Carver Memories – Nov. 25-26, 2005

Following torn ACL and birth of first child,

Colard-Dykstra returns to play basketball for Vikings

BELLINGHAM, Wash. --- In March of 2005, Kelly Dykstra, who had given birth just three months earlier, received a phone call from Western Washington University women's basketball coach Carmen Dolfo asking if she would like to return to the court.

On Jan. 24, 2004, then Kelly Colard had suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee that ended her junior season at Western. The 5-foot-10 shooting guard had started all 16 games for the Vikings, averaging 11.4 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 2.4 steals while shooting 37.7 percent from 3-point range.

In less than a year while rehabilitating her knee, Kelly had married Greg Dykstra, a former all-star football wide receiver at Western, and on Dec. 19, 2004, given birth to their daughter, Demi.

Ninety days later, Kelly, now with the surname Dykstra, was adjusting to her new role as wife and mother, learning how to function without teammates and coaches by her side every day.

At the same time, Coach Dolfo was looking for someone to replace Jodi Gerald, the only graduating senior from a 2004-05 team that had finished 24-5 and reached the semifinals of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) II West Regional.

Aware that it might be a long shot, Dolfo thought of Dykstra, who had one year of eligibility remaining.


Dykstra was a tough defender for the Vikings

While driving to Seattle to watch the title game of the West Regional, Dolfo and assistant coach Sara Nichols agreed that they needed to call Dykstra and see if she had any interest in returning.

"Kelly must have been thinking about it too, because she was excited when we called," said Dolfo.

Dykstra, who had been a first-team Class 2A all-state selection at Elma (Wash.) High School and a two-time all-region pick at Whatcom Community College, said she had considered it, but never thought seriously that it could happen.

"I had talked with my mom two days before they called and just said I wonder if it would be possible … I wanted to play. I needed to close that chapter of my life. The fact that it was a good team and everyone got along definitely entered into it, but mostly I wanted some closure."

"Time and leaving Demi were huge concerns of mine, not being around for every little thing that she did for the first time. Another concern was if I'd be able to get my body back in shape, and I didn't know if the knee would work."

Thanks to great support from her extended family, an idea that seemed improbable became possible.

"It was tough at first," Dykstra said. "My knee was swollen and I had to take some time off to get it back to normal. But in the fall, everything started to come together."

Dykstra, who was completing her degree in education, earned all-tourney honors as the Vikings opened the season on Nov. 25-26 with two wins to claim the championship of the WWU Lynda Goodrich Classic. She had 18 points and six rebounds in an 88-44 rout of Northwest University, and 13 points and five assists in an 82-65 win over Grand Canyon University.

"Certainly she's an outstanding shooter, but she's also a good defender and passer as well," said Dolfo in describing Dykstra at the time. "And she brings us maturity and focus. She's back for a reason, to finish her career with a good year, and have the team be successful."


2005-06 Vikings: (27-2, reached semifinals at NCAA II West Regional, 1st in Great Northwest Athletic Conference standings)
 Front Row (L-R) Elyse Hartman, Courtney Clapp, Tina Donahue, Samantha Hubbard, Kelly Dykstra, Stephanie Dressel
 Back Row (L-R) Arielle White, Liz McCarrell, Claire Pallansch, Krista Lersch, Krystal Robinson, Willow Cabe, Mollie Stelmack

During one stretch of the 2005-06 season, Western had a school-record 21-game winning streak and played host to the West Regional as the No.1 seed, both firsts for one of the nation's top programs. The Vikings finished 27-2 and reached the regional semifinals.

Dykstra, a second-team Great Northwest Athletic Conference all-star, started all 29 games as she ranked among the top three team leaders in seven statistical categories. She averaged 12.6 points (3), 4.8 rebounds (3), 3.2 assists (2), 1.7 steals (1) and 0.6 blocked shots (2), while shooting a team-leading 54.0 percent (128-237) from the floor and 38.6 percent (44-114) (2) from beyond the three-point line.


Dykstra gets a breather against Central Washington in a game played at Key Arena

Coming back from a severe knee injury is a daunting challenge in itself for an athlete. The road to recovery is long and hard, and the lingering question is always if the finished product will be as strong as before.

"One of the life-changing obstacles I encountered was tearing my ACL," said Dykstra. "You think about the road to recovery and get terrified by how long it will take and how hard it will be."

"However, from the second I knew my season was over as a player, everyone else's belief in me never wavered. My teammates, coaches, training staff and doctors were always there helping me with every step, encouraging me, and pushing me when I needed a little shove … The day-in and day-out of tedious, painful exercises was a major character builder. No matter how hard each of those days were, they made me stronger, mentally and physically. They taught me that if you want something bad enough you have to work at it."

Then after working so hard to rehabilitate her knee, Dykstra's career appeared over when she became pregnant with her first child.

"I remember so well the moment that I told the coaches following a summer meeting," Dykstra said. "I was scared that they were going to be angry and disappointed in me for letting them and the team down. Instead they looked at me and smiled at me and said it would all be great. They told me that Greg and I would be fabulous parents. Their love and support in that moment made me realize that this program goes way further then wins and losses. We are indeed family!"

Following Coach Dolfo's call, Dykstra was excited to return the following season for a number of reasons.

"Initially the thought of coming back scared me to death. However, I wanted to come back not just for myself, to prove that I could do it, but I wanted to come back for many different people. The sacrifices my family, my coaches and my teammates made for me to return to the court and school were such a blessing. When I questioned if my old out of shape body could keep up, my teammates were there to push me and encourage me. The days that I would cry because I felt that I was letting my child down by being at practice instead of with her, the coaches were there to encourage me and to let me know someday Demi would be proud of me for following my dreams. That proved to be true."

