One day Pete Rahas was trekking through the woods of southern Ohio, with his younger brother at his side. It was an especially cold winter day, the ground sheeted with a thick veil of snow. The two brothers were deep into a hunt when Rahas noticed something. His brother was shivering, and with a closer look, he realized that his brother’s hand-me-down equipment was full of holes. With this realization, the two-headed home.

As the snow began to recede and the youth of spring set in, the boys set back outside. This time, however, they would not head into the woods. This time the brothers would go to the lakeside. Fishing was an activity that required nothing new and would leave no one shivering. The two fell in love with fishing, and with any chance, they would make sure to get down to the bank, and every minute they were not fishing they were talking about it. Whether it be a teacher or a friend, they would share their passion with anyone who would listen, and now years later Pete is giving Revere students that same opportunity.

“Give a man a fish and feed him for a day, teach a man to fish and feed him for life,” is as close to a life motto as Pete Rahas will get, and for good reason. Ever since childhood Rahas has loved sharing his passion, and with the implementation of Minutemen Time, he has been given the chance to let others share theirs.

Rahas explained why he believes Minutemen Time is so important.

“Look at all the topics, whether it’s Dungeons and Dragons or Fishing Club, any nonacademic time where students can get together with other students that share the same passions as them is important,” Rahas said.

Revere’s new ‘‘Vision of a Minutemen’’ has become an integral part to the school and its operation. Rahas explained how he organizes his group, and how that fits into the Vision of a Minutemen.

“I like to split my students up by grade, usually in groups of twenty to thirty, and I think that really builds a sense of unity that we were really lacking initially. I think doing that really promotes the vision of a minuteman and is crucial to fostering a strong school spirit,” Rahas said.

Fishing club, however, was not always something Rahas thought was possible. Rahas coached for twenty years and never thought he would ever have time to lead a club, but now due to Minutemen Time and a clearer schedule, he has an opportunity. He explained how the Fishing Club has impacted him.

“When you teach the same subjects for ten to twenty years they can get a little stale, but minutemen time gives me a chance to do something new that I really love. I still enjoy teaching but you need things separate from that repetition to give you some extra motivation, and that’s true for both teachers and students,” Rahas said.

Due to these reasons Fishing Club has grown to be one of the largest Minutemen Time activities. This is also due to the strong presence of fishermen at Revere. Among these fishermen is Ben Milburn, who explained why he joined the club.

“My brother and I always go fishing together, and he really introduced me to fishing. He was in the Fishing Club so when he told me about all of the fun times he had in the club I immediately wanted to join,” Milburn said.

Fishing Club has become known for its welcoming atmosphere that allows for even those who may not know much about fishing to fit in. Another of the Fishing Club’s major draws is the club’s fun nature. Club member Kyle Yost explained the events of a typical meeting, and how they promote both of these ideas.

“Normally we start with a discussion of local fishing spots, and what works at them. Then we do some competitions. These can be anything from flipping with a bait caster to quizzes that test your fishing IQ, and all through this it’s very apparent that if anyone doesn’t understand something anyone there is willing to help,” Yost explained.

Though the club has found a lot of success in the way it operates today, Rahas has bigger plans for the club. He explained what his plans for the future of the Fishing Club are.

“I’m hoping to have some seniors or juniors available for bass tournaments and circuits in the spring and represent the school in the SFL (Student Fishing League).  In the state of Ohio there is a league that I would like us to get into, but most of the schools involved are in southern Ohio, and there’s no one apart from it here in the northeast. Those southern schools all have teams that fish tournaments where other schools are involved and they have an official schedule.  Ultimately I hope I can get shirts, logos, everything that requires sponsorship, and eventually field a team,” Rahas said.

While each Minutemen Time activity offers its own advantages, the fishing club offers a truly unique one. In the state of Ohio and around the country hundreds of colleges offer scholarships for Bass fishing, and to get one of these scholarships without a fishing team isn’t impossible but it is significantly harder. The prospect of achieving a scholarship for fishing is a driving factor for Milburn.

“Before this year I didn’t even know that you could get a scholarship for fishing, and with fishing really being one of the biggest parts of my life the idea of getting to go to college for it is pretty amazing, and definitely something I strive for,” Milburn said.

Fishing Club has become something bigger than it was ever thought to be. Rahas has found a way to share what he cares so much about with people that share that same passion. Rahas has truly taught not a man but a school how to fish, and fed them for life.