Teammates, now coaches: Lynden Christian’s Greg Terpstra and Kent Bouma scheme dreams
Greg Terpstra recalls that he definitely didn’t want a “yes man” to serve as his defensive coordinator.
The second-year head football coach at Lynden Christian is just gratified that Kent Bouma did say “yes” to accepting the challenge of high school coaching for the first time, more than 30 years after they last played together on a strong Lyncs team.
Dawson Bouma is equally gratified. Only two years ago, the senior standout never expected to be talking football every day with Kent as one of his coaches, instead of just as a supportive father.
Terpstra frequently mentions his assistants after one game or another, expressing appreciation for how the staff has helped him lead the Lyncs to the Class 1A state playoffs and the Northwest Conference 1A championship. The No. 3-seeded Lyncs open against No. 14 Connell at Friday at 4 p.m. at Blaine High School’s spacious stadium.
But Terpstra can’t help feeling how special it is to work with Kent Bouma, a Lynden banker at WECU and a family man. They grew up together in Lynden and played on countless teams together.
“Kent and I played together with great passion on our 1991 LC football team (as well as in basketball) as seniors,” Terpstra said. “That was (retired coaching legend) Dan Kaemingk’s second team at LC and Lynden (then in the same division) beat us in the state semifinals on the way to Coach Curt Kramme’s first state title at Lynden.”
In other words, there is unfinished state title business for the Terpstra-Bouma team.
Lynden Christian, with wide receiver/defensive back Dawson Bouma among the leaders on and off the field, has a county-leading five-game winning streak in a highly competitive season in which all of the 10 1A, 2A and 3A teams have lost at least two games but have won at least three games.
“I can’t say how much I’m impressed with Kent,” said Terpstra. “He’s exceeded expectations.”
What gave Terpstra the idea to hire Bouma as his defensive coordinator?
Terpstra had been offensive coordinator at Sehome for six years when he took the LC head position in 2022 after Kaemingk stepped down, but stayed involved in football as a sports announcer for the Cascade Radio Group.
“When the smoke cleared (after Terpstra learned who would stay on LC’s staff), we had an opening for defensive coordinator and I thought of Kent. I wasn’t looking for a yes man, and sometimes that means you look at someone you’ve known well from way back.
“Kent is very detailed and always has been organized,” Terpstra said. “I’m more of a free spirit. I needed someone for defense who was buttoned up. Give Kent a task and he’ll study the heck out of it. I always had an extreme passion as a player, and if there was anyone who had as much, it was Kent.”
Both were outstanding athletes. Terpstra acknowledges that Bouma was by far the better basketball player but Terpstra broke the LC record in the 110 hurdles and went on to make NAIA All-America at defensive back two years at Northwestern University in Iowa, where he lettered all four years and made the nationals in the 400-meter hurdles. Kent played basketball at Shoreline Community College and then focused on his studies as an economics major at the University of Washington.
Bouma explained why he popped into consideration for a coaching role at LC.
“Coaching was all new to me, but I have a style I love,” Bouma said, explaining that Terpstra is also a fan of the same style. “It’s a fast, aggressive, intense stye.”
That describes to a T how the Lyncs have played defense with a two-season record of 15-3. They have generally been highly effective and improved this season, having given up 18 touchdowns in nine games, with several scores against reserves.
The three-four defense includes Malachi VanderMey, Levi DeKoster and Carter Seigman up front, with Treyson Johnson also frequently a part of the wall, and (from left) at linebacker Jeremiah Wright, Trey Bosman, Kayden Stuit and Brody Bouwman. The defensive backs are Dawson Bouma and Mick Owen at cornerback and Jaden Huleatt and Tyson Bajema at safety. Huleatt came on early in the season when Treven Blair sustained a season-ending injury.
The 6-foot-1, 180-pound Dawson Bouma, a defensive starter as a junior, has blossomed into such a two-way talent that Terpstra calls him “an incredible football player who has really put in the work to improve.” Dawson has 29 receptions for 485 yards and five touchdowns, according to the Whatcom Preps website.
Dawson, however, also will bid to help the Lyncs win their third consecutive state 1A basketball title.
“I’m really not sure whether it will be football or basketball in college,” said Dawson, who is typical of numerous multi-sport stars who play for basketball coach Tim Zylstra.
“Tim has been fantastically supportive of our football program,” Terpstra said.
Dawson Bouma feels “blessed by God” to have his dad coaching as well as playing with such a talented cast of teammates. “We talk football and we watch a lot of film. I had no idea I would wind up with him as a coach. It’s part of my story now.”
After college graduation, Terpstra taught six years of fourth grade in Minneapolis while his wife, Nicole, earned her law degree at the University of Minnesota. He has been teaching sixth grade since 2002 at LC, with a focus on Bible, math and science. He coached junior varsity for nine years, then served as a Kramme assistant at Lynden for four years and at Sehome for six years.
Bouma and his wife, Juli, a former Lynden High athlete, have two younger daughters in addition to Dawson and love living in Lynden.
WEEK ELEVEN
Whatcom County teams in State Round of 16
1A
No. 3 Lynden Christian (7-2) vs. No. 14 Connell (5-5), Friday at 4 p.m., Blaine High School
No. 6 Nooksack Valley (7-2) vs. No 11 Cascade Christian (8-2), Saturday at 5 p.m., Civic Stadium
2A
No. 5 Lynden (7-2) vs. No. 12 Bremerton (8-2), at Friday at 6 p.m., Civic Stadium
3A
No. 9 Mount Tahoma (7-3) at No. 8 Ferndale (8-2) Friday at 7 p.m.
