North's Dike named Gatorade's Player of the Year

Edmond North’s senior leader and standout Daryl Dike was named Wednesday as Gatorade’s Player of the Year for 2018. The award cements Dike, who has committed to play for the University of Virginia next fall, as one of the state’s best boys soccer athletes during his career. Dike scored 19 goals and assisted five times this season, lifting North to an 11-7 record that saw them reach the Class 6A state semifinals. The season lifted him to one of the best careers Oklahoma’s high school soccer circuit has ever seen, with Dike now owning the state record in career goals scored (71). His lofty career has earned praise from Oklahoma’s soccer coaches both on and off the record. “Dike is the best high school soccer player I’ve ever seen play the game,” Eric Jenkins, head coach at Choctaw High School said. “His athleticism is unparalleled at this level. He can beat you all by himself, and he’s fearless in his approach.” Dike, the first Husky from Edmond North soccer to ever win the prestigious award, joined Santa Fe’s Dante Brigida as the only two Edmond male soccer athletes to win the state-wide award since before 2006. As a Gatorade Player of the Year, Dike will be able to select a national or local youth sports organization to receive a $1,000 grant as part of the Gatorade Play It Forward program. He also gains the opportunity to enter for an additional $10,000 spotlight grant by writing a brief essay. Winners of the essay’s grant will be announced later in the year. The donation will just be another bullet in a long list of ways Dike has helped the local soccer community. A devoted member of this church youth group, Dike has volunteered locally on behalf of the U.S. Youth Soccer TOPSoccer program to serve young athletes with disabilities. The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states that sanction high school football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball and boys and girls track & field, and awards one National Player of the Year in each sport. The selection process is administered by the Gatorade Player of the Year Selection Committee, which work with top sport-specific experts and a media advisory board of accomplished, veteran prep sports journalists to determine the state winners in each sport.

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Edmond North High School Athletics

NORTH'S DIKE NAMED GATORADE'S PLAYER OF THE YEAR

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Edmond Sun | 6/29/2018

PHOTO CREDIT: OK Energy FC