FOOTBALL
2017 Season
As part of a tremendous sophomore class, he was one of very few of them that saw decent playing time on Friday nights.
He was in early on in the rotation on the defensive line, as he picked up six tackles, including a tackle for loss and a quarterback sack, in the first five games.
In the second game of the season he had a great day receiving as he caught four passes for 32 yards, which included his first varsity touchdown.
He caught another touchdown in week six against Nooksack Valley.
Even though the Lyncs finished 3-6, it was evident that good times were just around the corner, and Sipma was going to be a huge part of it.
2017 OFFENSIVE STATISTICS
2017 DEFENSIVE STATISTICS
2018 Season
As a junior he started right away in the interior of the defensive line, and his initial quickness off the ball was a sight to see.
He was a huge part of a defense that didn’t allow a touchdown until the fourth game of the season, and in that game he had 6.5 tackles, three sacks and another tackle for loss in a 28-20 win at Mount Baker.
Mostly used now as a defensive tackle, he would still line up as a receiver from time to time, as Coach Dan Kaemingk would look for mismatches in the opposing defenses.
Yes, a rare athlete that excelled at wide receiver and defensive tackle.
The Lyncs dropped two home games in a row to Meridian and Mount Baker, but quickly bounced back to win out the rest of the regular season, and earn a spot in the state tournament for the first time since 2007.
Sipma came alive offensively in the state tournament, as he caught 10 passes for 97 yards in the playoffs alone. He also forced a fumble, and recovered two fumbles in the quarterfinal 45-6 win over Hoquiam.
The Lyncs were eventually ousted by Newport, 27-14, in the semifinals.
It was an amazing season for Sipma and his teammates. Zach went on to be named All-Conference 1st Team on the defensive line. He was also ranked #59 on the Whatcom Preps Top 100 for the season.
2018 OFFENSIVE STATISTICS
2018 DEFENSIVE STATISTICS
2019 Season
As a senior, Sipma was used all over the place, and for good reason.
Defensively, he would usually line up at defensive tackle, but might slip out to defensive end from time to time.
Offensively, he played wide receiver and tight end, and on the rare occasion he would play full back in the wishbone formation.
In game one, the Lyncs beat Bellingham 49-7 and Sipma caught a 12-yard touchdown pass and picked up 2.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage.
He caught a career-high five passes for 58 yards in week two, a 17-0 win over Blaine.
After a 24-8 loss to Mount Baker at home, the Lyncs rebounded by traveling to Nooksack Valley and beating the Pioneers 33-0. In the victory, Sipma caught four passes for 50 yards, intercepted a pass, forced a fumble, picked up two quarterbacks sacks and also scored his first rushing touchdown.
He had three more sacks and a tackle for loss at Meridian in a 38-14 win, which set up the rematch against the Mountaineers, this time at their place.
The Lyncs got their revenge against Mount Baker, winning 27-8, with Sipma having another stellar performance. He had four receptions for 60 yards and a touchdown, and he also had four carries for 51 yards and a touchdown. Those numbers didn’t slow is production down defensively at all, as he also totaled two sacks a tackle for loss and a fumble recovery.
He finished the regular season with three games in a row with a touchdown reception, and five games in a row with at least one quarterback sack.
The Lyncs were once again in the state playoffs, and again showed how dominant they were by manhandling Cascade Christian 42-12, and La Salle 31-7 in the first two rounds.
A hard-fought battle against Deer Park ended with a 14-7 victory, in which Sipma caught his fifth touchdown pass of the season.
The win put LC in the state championship game for the first time since 1997.
It took a comeback by Royal to defeat Lynden Christian, but the Lyncs showed that they belonged with the elite competition in the state.
Sipma was named All-Conference 1st Team at defensive line for the second year in a row, and he was also named the Northwest Conference 1A Defensive Player of the Year. He was also named All-State 1st Team, and was ranked #5 on the Whatcom Preps Top 100.
2019 OFFENSIVE STATISTICS
2019 DEFENSIVE STATISTICS
Football Career
Sipma’s football career was an amazing one to see up close. There are certain players that when you see them perform on the sidelines, it’s just hard to describe. I said on the Whatcom Preps Podcast years ago that when I grow up, I wanna be Zach Sipma (despite him being a few decades younger than me). His abilities allowed him to continue his football career at Dordt University.
CAREER OFFENSIVE STATISTICS
CAREER DEFENSIVE STATISTICS
BASKETBALL
2017-18 Season
As a sophomore, Sipma came off the bench to proved hustling defense and muscle under the boards.
To be a part of one of the greatest overall teams in Whatcom County history is a pretty special thing.
The Lyncs reached the state tournament with a 22-1 record, and won their first game by 20 over Newport.
A 24-point victory over Kings Way Christian followed, and the Lyncs were back in the final four, a familiar spot.
A narrow 73-69 win over The Northwest School put the Lyncs into the state championship, which they convincingly won over Freeman 82-42, in one of the most lopsided state championship games in state history.
