is, and it’s peaceful on the water. I love to see my boys outside of their natural element that we see them in, and just see them be kids.”

Senior linebackers Shawn Holmes and Isaac Strozier agreed that fishing together was an important bonding experience for the team. Strozier said it was fun to bond with people he normally does not talk to because they play different positions on the field.


It’s important so we can all build a brotherhood bond and become a family with each other,” Holmes said. “We can’t just be a family on the field or in the weight room. We have to be family friends outside of it. Having a bond outside of football makes everything feel more natural on the field.
— SHAWN HOLMES, Mainland linebacker

“It’s important so we can all build a brotherhood bond and become a family with each other,” Holmes said. “We can’t just be a family on the field or in the weight room. We have to be family friends outside of it. Having a bond outside of football makes everything feel more natural on the field.”

Texas Christian University javelin thrower Preston Kuznof joined the “fishermen” to support Bell, his former Atlantic High School football coach, and Holmes, who is his cousin. Kuznof is a two-time Florida state champion javelin thrower, broke the TCU school record his freshman year, and won the men’s javelin gold medal at the Big 12 Conference championships.

“A big part of the success of football for me is the connection of the team, team bonding, and honestly, just as important as it is to be connected with the team, it’s equally important to be connected with the community,” Kuznof said. “The opportunity for the players to connect with some people from the community, like myself, is going to happen here while they’re out here fishing and having a good time. It’s a good opportunity.”

 

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