BFS High School Athlete of the Year
BFS H.S. Ryker Labbee is our twelfth annual Athlete-of-the- Yea r a w ard . It is our most prestigi ous a wa rd. Selection is based on athletic achievement in sports, the a b i l it y to ov ercome obstacles, scholar ship, lead ership, general character and th e ability to put things into th eir proper perspective. We cou ld n' t be happier w ith our selection of Ryker. H e is mo st d eservin g of this hono r. Besides hi s le gendary fo otball a ccomplishments, Ry ke r, as a point guard, led his bas ke tba ll team to a 2nd place finish. H e was also a state finalist in the tripl e jum p a n d jav elin .
Throughout hi s e n ti re hi gh sc hoo l ca re e r, Ryk er a lways m aintain ed a p erfect 4.0 s tra ight A averag e and was ra nked number one in h is g rad ua ting class. Now let ' s he ar from two of his coaches:
Ryker Labbe e's strongest asset is his unwavering positive attitud e, tru e champions are those people who live through what th ey are taught. Ryker believe s in the importance of the family. He knows the importance of love, resp ect, effort, determina tion, and self sacrifices. I suppos e, I coach for the relationships that I develop between fellow coaches and players, and having the opportunity to work wi th a young man like Ryker makes me feel that I have the best job in the world . Ryker always sees the best in people; and seems to bring the best out of th em. Ryk er Labbee is truly a coach's dream. "-..
Ryker Power Cleans 235 lbs.
Coach Frank Steele (Gla sses) and Coach Bob Winters Frank Steele Ex-Strength Coach, Defensive Coordinator, Toppenish Wildcats Ryker exemplifies all the good things a player should be in athletics. He is a great competitor, strong, smart and has those qualities of un self ishness, humility, and graciousness that make him outstanding in whatever situa tion he is put in. Because of these characteristics he is liked by everyone. For example, one night after a long hard practice late into the evening, as everyone had showered and left, I came out into the parking lot to go home. Ryker was there helping one of the other team members trying to get his car started.
As it worked out they couldn't get it started so Ryker gave him a ride home. He should be considered the most unlikely by any coach to have to help anyone after practice because he lives farther than anyone from the school. Ryker is the type of person that you would think people would call teachers pet, book worm, etc., because he carries his books with him and whenever he has a few minutes he does his homework. It's surprising because he seems to set the example and induces those around him to do the same. In his four years at the high school I haven't heard one student say anything de rogatory about Ryker, rather they want to be around him and be his friend.
No one seems to be jealous of him in the classroom or on the football field for his 4 point grade average or for his ou tstanding play on the field. Teachers and students alike are proud of Ryker and like him. He is just a very likable personality. His hard work ethic makes those around him work harder. His personality helped make a successful atmosphere especially on the foot ball field wh ere I saw hi m most. He woul d encourage everyone else and give them all the credit if he gained yardage. He's what every coach wants in their players and sees some of the attributes in outstanding players, but rarely so many in one person.
I believe Ryker's special characteristics are a reflection on his family. He comes from a great family -his father is a hardworking, selfless, quiet-mannered man, his mother is kind, considerate, very tenderhearted and caring and these attributes have carried on to their children. During 1989 season Ryker had the opportunity to be the team spokesman for the three local TV stations and I could see him develop even more as a thinker and speaker. His Christian activity background and this opportunity coupled to make him a great leader.
Ryker Lifted In-Season In Football, Basketball and Track Ryker's Powerful Legs Have Squatted 500 lbs.
Ryker Dead Lifts 500 lbs. Con tinued on Next Page 13 RYKER LABEE BFS H.S. ATHLETE OF THE YEAR Eric "Hacksaw" Miles stretchingRyker's Quads and Hips.
Ryker On Right Doing Agilities With Teammates . Robert Perez 0/1 Left, Anthony Vasques behind arid Eric Miles with Ryker. 14 It wasn't easy to keep up the lifting being a three sport athlete. "The only reason I had time to lift is we had a class for it during my junior and senior year," said Ryker. "My sophomore year I did it as part of practice for all three sports and my freshman year I was fortunate again to be able to do lifts in class. In-season lifting helped me. You have to find out what your body can take but you know my better performances in track came after I lifted hard." "Coach Steele was the reason we had such a good weight program and he was the reason I lifted.
