Coach: Dan Kaemingk, 23rd season with Lynden Christian (152-87)
Home Field: Lynden Christian High School
Last Season: 2-8 (0-6 NWC)
Key Losses: RB/LB Gavin Mumford; WR/DB/KR Tyson Cline; RB/LB David Bladies; QB/DB Colby Flint; RB/LB Nathan Wynstra; OL/DL Isaac Filuk.
Top Returnees: OL/DL George DeJong; RB/OLB Jordan Riddle; WR/DB Michael Lancaster; WR/DB Kalai Jandoc; FB/LB Hunter TeVelde; QB/DB Ty Van Dyken; K Derek Kamena; P Blake DeRuyter.
- George DeJong – Offensive Tackle/Defensive End
The 6-foot-6 DeJong is “country” strong, and he’ll contain the edge. A returning two-way starter on both lines.
2. Jordan Riddle – Running Back/Outside Linebacker
A breakaway threat every time he touches the ball. He’s a tough runner to tackle, and he combines that with tremendous speed.
3. Michael Lancaster – Wide Receiver/Cornerback
He really turned it on during the league games last season, including against Meridian when he had six catches for 103 yards and a touchdown.
4. Kalai Jandoc – Wide Receiver/Cornerback
He became the big-play receiver last season, averaging almost 23 yards per catch. He also had over 100 yards in receiving in each of the Meridian games.
Fastest Players: Jordan Riddle, Kalai Jandoc and Jackson Corkill.
Strongest Players: Max Likkel, Dylan Kaemingk, Sam Faber and George DeJong.
Smartest Players: Sam Faber, Ty Van Dyken and Payton Robertson.
Who will be Lynden Christian’s breakout player?
Sam Faber – Wide Receiver/Outside Linebacker
He might not make an immediate impact on offense, but he will on defense. He will line up all over the field, based on the opponent. He’s also one of the strongest and smartest on the team.
2016 RESULTS
Bellingham 21, Lynden Christian 6
Cascade Christian 28, Lynden Christian 19
Lynden Christian 14, Cashmere 13
Meridian 34, Lynden Christian 30
Mount Baker 51, Lynden Christian 7
Nooksack Valley 35, Lynden Christian 32
Meridian 33, Lynden Christian 28
Mount Baker 42, Lynden Christian 12
Nooksack Valley 32, Lynden Christian 21
Lynden Christian 32, Cedar Park Christian 3
2017 SCHEDULE
09/01 – Bellingham – 7 PM
09/09 – at Cascade Christian – 7 PM
09/15 – at Cashmere – 7 PM
09/22 – Meridian – 7 PM
09/29 – at Mount Baker – 7 PM
10/06 – at Nooskack Valley – 7 PM
10/13 – at Meridian – 7 PM
10/20 – Mount Baker – 7 PM
10/27 – Nooksack Valley – 7 PM
Lynden Christian may not have won a league game last season, but they had some extremely close games that could have gone either way. So how does this years’ Lyncs stack up against the rest of the league?
“I think we’re better than we were last season,” coach Dan Kaemingk said. “But, so is the rest of the league. We all got better together. Everyone seems to be pointing to Nooksack, and rightly so. They have the big kid at quarterback, and if you typed in the word ‘quarterback’ that’s what he would look like. He’s huge, and he can throw it! And then you have (Simon) Burkett over at Meridian, and he’s kind of sneaking up on everyone. He’s a really accurate thrower, but he can really kill you running the ball. And then laying in the weeds, somehow, is Mount Baker who hasn’t lost a league game in like… I don’t know how many years! (Coach) Lep’s just kind of smiling over there, with his new field. They are the toughest, and still the team to beat. With all that being said, I really like my team.”
Senior Ty Van Dyken will start at quarterback, but is being pushed by junior Payton Robertson. Van Dyken has had some reps over the past few seasons, completing 21 passes for 268 yards and five touchdowns, so his experience will help him. But, Robertson might have the purest passing motion, and in time he will become a great varsity quarterback.
Senior Jordan Riddle was an All-Conference running back last year after carrying the ball for 712 yards and eight touchdowns. Junior Luke Caspian and sophomore Levi Korthuis will also see time at running back. 230-pound senior Hunter TeVelde returns as the H-Back.
The receiving corps lost Tyson Cline to graduation, but seniors Michael Lancaster (19 receptions for 262 yards and six touchdowns) and Kalai Jandoc (18 catches for 409 yards and three scores) return. They will be helped by newcomers, Shane Whittern (a senior), and juniors Sam Faber and Jalen Apol. Riddle also caught 15 passes out of the backfield.
Seniors Max Likkel (6-5 260) and George DeJong (6-6 205) both return some major size and skill on the offensive line. Senior Jared Smit should also be in the mix up front, along with juniors Dylan Kaemingk, Jake Libolt and Simon Anker. With those six vying for five spots along the offensive line, they give LC the most size they’ve had in years.
