Nov 13th – The Sojourn’s Athlete of the Week, presented by Amplify Media, is Sam Dykema from the #15 nationally ranked Indiana Wesleyan Men’s Golf team.
Dykema is a 6’2” sophomore from West Chicago, IL, and a graduate of Wheaton Academy.
Dykema’s father and brother played golf at IWU and this ultimately led him to Wildcat Nation.
“My goal is to shoot the best I can but there is such a bigger purpose that will last eternally,” Dykema said.
Dykema received All-Conference honors as a freshman with six Top-10 finishes and three Top-5 finishes. This season, he won his first two collegiate invitationals.
“Sam doesn’t settle. He wants to go into each tournament to succeed and leaves no doubt as to whether he is prepared or not. The team sees this,” Head Coach Kyle Bloom said. “It is difficult to tell whether he won the tournament by five shots or lost by five.”
Dykema has made it a priority for himself to put his faith in front of his golf.
“How I act and represent God on the course will have an eternal effect,” Dykema said. “Faith is more important than the sport, even [when] playing at a high level.”
Not only is Dykema succeeding on the course, but he is also succeeding as a leader for the men’s golf program.
“Sam truly loves to see other people succeed and that makes him easy to want to follow [as a leader],” Coach Bloom said. “This year, he is much more active in small groups and off-course discussions. He is disciplining players on the team, which is a blast to watch.”
Sophomore teammate Jett Jones has found Dykema to be much more than just another number on the team.
“If I ever need anything, that’s the dude I go to,” Jones said. “I feel like we’re more than teammates. That’s a best friend [and] a great teammate.”
The IWU Golf program has been a part of the Dykema family for years and Sam Dykema has big goals for this season.
“I have a positive, go-get mindset,” Dykema said. “I want to make it to nationals as a team. We are ranked 15th right now.”
Although Dykema admits enjoying basketball’s excitement more than golf, he credits himself to the mental game he possesses.
“The mental part of golf is the most important,” Dykema said. “You either have it or you don’t.”
The Wildcats take the course again in the Spring as Dykema looks to be named an NAIA All-American for the first time in his career.
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