Warrior commits to school; Wasilla senior to play women’s basketball for Biola University

WASILLA — Kyla Dinkel believes she found a perfect place to start the next chapter of her basketball career — Biola University. Next fall, the Biola Eagles just might find that Dinkel could be a perfect fit at a couple of different positions on the floor.

Dinkel, a versatile senior who has helped lead the Wasilla Warriors to back-to-back 4A state championships, has committed to play women’s basketball at Biola University in La Miranda, Calif.

“I’m very excited,” Dinkel said last week during a small ceremony in her honor at Wasilla High School. “I really like the coaching staff. I got to visit the campus and really liked it. It’s a nice, small community. I really felt at home there, more than anywhere else.”

Dinkel also seriously considered another California school, Master’s College, as well as a few programs in Oregon, but Biola became her easy choice.

“There were several interested, but Biola was kind of the one that stood out to me the most,” Dinkel said.

When Biola made its offer of a scholarship package, the deal was clinched.

“When we heard the offer, they were offering more than we expected,” Dinkel said. “It was a no-brainer.”

Dinkel has primarily played in the post for Wasilla, but could find herself serving a variety of roles for the Eagles, a team that competes in the NAIA Golden State Athletic Conference. Wasilla head coach Jeannie Hebert-Truax said that could be key to Dinkel’s potential for success.

“She’s a little more versatile,” Hebert-Truax said. “For me she plays inside, but she can step it out and play outside. She can offer more than just the post, just the guard.”

Hebert-Truax said Dinkel has the skills to be successful in both spots.

“She can shoot it, she can dribble. She’s pretty quick for a 6-foot girl,” Hebert-Truax said.

Dinkel said she should have the opportunity to play inside and out at Biola.

“The coach there told me I’d play in the post, but I’d also play guard too,” Dinkel said. “I do like playing guard more, but the post is what I grew up with.”

Dinkel has made contributions to the varsity level throughout her career with the Warriors.

“She really stepped up for us in the state tournament as a sophomore. Last year she had to do it,” Hebert-Truax said of Dinkel, who helped Wasilla win state titles during her sophomore and junior seasons.

Dinkel said she hopes she can contribute right away with the Eagles.

“Especially at this level, I think I can put in good minutes my freshman year,” Dinkel said.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com, follow him @matsu_sports and find him by searching Valley Sports Huddle on Facebook.