DeJong returns at defensive end, where he was named All-Conference 1st Team a season ago. Likkel, Kaemingk and sophomore Zach Sipma are battling for the two defensive tackle spots. Smit, Libolt and Anker are competing to play defensive end, opposite of DeJong.
TeVelde returns at inside linebacker, with senior Tanner Jansen and Korthuis competing to see who will play next to TeVelde. Riddle returns at the weak-side outside linebacker/safety spot. Van Dyken returns at free safety, as does Lancaster as one of the cornerbacks. Jandoc, Apol and Whittern are in the mix to play at the other cornerback spot, or somewhere else in the secondary. Faber will play as a “rover” and is one of the smartest kids on the team. He will line up somewhere different every week, perhaps even every play.
LC returns perhaps the best combo at kicker and punter with senior Derek Kamena (18 extra points and two field goals last season) manning the placekicker spot, and junior Blake DeRuyter as the punter. Riddle will return kickoffs again, with help from Lancaster and Jandoc.
Lynden Christian might be the odd team out in the conference, but they should be the most battle-tested going into the conference schedule. They have to face a much improved Bellingham team, and then they will travel to Cascade Christian and Cashmere.
2017 Roster
| No. | Name | Ht. | Wt. | Yr. | Pos. |
| 3 | Trent Greenough | 5-9 | 135 | Jr. | WR/DB |
| 4 | Michael Lancaster | 5-10 | 170 | Sr. | WR/DB |
| 5 | Blake DeRuyter | 5-8 | 135 | Jr. | K/P/DB |
| 6 | Kalai Jandoc | 6-0 | 175 | Sr. | WR/DB |
| 7 | Payton Robertson | 6-0 | 170 | Jr. | QB/DB |
| 8 | Ty Van Dyken | 5-10 | 175 | Sr. | QB/DB |
| 11 | Jalen Apol | 5-8 | 140 | Jr. | WR/DB |
| 12 | Preston Vander Veen | 5-4 | 120 | So. | WR/DB |
| 13 | Brevin Zylstra | 5-7 | 130 | So. | WR/DB |
| 15 | Bryce Bouwman | 6-1 | 160 | So. | QB/DB |
| 16 | Trajan Schouten | 6-2 | 190 | So. | QB/LB |
| 18 | Tanner Feenstra | 5-10 | 140 | So. | WR/DB |
| 20 | Luke Caspian | 5-10 | 160 | Jr. | RB/DB |
| 21 | Sam Faber | 6-0 | 175 | Jr. | WR/LB |
| 22 | Jordan Riddle | 5-11 | 170 | Sr. | RB/DB |
| 23 | Derek Kamena | 5-11 | 160 | Sr. | K/P |
| 24 | Levi Korthuis | 5-10 | 185 | So. | RB/LB |
| 25 | Jude Veltkamp | 6-0 | 160 | So. | WR/DB |
| 27 | Shane Whittern | 5-8 | 150 | Sr. | WR/DB |
| 28 | Tanner Jansen | 6-0 | 215 | Sr. | RB/LB |
| 29 | Will Faber | 5-10 | 165 | So. | RB/LB |
| 32 | Jackson Corkill | 6-0 | 160 | So. | WR/DB |
| 33 | Hunter Te Velde | 6-0 | 230 | Sr. | RB/LB |
| 34 | Kaleb Bos | 6-2 | 160 | So. | WR/LB |
| 35 | Jesse Diez-Luckie | 5-9 | 160 | Jr. | RB/LB |
| 41 | Easton Stremler | 6-1 | 175 | So. | RB/LB |
| 42 | Kyden Vander Veen | 5-10 | 140 | Jr. | WR/DB |
| 44 | Damyn Dykstra | 6-0 | 160 | Jr. | WR/LB |
| 48 | Ethan Clark | 5-9 | 190 | So. | RB/LB |
| 50 | Jared Smit | 6-3 | 190 | Sr. | OL/DL |
| 51 | George De Jong | 6-6 | 205 | Sr. | OL/DL |
| 55 | Dylan Kaemingk | 6-1 | 230 | Jr. | OL/DL |
| 57 | Jake Libolt | 6-3 | 190 | Jr. | OL/DL |
| 58 | Davis Gatterman | 5-9 | 190 | So. | OL/LB |
| 59 | Colin Kaemingk | 5-11 | 185 | Sr. | OL/LB |
| 66 | Jack Likkel | 6-1 | 205 | So. | OL/DL |
| 71 | Luke Timmer | 6-1 | 190 | So. | OL/DL |
| 72 | Erik Veening | 6-0 | 215 | So. | OL/DL |
| 74 | Kase Lautenbach | 6-1 | 245 | So. | OL/DL |
| 75 | Max Likkel | 6-5 | 260 | Sr. | OL/DL |
| 78 | Simon Anker | 6-4 | 210 | Jr. | OL/DL |
| 81 | Kaiden Wubben | 6-1 | 140 | So. | WR/DB |
| 86 | Carter Vander Werff | 6-3 | 150 | So. | WR/DB |
| 88 | Zach Sipma | 6-2 | 215 | So. | RB/DL |