From the time she first picked up a basketball, Elisha Dykstra knew she wanted to go far. Now, after five years of focused training at PowerStrength, the West Catholic High School senior has taken her game to new heights, recently committing to play college basketball at Division I Toledo, where her older sister, Cadence, is already on the team.

Playing alongside her sister was a powerful factor in her decision. 

“I definitely am looking forward to playing with my sister,” Dykstra said. “She’s one of my best friends, and just motivates me the most, so getting to play with her again will definitely be fun and just a good experience for my whole family.”

While family ties played a role, Toledo’s winning culture sealed the deal. 

“I love the culture,” she shared. “It’s so competitive, and it’s just such a winning culture. So it motivates me to be better, because everyone around me wants to win and be better.” 

With offers from other strong programs like Western Michigan, Eastern Michigan, and Florida Gulf Coast, it was the alignment of both her personal and athletic goals that led her to Toledo.

SPECIALIZED PERFORMANCE TRAINING

For Dykstra, the journey to Division I didn’t start in high school. Her commitment to training and self-improvement began five years ago at PowerStrength, following in the footsteps of her older brother and sister. 

“I have an older brother, Zeke, that originally went here, and then he kind of dragged my sister into it. Once I finally became serious in sports, that’s when I started,” she recalled.

Training at PowerStrength became a cornerstone of her development, enhancing not just her physical abilities but also her mental resilience. 

“One of the biggest things that I kind of overlooked originally, I worked a lot on skills and stuff, but then I realized that can only get me so far if I don’t have the strength or speed for it,” Dykstra explained. “Getting to come here and becoming stronger and faster, and then also, witnessing the atmosphere with the people here, they all just want you to become better, just as bad as you want to become better.”

PowerStrength coaches have worked with her to improve essential elements of her game, especially her speed and strength, which have translated into noticeable improvements on the court. 

“Speed, I feel like, is one of the biggest ones. I felt a lot faster. And then obviously, strength is another big factor. I feel like people just overlook that a lot too. So just becoming stronger and being able to be more crisp with everything,” Dykstra said.

Throughout her high school and AAU basketball seasons, Dykstra balanced her rigorous schedule with a steadfast commitment to training at PowerStrength, finding time to attend 2-3 sessions per week whenever she could. 

“When I’m tired, I just get up and come, and once I come, I feel so much better,” she said. “Just getting here whenever I can, and putting the time in whatever I can.”

WINNING ATMOSPHERE

Her dedication to training is matched by PowerStrength’s dedicated approach to each athlete, a factor Dykstra believes sets the gym apart. 

“I like that the group sizes are a lot smaller, and they make a point to make one-on-one attention for each person,” she noted. “It’s just more personal, and you just know you’re getting a good workout. The people around you too, they’re all in it for the workout, and they’re gonna do every rep, every set, just to get better.”

Elisha is also fond of the environment at PowerStrength, crediting the climate for much of her success. 

“I’d say the culture overall. You come in and you just know everyone here. They make a point to get to know you on a deeper personal level, they’re really personable and want you to become better and succeed.” 

EXPERT GUIDANCE

Along with physical conditioning, PowerStrength’s coaches have emphasized the importance of nutrition, another key component in Dykstra’s success. 

“The PowerStrength coaches sat me down and had a personal conversation,” she said. “Here’s what you should eat for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack ideas. If you want that kind of option, they’ll give it to you. They’ll do anything to help you become better. They’re so educated, everyone here just has so much knowledge that can help you with all those nutritional things.”

The coaches consistently push the athletes to exceed their limits, challenging them both physically and mentally in every session. That has been a game-changer for Elisha. 

“I feel like every workout you’re getting pushed so hard, harder than you thought you could go, there will be a weight I’ll put on and they want me to do more and more,” she said. “They just push you so much mentally to a higher standard level that you never thought you could reach.” 

Everyone at PowerStrength takes pride in watching Dykstra reach new milestones as she prepares for her final high school season and beyond. 

“I feel like, honestly, so much,” she said about how her training has helped her become a better basketball player. “There’s all the strength and speed things, but also the mental aspect and the confidence aspect of it all. I’ve become more confident in my skills and just what I can do on the court, and then obviously, mentally, just pushing myself every day to get better.” 

SENIOR SEASON AHEAD

With a new coach at West Catholic this season, Derek Paiz, and high hopes for a successful season, Dykstra is eager to make the most of her last high school games. 

“I think as a team, I feel like we can make it far in the tournament, hopefully win it all this year,” she said. “And just play some good competition and beat some teams, and just have fun along the way. I feel like it’s one of the most overlooked things when you get so serious about sports, doing it all for the fun.”

At Toledo, Dykstra will have a chance to compete at the highest level of college basketball, in a program that shares PowerStrength’s culture of hard work and dedication. 

“Here, I’ve seen the most benefits I’ve ever seen from lifting,” she said. “This is the place to be, they’re gonna push you, and you’re gonna get stronger. You can guarantee it.”

GET STARTED AT POWERSTRENGTH

4th-12th grade athletes of all sports and abilities can sign up at PowerStrength at any time while spots remain. Choose the PowerStrength location most convenient for you – Alpine, Kentwood, Jenison, Plainfield, and Holland.

Visit https://powerstrengthpro.com/athletes to learn more or click below to schedule your assessment and get started.