Tyler Kubilus

There was an empty place on the soccer field when the Lakeland Chiefs played on Tuesday, Sept. 29. That same empty place exists in the hearts and minds of those who knew Tyler Kubilus, 15, of Dalton, who died in an ATV accident on Saturday, Sept. 26. Kubilus, who was wearing a helmet at the time, was killed when the ATV he was driving hit a bridge guard rail on Opeil Road in Greenfield Township, according to Chief Paul Fortuner of the Greenfield Township Police Department. The accident occurred on the dirt road at approximately 1 p.m., one-eighth mile north of Route 107 in Tompkinsville, according to Fortuner or Kubes, as his friends called him or Ty man, as his family called him, was a starting midfielder for the Lakeland High School soccer team as well as a track and field athlete. As a tribute to the sophomore, head coach Joe DePasquale elected to send 10 players onto the field to begin Tuesday's competition.

Tyler's mother, Carol Kubilus, remembers her son as "easygoing" and "miraculous." "He always made you laugh and had a smile on his face," Carol said.Ê According to his mother, Kubilus enjoyed being outdoors. He was an avid fisherman, hunter and camper. He also loved riding on his quad and being with friends. He also enjoyed family trips to the beach that included his father Eugene and older brother Justin. Kubilus' favorite was Ocean City, Md. "He was a great kid," Carol said. "He was a big part of my life and I'm going to miss him." At school, Kubilus was a member of a tight-knit soccer team that often spent time outside of the game together.

"Myself, along with the entire soccer program, are extremely sorry for the family's loss," DePasquale said. DePasquale said in the time since Kubilus' death, many of his teammates and friends have met to reminisce. On Monday, many of the team members sported shirts that featured Kubilus' nickname, "Kubes" on the front and "never forget No. 3," Kubilus' jersey number, on the back. One of many students grieving at Lakeland is Kubilus' best friend, Jim Germain, 15. The two met in cub scouts and grew closer as they grew older, said Germain. Germain described his best friend as "the perfect person," explaining that he loved everyone and worked hard at everything he did.

Germain's biggest point of emphasis was a simple one. "We loved him," he said. Kubilus, Germain, Dave Nicoteri and Mike Striefsky were an inseparable quartet. The four spent nearly every evening this summer hanging around a camp fire and talking. "He would want everyone to live life to the max," Carol said. "That's one thing he was for." The soccer team plans to have armbands with Kubilus' initials and number made. Members will also form a tunnel for his casket to be carried through after the funeral on Thursday, Oct. 1 at St. Gregory Parish, 330 N. Abington Rd., Clarks Green.

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