Lynden Christian's Demi Dykstra is SBLive's WaFd Bank Class 1A Senior Athlete of the Year

Welcome to a continuing tradition at SBLive Washington – honoring the WaFd Bank 2022-23 senior male and female athletes of the year for each classification.

Because the SBLive crew gets so immersed in specific sports seasons, it is nice to take a step back to pick a statewide honor from a broader perspective.

The criteria isn’t too expansive: The starting point is finding seniors who are all-league/all-state performers in two or more sports. Totality of career is also a factor. So is administrator/coach/fan recommendation.

Enjoy as we honor some of Washington’s top multi-sport senior athletes!

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Being a Dykstra-family athlete in Lynden brings a certain level of expectation.

It's because Dykstras are alpha-type performers who have an innate understanding of how high-level team sports should be played.

Demi Dykstra is no exception.

For what she accomplished in basketball and soccer at Lynden Christian, Dykstra is SBLive WA's Class 1A senior female athlete of the year for 2022-23.

And much like her parents and cousins alike, Dykstra is headed across Whatcom County to Western Washington University to play a sport - basketball.

"I love that everyone with family is into athletics, and they push me to better," Dykstra said. "With that comes a lot of expectations - from family and other people."

Both her parents, Greg (football, basketball) and Kelly (basketball), were student-athletes at WWU. So are older cousins, Avery and Riley, who played in the NCAA DIvision II women's basketball national championship in 2021-22.

But while this Dykstra has top-level talent, her approach has been different in both sports with the Lyncs.

She's had no problem being a full-time facilitating role player.

"I always tell my mom I'd rather get 10 assists over 20 points in basketball," Dykstra said. "I would always rather than share it with teammates rather than do it by myself."

She was a seldom-used ninth grader on the team for the Lyncs' Class 1A title run in girls basketball in 2020, handing Hailey Van Lith and Cashmere a defeat in the championship game in Yakima.

Two years later, Dykstra was the starting point guard when Lynden Christian was matched up with Northwest Conference rival Nooksack Valley in the finals.

Her role in that game was defined: Feed Montana-bound Libby Stump (game-high 35 points) and ninth grader Grace Hintz (11 of team's 13 points in key second-half stretch) the basketball, and defend Devin Coppinger, the most explosive player in the county.

It worked out - the Lyncs won 57-56 in overtime to defend their state title.

"All the winning plays - she has always been comfortable doing," Lynden Christian girls basketball coach Brady Bomber said. "If she didn’t need to score, she’d be fine with that. She is capable of that, but she loves defending, loves rebounding - and loves winning."

Last fall, Dykstra and the school were in a different role in girls soccer - state underdog.

But the Lyncs went on a magical run to their first-ever WIAA title match, losing to Klahowya. Dykstra tallied the lone goal in that game.

"That was enjoyable, for sure, especially after in basketball where we are expected to make the championship game every year," Dykstra said. "But in soccer, we had nothing to lose. Nobody expected it."

The only expectation is if there is a WIAA title to be had at this school, a Dykstra is usually somewhere leading the way.

"They have represented our community very well," Bomber said. "And the lens in which you are viewed (as a Dykstra) is a little different."

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DEMI DYKSTRA BIO

School: Lynden Christian.

Sports: Soccer, basketball.

Next step: Signed to play basketball at Western Washington University (NCAA D2) where she will study elementary education.

Senior-year highlights: Voted to the 1A Northwest Conference first team for girls soccer as a forward, totaling 15 goals and 13 assists. Named to the Washington State Soccer Coaches Association's (WSSCA) Class 1A all-state team. Led Lyncs to Northwest Conference and District 1 titles, and school-best second place finish in the WIAA tournament, losing to Klahowya in the championship match (Dykstra scored team's lone goal is 3-1 loss). ... Voted to the 1A Northwest Conference first team for girls basketball as a guard, averaging 9.2 points, 4.8 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game. Named to SBLive WA all-state second team for 1A. Led Lyncs to WIAA Class 1A championship game, losing to Nooksack Valley. Invitee for postseason Washington State Girls Basketball Coaches Association (WSGBCA) senior all-state event where she was co-MVP in 2A/1A game.

Career accomplishments: Two-year starter in girls soccer and basketball - earning eight varsity letters. ... Finished with 28 goals and 13 assists in four seasons of girls soccer. Won league title and District 1 title one time. In two state-tournament trips, Lyncs were state runners-up (2022) and reached quarterfinals (2019). ... Finished with 566 points, 285 rebounds, 142 assists and 130 steals in four seasons of basketball. Won league title three times, and District 4 title two times. Made the all-league first-team twice (2022, 2023). In three state-tournament trips, Lyncs won the Class 1A titles in 2021 and 2022, and were the runners-up in 2023. ... Played one season of junior-varsity softball as a shortstop in 2021. ... Played club basketball for Tree of Hope and Northwest Blazers.

School/community achievements: 4.06 GPA in honors courses; two-time National Honor Society member during her junior and senior years; volunteered on two mission trips to Mexico (2022, 2023) through First Reformed Church in Lynden.

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