2022 Grouper Grapple Artwork

9th Annual Grouper Grapple Offshore Fishing Tournament

JULY 14-16, 2022

The 2022 Grouper Grapple Offshore Fishing Tournament raised over $30,000 for Healing Through The Outdoors and the Jeff Sommer Memorial Scholarship Fund! A big thank you to all the boats that competed, our generous sponsors and our host, Snug Harbor Waterfront Restaurant! We had a great time this year and we look forward to seeing you all in 2023 at the 10th Annual Grouper Grapple!

BENEFITING:

HEALING THROUGH THE OUTDOORS

In 2014 I found healing from helping others get outdoors. The enthusiasm that the youth showed seemed to heal my stress and uproot some of my struggles. Suffering from post traumatic stress disorder myself, I have a connection to veterans who have a feeling of displacement after their deployment. Healing Through the Outdoors(HTO) was established in 2017 to provide an engaging, educational and invigorating experience by bringing the
veterans and their families to the outdoors.

The outdoor healing process is necessary to relieve physical and mental
stressors of modern society. By joining with HTO the families will be benefactors of knowledge about living outdoors, the natural resources available to them, healthy eating and the benefits of natural sunlight.

HTO cares about veteran families that may be struggling and will
uplift them by taking advantage of the healing qualities within the
natural environment. To help veterans and their loved ones connect on
a level that transcends branch of service, bringing comfort in an
environment that promotes healing and hope through friendship,
community and camaraderie.

– HTO Co-Founder, Joshua Bergman

JEFF SOMMER MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND

“Coach Jeff Sommer always told his cross country runners that pain is temporary and pride is forever he instilled in us that nothing hurts compared to what it feels like to quit. He was a builder of leaders and people who would and could, quite literally, go the extra mile. He also taught me how to give. That’s why we want to give back.”
– Brian Peachey

We would like to honor the memory of Coach Jeff Sommer of Estero High School and the positive impact that he had on hundreds of young people and adults. Brian Peachey, the founder of the Grouper Grapple Offshore Fishing Tournament was an all-star athlete who ran cross country and track for Coach Sommer from 1989-1993. Along with his fellow athletes, Coach Sommer pushed them to be their best taking them to the State meet where they were Runner up in 1991 and State Champions in 1992. Peachey was recognized as All Southwest Florida Cross Country Runner of the year during his time with Coach at Estero HS and has stayed close with Coach Sommer and his family throughout the years.