Incline Village Schools

Incline's 26-3 record this past season was impressive, but its 9-1 mark against teams from larger classifications was perhaps even more significant.

The 2A Highlanders padded that record with wins over some of the lower-rung 4A and 3A teams, but they also beat Hug, a 4A playoff team, and 3A state champion Sparks.

Incline was able to do this because it possessed one of the deepest and most balanced teams in the North, regardless of school size. But there was another key.

"With Josh we lose that title of a 2A school," Highlanders coach Dan Schreiber said of center Josh Dykstra. "We can play with anybody. That's what he brings to the table.

"He raises that bar."

The bar was lifted to its ultimate peak when Incline ended a 20-year title drought with its state championship victory last week. Leading the way was Dykstra, who had 44 points combined in the semifinals and finals.

"Starting in the summer, we decided we wanted to go all the way," said Dykstra, who has been named the RGJ's All-North 2A Player of the Year.

To that end, Dykstra made a conscious effort to take on less of the scoring load this year after watching how balanced Needles was a year ago en route to its state title. Needles beat Incline in the 2009 state semifinals.

"My scoring went down but my assists went up and the wins went up," said Dykstra, who averaged 15.8 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game this past season. "Having so many shooters helped so much."

So as Schreiber put it, Dykstra was creating problems for the defense without even shooting -- a feat more reserved for point guards, not centers.

"He gives teams lots of problems," Schreiber said."He's the complete package."

Dykstra, born in Costa Rica, certainly appears to fit that description. He's an honors student who's applied to such universities as Stanford, UCLA and USC among others. And often he takes a cerebral approach to basketball.

"I was thinking about it and only four boys teams in Nevada get to win a championship," Dykstra said. "So if there's about 100 teams, that's only 40 guys out of 1,000 who played this year. That puts what we did in perspective."

RGJ All-North 2A team

Guard: Michael Ceragioli, Incline
Guard: Sam Witt, Incline
Guard: Michael McDonald, Silver Stage
Forward: Clarence Loftin, ROP
Center: Josh Dykstra, Incline*
6th man: Michael Lake, Battle Mountain

*Player of the Year

Seventeen Incline “We the People” students are headed to the nation's capital this spring to represent the State of Nevada at the nation's foremost scholastic constitutional debate competition.

That is, if they can get some financial help from the community first.

The cost of sending the AP government students to the “We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution” national finals in April in Washington, D.C., is about $1,500 per student, with extra costs built to accommodate coaches and chaperones, said teacher Milton Hyams.

“(Community) donations achieve two goals: It helps the students finance the trip; more importantly, it demonstrates our community support of their effort to become more knowledgeable and involved citizens,” said Hyams.

Hyams has identified the fundraising goal of $30,000, with students able to raise $12,000 as of Thursday.

“The money goes to hotel rooms, meals and transportation coordination,” Hyams said.

Students have advocated the class by visiting community organizations recently such as the Incline Village/Crystal Bay Republican Women and the Rotary Club of Tahoe-Incline, where they perform simulations of the debate competition.

“There is no better investment than in active young citizens,” Hyams said. “These 17 individuals are some of the most thoughtful, engaged and competent young people who will rightfully represent the Incline Village community in Washington.”

The students airfare is paid for as part of the Education for Democracy Act as a way to reduce any unfairness regarding geographical location. In other words, students from Alaska and Hawaii will not be punished with higher airfare due to their distant proximity from Washington, D.C.

Through the congressional allocations, students are provided a $100 stipend to pay for necessities while in the capital.

Hyams said the trip not only affords the students the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge of American government and the U.S. Constitution at the prestigious event, but the young persons will take in some of the culturally significant sites to be found in Washington, D.C.

“We'll be in Washington from April 21 to April 27, and we have a full schedule during that time,” Hyams said. “We plan on meeting with the full Nevada congressional delegation including Sen. Harry Reid, Sen. John Ensign and Rep. Dean Heller. We'll tour the national mall, visit the Smithsonian and the Supreme Court as well as visiting other museums.”

Residents or organizations interested in donating can send a check made out to Incline High School, attention of “We the People.”  If you have questions, please contact teacher Milt Hyams, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call the high school at 775.832-4260.

For information regarding all aspects of the “We the People” program, visit www.civiced.org.