Danica Strong, out and about with her faithful canine companion. (Photo courtesy Danette Beckley)
It’s sort of like coming home.
Danica Strong, and younger sister Dakota grew up in Whatcom County and attended schools in Idaho last year.
But, with a family move to Whidbey Island, the sisters have landed at Coupeville High School, where their mom, Danette Beckley, was a hoops star in the ’80s.
For Danica, who plays basketball and softball — when she’s not revving her dirt bike or hiking with her Cardigan Corgi, Ori — the change has been successful.
“The transition to Coupeville is going great,” she said.
“The girls on the summer basketball team welcomed me and made me feel comfortable and confident in our team environment.
“The sense of community here is very warming and welcoming to new people, which helped me fit in.”
Danica played several seasons of softball, let it go for a while, then picked her mitt back up last season as a high school freshman in Caldwell, Idaho.
Basketball, however, has been her constant go-to.
She first stepped on court in kindergarten, started playing club ball in 6th grade, and was the lone freshman on a JV team at a 4A high school last year.
“Basketball is my favorite sport because I have been playing it the longest,” Danica said. “And I succeed the most in it.
“I love the constant action of the game and the mental and physical challenges it proposes.”
As she progresses with her hoops career, Danica aims for success, and puts in the work to make her dreams a possibility.
“I enjoy being an athlete because it keeps me in shape and gives me something that I can always get better in and will never be able to perfect,” she said.
“I love the teammates you make and the leadership that being an athlete brings you.”
Danica ranks “leadership, commitment, and persistence” as her strengths, while continuing to work to find the right mix of being passionate and intense, without playing out of control.
“One thing I need to work on is keeping my temper down and not getting too heated in a game,” she said with a laugh.
Having strong coaches has helped her chase that balance, both on and off the court.
“My number one mentor was my freshman year basketball coach,” Danica said. “Coach Caron was someone who always pushed me to be my best and always knew I could handle any task he would give me.
“He never doubted me once and always had faith that I could do whatever I put my mind to.
“Off the court he really mentored me and helped me through some of the toughest months of my life by just making me laugh.”
Equally as important to her growth, as a player and a young woman, have been the friends she has made through basketball.
“The second person that has stood out to me is my teammate from last year, Rissa,” Danica said. “Rissa was an upperclassman that I looked up to since day one.
“She always made sure I never hung my head and always put a smile on my face,” she added.
“She saw how stressed I was while being the only freshman on a 4A JV basketball team and always reminded me I wasn’t alone, and I always had her and my other teammates to count on.
“Ever since tryouts I have always looked up to Rissa and have always tried to play with as much fire as she plays with.”
Now, Danica and her sister are in a new town, but one where mom and aunt Jana (Beckley) Bouzek connect them to the past.
The future is bright, and, while her family members have a strong sports legacy in Cow Town, Danica gets to write her own story.
That’s something she’s looking forward to.
“My goal for my high school career is to contribute to the girls’ basketball team and hopefully make a state appearance,” Danica said.
“My more personal goal for my high school career is to get a college scholarship so I am able to play the sport I love as well as further my education.”
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