Coach: Dan Kaemingk, 22nd season with Lynden Christian (150-79), first season since 2010.
Home Field: Lynden Christian High School
Last Season: 5-5 (2-4 NWC)
Key Losses: WR/DB Zach Roetcisoender; QB/LB Lucas Roetcisoender; OL/DL John Mark Stromberg; WR Nate Hielkema; TE/DE Kyle Tiemersma; K Jake Poag.
Top Returnees: RB/LB David Bladies; WR/LB Gavin Mumford; RB/LB Nathan Wynstra; WR/DB Michael Lancaster; QB/DB Colby Flint; OL/DE George DeJong.
HISTORICAL COMPARISON: George DeJong & Joe Vanderpol
DeJong showed flashes of brilliance as a defensive end last season against King’s, and the big-bodied junior is looking to be even more dominant this season.
Much like DeJong, Vanderpol’s size (6-foot-4 195 pounds) was a great advantage on the Lync line. He helped guide LC to a combined 16-5 record in his junior and senior seasons. He is now a part of Coach Dan Kaemingk’s staff, and has worked a lot with DeJong.
2015 RESULTS
Lynden Christian 36, Omak 12
Lynden Christian 37, Sultan 14
Lynden Christian 35, Bellingham 7
Meridian 40, Lynden Christian 13
Lynden Christian 19, Nooksack Valley 14
Mount Baker 38, Lynden Christian 22
Meridian 41, Lynden Christian 18
Lynden Christian 35, Nooksack Valley 28
Mount Baker 27, Lynden Christian 15
King’s 21, Lynden Christian 7
2016 SCHEDULE
09/02 – at Bellingham – 7 PM
09/09 – Cascade Christian – 7 PM
09/17 – Cashmere – 2 PM
09/23 – at Meridian – 7 PM
09/30 – Mount Baker – 7 PM
10/07 – Nooskack Valley – 7 PM
10/14 – Meridian – 7 PM
10/21 – at Mount Baker – 7 PM
10/28 – at Nooksack Valley – 7 PM
He’s baaaaaack! Coach Dan Kaemingk walked away after the 2010 season, and he was never expecting to come back. And, although he missed the strategy, the film study and the competition, he realized that there was more that he was missing.
“It helped to get away from it for a little bit,” said Kaemingk, whose 150 wins as a Lync coach is the most in school history. “But, I really missed the opportunity to make a difference in these kids’ lives. When you teach a kid how to tackle, it opens the door to teach them about so many more important things in life.”
Lynden Christian will use its first three games to determine a starting quarterback. As of now, senior Colby Flint and junior Ty Van Dyken will get equal reps to begin the season. Both players received valuable time under center late last season.
LC returns 1st Team All-Conference running back David Bladies, and he is moving up the charts on the school’s all time rushing list. Junior Jordan Riddle is a really good open-field runner and will be able to give Bladies a breather from time to time. Senior Nathan Wynstra and junior Hunter TeVelde return as fullback/tight end hybrids.
Graduation wiped out nearly all of the Lync receivers, but there is a new crop of players that are eager to show what they can do on the outside. Senior Tyson Cline has taken great strides during the preseason, and has blossomed into a real threat on offense. “He’s a kid that quietly goes about his business,” Kaemingk said. “He works his tail off in the weight room, and it’s paying off right now.” Other receivers will include juniors Michael Lancaster and Kalai Jandoc and senior Easton Anderson.
The offensive line will be anchored by the 6-5 205-pound junior George DeJong at left tackle. 230-pound senior Isaac Filuk will join DeJong on the left side of the line at guard, while 6-4 220-pound junior Max Likkel will be the biggest center in the conference. The right side will include a pair of 185-pound seniors, Josh Jacobsen at guard and Kolton Korthuis at tackle. Junior Jared Smit (6-2 210) will also be used at guard and tackle.
The defensive line will be very similar to the offensive line, rotating the same six players. Filuk, Jacobsen and Likkel will play at the defensive tackle spots, and DeJong, Korthuis and Smit will mix in at defensive end. TeVelde and Wynstra will start as the inside linebackers with 210-pound junior Tanner Jansen backing them up. Riddle and Bladies will start the season as the outside linebackers.
