By Matt Browning
For Salina Central’s Gannon Cole, a love for the outdoors isn’t something that developed overnight — it’s been a constant part of his life.
“I don’t remember a time when me and my brother weren’t outside hunting or fishing with our dad,” Cole said. “I had always loved fishing with my dad, which is kind of what started my passion for outdoors, but it really took off when I shot my first turkey when I was in sixth grade.”
Since then, Cole has immersed himself in hunting and fishing, taking advantage of nearly every opportunity he gets. Even with a demanding schedule that includes sports and school, his commitment to the outdoors rarely wavers.
“Anytime there’s a chance that I could be hunting or fishing, I take it,” he said. “With sports, there were times when our bus would get back from a football game after midnight and I’d be in a duck blind before 5:00 a.m. the next morning, because I just love it so much.”
Cole’s dedication often stretches beyond early mornings. He spends time scouting after practices and, when possible, heads out into the field in the evenings.
“I scout after practice, and there are some nights when I hunt after practice if I can,” he said. “Fishing wise, anytime I have a chance I do it.”
While he frequently hunts with friends, Cole says time spent outdoors with family remains most meaningful.
“I hunt with my friends a lot of times, but I will always look to hunt with my dad and brother,” he said. “My dad is big into fishing and hunting too, so I fish a lot with him.”
Balancing athletics, academics and his passion for the outdoors hasn’t always been easy, but it’s something Cole has learned to manage.
“Trying to find a balance between hunting and fishing, and sports (and school) was really tough for me,” he said. “I always want to go hunting and fishing, but I also want to be the best athlete I can, so I put a lot of time into both.”
That dedication has led to memorable moments in the field. One of his favorite experiences came late in goose season during a hunt with friends.
“One of the last hunts of goose season, I went on a buddy hunt with two of my friends and we ended up shooting a three-man limit with two bands,” Cole said. “It really just felt like our hard work for the whole season paid off.”