"That year I realized I couldn't do it on my own, which is a very difficult thing to learn when you are as stubborn as me. It also taught me that the more you sacrifice and the more you put into something the greater impact it will have on you. It taught me that when you give up on your individual accomplishments you can accomplish so much more with your team and this is when something truly special happens."

An incredible season came to an abrupt end when the Vikings fell in the regional semifinals. Dykstra's performance was hampered by illness.

"The season did not end the way we had hoped, but God, family, this program and the team's supporters helped me finish out my dream of playing basketball and above all becoming a college graduate."

One thing Dykstra learned through those struggles was that she wanted to coach.

"I had an amazing coaching staff and program to show me how to challenge, love and influence players in a positive way … I wanted to mentor young women and help push kids further than they think they are capable of because I know first-hand they can. I believe in loving each girl for who she is and where she wants to go and not allowing them to accept anything less than their best."

Since leaving Western, Dykstra has served as an assistant girls basketball coach at Lynden Christian High School, one of the state's elite programs. That while raising four daughters with her husband Greg. Demi is now 14, Danya 12, Daylin 9 and Drea 7.


Kelly and Greg Dykstra with daughters (L-R) Danya, Dayl, Drea and Demi

"My husband Greg used skills he learned as a student-athlete at Western to be successful in his job and be an amazing husband and father," Dykstra said.

Now, in her 13th season at LCHS, Dykstra has worked as the defensive guru for head coach Curt DeHann and now program leader Brady Bomber. During Dykstra's first 12 years, the Lyncs have won four state titles and been runner-up twice, while either placing third or fourth at state in every other season.

LCHS state finishes during Kelly Dykstra's 12 seasons as assistant coach

2007-08: 1st (Undefeated)
2008-09: 4th
2009-10: 3rd
2010-11: 2nd
2011-12: 3rd
2012-13: 4th
2013-14: 1st (Curt DeHann's final year)
2014-15: 4^th (Brady Bomber's first year)
2015-16: 1st
2016-17: 4th
2017-18: 1st (Undefeated)
2018-19: 2nd  


Kelly Dykstra and former LCHS head girls basketball coach Curt DeHann, a member of the Washington State Coaches Hall of Fame
 
"Recently I took a deep look into my life and reflected back to my playing days long ago," said Dykstra. "I saw the fingerprints of all of my coaches, my teammates, WWU staff, fellow alumni, fans and Western supporters that have pushed me, guided me and supported me in my life. The impact this program has had on me has shaped the woman I am today. My work ethic, my ability to overcome obstacles, how I parent, coach and how I am in my marriage is a reflection of what I learned through this program."         

DYKSTRA FAMILY: When Kelly married Greg Dykstra, she joined one of the best-known athletic families in Whatcom County. The patriarch is Glen Dykstra, "Magic Johnson before Magic Johnson," according to many who watched him play. The story of him leading Lynden Christian High School to the 1976 Class 1A state title, the first in school history, is one of Washington State prep hoop lore.

Glen's two sons, Greg and Grant, went on to compete at WWU following outstanding high school careers at LCHS. As a wide receiver in football (1999-2002), Greg set Viking career records for consecutive games with a reception (38) and catches (181), and ranked second in receiving yards (2,720) and sixth in scoring (188). Younger brother, Grant, who suffered a life-threatening accident as a two-year-old that nearly cost him his right arm, was a consensus All-American as a WWU senior and graduated as the school's career scoring leader with 1,844 points. He was named winner of the 2006 V Foundation Comeback Award, the first non-NCAA Division I student-athlete to earn the honor, and was selected the 2005 U.S. Basketball Writers Association Most Courageous Award winner. In 2013, he was one of 48 former NCAA II student-athletes picked to the NCAA II 40th anniversary Tribute Team.

Greg and Kelly have four daughters: Demi, Danya, Daylin and Drea. Grant and his wife Tara, have four children: sons Griffin, Gannon and Gunnar, and daughter Tyra.
Glen and wife Alice also had a daughter, Shannon, who earned all-state honors in high school basketball as did Greg and Grant. Shannon married another Dykstra, Jeff. They have four children, two daughters and two sons. Their daughter Avery is in her second year on the Western women's basketball team.

Glen was the youngest of six children. His brother, Vernon, had three children. One was daughter Devin, who played softball and basketball at Western before marrying Viking football player Michael Koenen who went on to a 10-year NFL career as a placekicker. They have five children.

SISTER KATIE COLARD-McNEALLY is completing her third year as property manager for Property 5 Residential in Seattle. She finished her four-year WWU career in 2014-15 with school records in free throw percentage (85.1, 167-of-194), 3-point makes (258) and 3-point attempts (713), while scoring 1,207 points. She was a first-team GNAC all-star as a junior when she ranked 16th nationally and led the conference in 3-point makes per game at 2.7, and set a school record by connecting on at least one trey in 33 straight games. Ten years younger than Kelly, she helped the Vikings to the NCAA DII national semifinals as a sophomore starter in 2012-13.

BROTHER KEVIN COLARD is completing his 14th year as Vice President of Acquisitions at Weidner Apartment Homes in Seattle. The oldest of the Colard family, he played football at Western in 1998 following a redshirt season in 1997.

Written by Paul Madison who served 48 years as sports information director at WWU from 1966 to 2015. He is now in his fifth year as the school's Athletics Historian.