ALL- AROUND ALL- AMERICAN
Buffalo Grove’s Lubbat excels in bass, class
Check ‘‘ All- American’’ off Tyler Lubbat’s to- do list.
Lubbat was one of 12 named to the Bassmaster High School All- American Fishing Team. But the junior at Buffalo Grove High School might be an even better student than he is a fisherman.
‘‘ The All- American honor is huge for me,’’ Lubbat said. ‘‘ At the start of this year, it was one of my main goals.’’
B. A. S. S. invited the 12 to a special Bassmaster High School All- American Bass Tournament, which will be held in conjunction with the 2017 Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest on May 17- 21 on Sam Rayburn Reservoir. Each AllAmerican will be paired with an Elite Series pro for the one- day derby on a nearby fishery.
The IHSA state championship for bass fishing is scheduled for the same weekend. If Buffalo Grove makes it, Lubbat will miss it. He helped the Bison reach state as a freshman ( 17th) and sophomore ( tied for 31st).
But juggling school, fishing and life is nothing new for Lubbat.
‘‘ School has always been the top priority for me, and we have always said that we can never let fishing get in front of it,’’ he emailed.
He dreams of attending Vanderbilt to study biological sciences, then medical school to become a radiologist.
‘‘[ But] I am not close- minded to any other opportunities this All- American honor may provide to me regarding college selection,’’ he said.
I know Lubbat from fishing, where he has been on the radar of people in the industry for years. He and his dad, Cris, are a notable pair of tournament fishermen.
Among recent fishing achievements, Lubbat and his partner won the Illinois Bass Nation high school event on Lake of Egypt. He and another partner took third in the Bassmaster High School Open on Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri.
At school, he takes advanced placement- and honors- level courses. He’s a member of the math team, class board ( elected treasurer all three years), Interact, DECA, National Honor Society and the World Youth Science & Engineering Organization.
Math teacher Brian Foecking, the coach of the bass team, knew about Lubbat early.
‘‘ I had a feeling about Tyler when I first met him as an eighth- grader during an activities fair at the high school, but I think I realized he was special while on the water with him his freshmen year at the IHSA state tournament,’’ Foecking emailed. ‘‘ The first day didn’t go well, and the boys were frustrated after not bringing anything to weigh in. Carlyle is a tough lake to fish, and many young anglers may have felt defeated.
‘‘ Remember, he’s only 14 at this point. However, Tyler came out the next day even more focused and prepared. He knew exactly where he wanted to go and how he wanted to fish. He caught two fish that day, which vaulted him and his partner into the top 20 [ 17th] in state.’’
When I asked Lubbat about his bass- fishing heroes, he mentioned Brent Ehrler (‘‘ calmness and prowess on the water’’) and Bill Lowen (‘‘ Midwest guy’’).
Then he added: ‘‘ As a hero, though, there’s no one more motivational than Clay Dyer. Born without any lower limbs, no arm on the left side and a partial arm on the right, he still fishes tournaments and puts them in the boat! He is truly the symbol of you can do anything if you put your mind to it. He is truly an inspiration, not just to the bassfishing family, but for everybody, as he shows anybody what dedication and hard work can do.’’
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