Bio

Sikkema has been at the helm of the Mustangs throws events since the 2016-2017 season. Ever since his arrival, he has elevated the throws program to new heights. Sikkema has coached multiple National Qualifiers, Conference Champions, as well as rewriting the School Records. He has coached:

• 29 National Qualifiers
• 3 All-Americans
• 11 Conference Champions
• 1 Heart of America Conference Record – Women’s Indoor Shot Put
• 32 School Records
• 2x IHSA State Indoor and Outdoor State Champion
• 2017 and 2018 USATF Hershey Youth National Champion

National Qualifying Marks have been Achieved by:

Hammer:

Armando Arellanos – 2017

Mitch Miller – 2023, 2024

Kaden Schilling – 2023

Weight Throw:

Mitch Miller – 2022, 2023, 2024

Lauren Willson – 2022

Indoor Shot Put:

Bre Nail – 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024

Caleb Rutherford – 2023, 2024

Ava Conrad - 2024

Outdoor Shot Put:

Bre Nail – 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024

Caleb Rutherford – 2023, 2024

Discus:

Mitch Miller – 2022, 2024

Hunter Crew – 2023

Ava Conrad – 2024

Alyssa Striegel – 2024

Javelin:

Abby Hill – 2023

Ollie Wear – 2023

Morgan Batten – 2023

Ian Gonzalez-Palacios – 2024

Bre Nail also produced All-American honors in the Shot Put finishing 6^th during 2022 Indoor Nationals and 7^th at the 2022 Outdoor National meet. Ava Conrad also produced an All-American honor in the Discus throw placing 8^th at the 2024 Outdoor National meet.

On the Conference level, Sikkema’s throwers have been dominate in recent years. Sikkema has coached 207 Heart of America Athletic Conference Qualifiers, and 91 Conference Finalists. 11 HAAC Champions have been tutored under Sikkema. Jasmine Wardell (2019, Outdoor Shot), Bre Nail (2021, 2022 Indoor Shot/ 2022, 2023, 2024 Outdoor Shot), Ava Conrad (2024 Indoor Shot), Mitchell Miller (2023, 2024 Weight Throw), Caleb Rutherford (2023, Outdoor Shot), Kaden Schilling (2023, Hammer). Miller achieved runner-up performances in the Men’s Weight Throw and Hammer Throw during the 2022 season and a runner-up performance in 2023 Hammer Throw. Bre Nail also earned a runner-up performance at the 2024 Indoor HAAC meet in Shot Put. During the 2022 HAAC Indoor meet, Bre Nail broke the Heart of America Conference Indoor Shot Put record help since 2009 with a toss of 14.06m. After winning the 2024 Outdoor Shot Put Conference Title, Bre Nail became just the 2^nd ever lady to perform a 3-peat win in the Outdoor Shot Put Conference history.

Sikkema’s throwers have made their mark in the Mount Mercy record books as well. His throwers have broken school records throughout the seasons with records being set in: Men’s Hammer (Armando Arellanos 2017, Mitchell Miller 2022, Kaden Schilling 2023, Mitchell Miller 2024), Men’s Discus (Mitchell Miller 2021, 2022, Hunter Crew 2023), Men’s Weight Throw (Mitchell Miller 2022, 2023, 2024), Women’s Indoor Shot Put (Bre Nail 2021, 2022), and Women’s Outdoor Shot Put (Jasmine Wardell 2019, Bre Nail 2021, 2022), Men’s Outdoor Shot (Caleb Rutherford 2023, 2024), Men’s Indoor Shot (Caleb Rutherford 2023, 2024), Women’s Discus (Ellen Kangas 2023, Grace Kelley 2023, Alyssa 2024, Ava 2024). The Mustang throwers have also placed 251 new entries on the all-time top 10 performance lists. Sikkema is also a member of the National Throws Coaches Association and has his USTFCCCA Throws Coach Specialist Certification.

Before coaching at Mount Mercy, Sikkema spent one season as the throwing coach for his high school alma mater, Fulton High School, in his hometown of Fulton Ill. There he helped Chloe Lindeman break the school record in Shot Put and becoming a 2x IHSA State Shot Put Champion. Prior to his coaching career, Sikkema excelled as a student-athlete at Ashford University where he earned Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete honors twice and set the school record in the hammer throw.

Favorite Sports Moment: “Watching athletes get excited once they have beat the goals they have set for themselves, and accomplish things they thought impossible.”