You could see the result. I worked on the Squat the most. That's what a running back needs. I didn't work on the Bench that much . Coach Winters was more than a coach. He taught us to strive for the team and to lean on each other. Coach Steele was also really important in my personal growth. Ryker also did stretching, agility, and plyos not only in weight class but in his sports. "We especially got after plyometrics in basketball and track," remembered Ryker. To get all A's in every class every year didn't just happen. "I made time for it," said Ryker, "Sports actually made it easier because I had to set priorities.
When I was younger I lived 15 miles from school so I didn't get home and started on school work until after 9:00 pm" Ryker studied till after midnight every night and twice he stayed up all night without sleep. One of those times, he just wasn't satisfied with a research paper so he did it over. Ryker took his SAT test and scored 760 on the math section. He knew he got every question correct that he did but misjudged the time by one minute and didn't finish the last two questions. "I was tempted to take the test again just to get the perfect 800 score but I got in the college of my choice so it really wasn't necessary," thought Ryker.
Ryker never felt peer pressure to get into negative things. "I guess I didn't feel any because of my friends,"revealed Ryker. We hung together. I had a group of friends who got good grades. I was never offered drugs in high school." "There was only one party where there was alcohol and I wasn't even offered a beer. I've never even tasted the stuff. I smelled it once though." "I picture myself as an example in our town and especially with little kids," explained Ryker. "I gave lots of talks at elementary schools so I needed to do the right thing not only for myself but for them. It actually made things easier to have those kids around."
Ryker chose to go to PLU (Pacific Lutheran University) to play football and participate in track. Ryker stated, "PLU is what college football should be, for me at least. I'm really enjoying the attitude and philosophy. PLU is different. They involve the team in the community and teach us what it takes to be successful in FOOTBALL - BASKETBALL - TRACK life. Our football coach, Frosty Westering wrote a motivational book called "Make The Big Time Where You Are." I really liked it. Every freshman at PLU red shirts, so this year I'll learn and get adjusted to college life." Ryker's father and mother never pushed him but remained ever supportive. They taught their son to always do his best.
"Our whole family is strong religiously," said Ryker. "My parents run a nondenominational youth group which I'm also involved. We study Christian principles. I thought it was really neat. The relationships formed were fun and enlightening. I also talked a lot about spiritual things with Coach Winters. He's a strong family man with strong morals. He'd let me offer prayers before games." "Success in life starts with attitude," maintains Ryker, "Go into everyday, every practice and every class trying to make the most of it. Learn to enjoy what you do. You have to want to be successful. My religion, friends and parents helped me cope with the downs and helped me appreciate the good times."
The interview was now complete. Coach Shepard, the editor of the BFS Journal was ready to vote Ryker in as president of the United States. As Coach Shepard began to put his pen down Ryker intervened, "Wait, there's one more thing that's important. The community helped me and was always supportive. Toppenish is a small town so they really rally behind their teams. I was very lucky to be in such an environment. I was in the right place at the right time. All my awards should be shared with everyone: my teammates, community, family and coaches." So there you have it . Everyone should agree that Ryker Labbee is most worthy of being our BFS Athleteof-the- Year.
Thanks to Ryker for being such an outstanding Upper Limit person and thanks to Coaches Steele and Winters for sharing this priceless story.
Front Squats With 315, A Great Squat Variation One-Legged Squats, Another Great Variation Ryker On Left With Buddies: Eric "Hacksaw" Miles In Back, DB-RB Robert "Ambush" Perez In Front, and QB Anthony "Ant" Vasquez On Right.
Greg Shepard, BFS editor, drove to Toppenish. A wonderful cultural experience was enjoyed by he and his family at the Yakima Indian Center. Greg also went to another historical museum and library and asked' the librarian about Ryker Labbee. She gave a glowing account of Ryker's contributions to the community. After that conversation and knowing all of Ryker's accomplishments in three sports, being on the Power Lifting Team, being a straight A student and a 1st team BFS High School All-American, the choice was clear. Ryker Labbee was to be the 1991 BFS Athlete-of-the-Year.
From BFS Magazine — Winter 1991. Part of the BFS Magazine Archive (1980–2014).