The starting defensive backs include Flint and Cline as the cornerbacks and Van Dyken at safety, but Coach Kaemingk wants them to be able to play multiple positions in the secondary. Lancaster and Jandoc will also contribute against the stronger passing teams.
Junior Derek Kamena and sophomore Blake DeRuyter are battling for the kicking chores. Coach Kaemingk said that if one kicks the other one will likely punt. Cline and Riddle have been tabbed to be the return specialists.
The Lyncs might not have the same size that they had in their heyday of the 90’s, but there’s plenty of talent, and Coach “K” will get the best out of their talent. It might be a tough road for LC, but I wouldn’t rule out the playoffs one bit.
Prediction: 5-4
2016 Roster
| No. | Player | Ht. | Wt. | Yr. | Pos. |
| 3 | Trent Greenough | 5-8 | 125 | So. | WR/DB |
| 4 | Michael Lancaster | 5-10 | 150 | Jr. | WR/DB |
| 5 | Blake DeRuyter | 5-7 | 120 | So. | K/P |
| 6 | Kalai Jandoc | 5-10 | 170 | Jr. | WR/DB |
| 7 | Payton Robertson | 5-11 | 160 | So. | QB/DB |
| 8 | Ty Van Dyken | 5-9 | 175 | Jr. | QB/DB |
| 11 | Jalen Apol | 5-8 | 135 | So. | RB/DB |
| 12 | Erik Vander Velden | 6-2 | 150 | Sr. | WR/DB |
| 16 | Colby Flint | 5-10 | 150 | Sr. | QB/DB |
| 20 | Luke Caspian | 5-9 | 155 | So. | RB/DB |
| 21 | Sam Faber | 5-11 | 160 | So. | WR/LB |
| 22 | Jordan Riddle | 5-11 | 160 | Jr. | RB/DB |
| 23 | Derek Kamena | 5-11 | 155 | Jr. | K/P |
| 24 | Tyson Cline | 5-11 | 170 | Sr. | WR/DB |
| 27 | Shane Whittern | 5-7 | 135 | Jr. | WR/DB |
| 28 | Tanner Jansen | 5-10 | 210 | Jr. | WR/LB |
| 32 | Nathan Wynstra | 6-2 | 190 | Sr. | RB/LB |
| 33 | Hunter Te Velde | 6-0 | 215 | Jr. | RB/LB |
| 42 | Duncan Sterk | 5-8 | 140 | Jr. | RB/DB |
| 48 | David Bladies | 6-0 | 200 | Sr. | RB/LB |
| 50 | Jared Smit | 6-2 | 210 | Jr. | OL/LB |
| 51 | George De Jong | 6-5 | 205 | Jr. | OL/DL |
| 53 | Joe Barrow | 6-0 | 175 | So. | OL/DL |
| 55 | Dylan Kaemingk | 6-1 | 205 | So. | OL/DL |
| 57 | Jake Libolt | 6-2 | 180 | So. | OL/DL |
| 59 | Colin Kaemingk | 5-10 | 150 | Jr. | OL/LB |
| 60 | Houston De Jong | 6-1 | 240 | So. | OL/DL |
| 65 | Isaac Filuk | 5-10 | 230 | Sr. | OL/DL |
| 66 | Josh Jacobsen | 6-0 | 185 | Sr. | OL/DL |
| 70 | Kolton Korthuis | 6-2 | 185 | Sr. | OL/DL |
| 71 | Dave Giesing | 5-10 | 205 | So. | OL/DL |
| 75 | Max Likkel | 6-4 | 220 | Jr. | OL/DL |
| 78 | Simon Anker | 6-3 | 200 | So. | OL/DL |
| 81 | Easton Anderson | 6-3 | 175 | Sr. | WR/LB |
| 86 | Schuyler Heldoorn | 5-9 | 160 | So. | WR/LB |
| 87 | Gavin Mumford | 6-1 | 195 | Sr. | WR/LB |