Plainfield South High School Hosts a Bass Tournament for Take-A-Vet-Fishing.org

It was on June 22, 2016 it was a hot summer day Two anglers from the Plainfield South High School Bass Fishing team gave up their practice day for the State Championship to take a Veteran fishing in the Veteran’s Tournament on Lake Springfield, IL. Mike Bobich and Jack Blomquist fished with “Bill the Fish Catching Veteran” and they won the Veteran’s Tournament!

That day changed all of our lives! The boys realized nobody does enough for the Veterans. Until Now! This is why this tournament was conceived and here we are today September 10^th, 2017 for the First Annual Lake County Water Sports and Wauconda Boat, Take-A-Vet Fishing High School Bass Tournament.

The PSHS Bass Fishing Team also won the 2017 Illinois B.A.S.S. Nation State Champions. The coaches and parents are so proud of them for that accomplishment. Until now, that is a drop in the bucket compared to what they have put together for this tournament. All the proceeds from this event go to Take-a-Vet Fishing.org. $2,140.00 in donations and $5,075.00 in fishing equipment (a total of $7,215.00) was raised for the Veterans. 35 rods and reels and 35 tackle boxes full of lures for the Veterans.

The Tournament drew 22 boats from 11 different High Schools. The tournament had the 2017 Illinois B.A.S.S. Nation State Champions from Plainfield South High School, Ryan Park and Tommy McDonald and the 2017 I.S.H.A State Champion Tyler Lubbart from Buffalo Grove High School also competing in this event. Talk about a star studded field of anglers. It was a beautiful sunny day for September and all 48 anglers in this event had a great day. They all helped out a great cause and they all went home with an awesome goodie bag each, as well as, everyone, coaches included, won a raffle prize from our great Sponsors. Fish Hog Tackle, Electro Brand, Water Mark Engineering, Shimano, Jackall, Fox River Rods, Atturro Tires, Evinrude, Bass Pro Shops, Plano Tackle, McCoy Fishing Line, Tournament Tackle, Lake County Water Sports, Wauconda Boats and Boomer T’s. This tournament was also an Illinois B.A.S.S. Nation qualifying event for the 2018 IBN State Championship. Five teams qualified to move on to that event next year.

Tyler Lubbart from Buffalo Grove H.S took 1^st place, Paul Paskericius and Matteo Turano from Naperville North took 2^nd place. Jack Blomquist and Mike Bobich from Plainfield South took 3rd Place. Mike Bobich also caught the Big Bass of the Tournament. Jason Pope and Trevor Sodt from Plainfield South took 4^th Place. Cam and Jack Grisamore from Stevenson H.S. took 5^th Place.

This tournament would not have been possible to have if it wasn’t for the following people: Mike Salisbury, Joe and Carol Nichele, Dave van Doorn, Frank Hyla, Chauncey Nizol, Bob Macullis, Jim Blumenstien, Tim Carr, Jim Nelson, Tom McDonald and Lisa Bobich. A huge shout out to Coach Pat Scanlan and the rest of the coaches and parents and team members for their time and effort to run this event. “This event proves that our future is still going to be o.k. I’m so proud of each and every angler on this team for what they have accomplished here this weekend for the giving back to the ones who gave the most for our freedom”.