After the season, MaxPreps had Lynden Christian ranked as the 135th best team in the nation.
2018-19 Season
Much of the same was expected for Lynden Christian in Sipma’s junior season.
The Lyncs were returning four starters, including the 1A State Player of the Year, Cole Bajema.
LC jumped out to another great start which led into the Lynden Christian Classic Holiday Tournament.
The Lyncs won the tournament, and outlasted 4A power Glacier Peak, 66-60.
Lynden Christian remained undefeated, which led up to the huge showdown against Lynden.
Both teams were 17-0 heading into the game, and both were ranked number one in their respective classifications.
The Lyncs were on fire for the entire game, as they hit 13 three-pointers, and went 12-for-12 from the line. Sipma scored five points and the Lyncs won 75-57.
Lynden Christian went into the district tournament with an unblemished 20-0 record, and it appeared that damage was going to be done once again.
The Lyncs began the tournament by defeating Cedar Park Christian 77-40, with Sipma scoring six points, and the victory put Lynden Christian in the district championship game against King’s.
But fans would have to wait as weather postponed the championship game four days.
A week after playing their last game, the Lyncs were finally able to get on the court, and they defeated the Knights 70-63.
The win set up a Bi-District championship game against Seattle Academy, which Lynden Christian won in a tough contest, 65-54.
The top ranked Lyncs opened the state tournament against Connell, who was 19-4 coming into the game, in a regional bout.
A 79-53 victory put the Lyncs into the quarterfinals, and against a familiar foe in King’s.
The Knights shot the lights out, and defensively keyed on Bajema the entire game, holding him to four points, as King’s picked up the upset victory, 73-50. It wouldn’t be another state title for LC.
A bounce-back 75-39 win by the Lyncs against Seattle Academy guaranteed that Lynden Christian would bringing home a trophy. Sipma scored eight points in the victory.
Sipma scored six more points in the fourth-place game against Bellevue Christian, which the Lyncs won 78-48.
After the season, Sipma was asked to play in the “Future Stars” game, an All-Star game that featured Conference players that are returning the next season.
He had nine points in the game.
2019-20 Season
As a senior, Sipma became more of a focal point of the offense.
Sipma ripped off 16 points in an 80-55 victory over Blaine, to put them at 2-1 early.
Despite losing some games early in the season (something they hadn’t experienced for a few years), the Lyncs were still winning the vast majority of their games.
After the winter break, Sipma scored 10 points in an 83-62 road win at Mount Baker.
LC sported an 8-3 record at the mid-way point, and was 4-1 in conference play.
Sipma began ripping off double-double efforts in late January as Lynden Christian won four games in a five-day span, his best being a 16 point, 13-rebound effort in a 78-47 win over Squalicum.
The Lyncs then had their 10-game winning streak snapped against Lynden, despite 10 points from Sipma.
On senior night, Sipma scored 11 points in a 74-6 win over Lakewood.
LC opened up conference play with a 87-53 win over Sultan behind Sipma’s 13 points. They continued by beating South Whidbey 72-37.
Another matchup with King’s for the district championship was ahead, and the Knights won that one 69-57, despite Sipma’s game-high 16 points. But, the Lyncs weren’t out of it quite yet.
Sipma scored 22 points in a win over Cedar Park Christian (80-66) which set up a matchup against defending champion, and third ranked, Zillah who was 22-1.
The Lyncs came back to outscore the Leopards 13-7 in the fourth quarter to tie the game at the end of regulation, and went on to beat Zillah 65-62 in over time, and get back to Yakima.
The Lyncs arrived as the #6 seed, but opponents knew what to expect.
Sipma tied for a team-high with 17 points as the Lyncs scored a 62-53 win over Meridian put Lynden Christian in the semifinals against La Salle.
They then defeated the Lightning 71-58 to get back to the state championship, with Sipma scoring eight points.
Again, waiting for them were the King’s Knights.
Sipma scored 12 points in this, his final high school game. The Knights came back late to tie the game at the end of regulation, and ultimately win in overtime, 70-67.
Basketball Career
Never the tallest player on the court, but likely the toughest. He would outwork opponents to get the job done, and did so through three amazing seasons that all ended with deep playoff runs. In his varsity career, his teams went 74-8.
BASEBALL
2017 Season
As a freshman, he saw limited time on the baseball diamond.
In game one against Coupeville, he came into the game late and hit a two-run single in his first varsity at bat in a 9-2 victory.
He scored his first varsity run two games later against Nooksack Valley in a 5-4 win.
He played most of the regular season with the JV team before rejoining the varsity squad later in the season.
In a double header at Orcas Island in late April, he went 2-for-2 with a double and a triple in the first game. He then went on to start the second game on the mound, striking out three and picking up his first varsity win.
The Lyncs were eliminated on the last day of the district tournament by Meridian, and finished the season with a record of 13-11.
2018 Season
He saw a lot more playing time in his sophomore season, and was a big part of an early 5-game winning streak against non-league opponents.
In that span he pitched four innings and struck out seven batters while also scoring five runs, walking four times, and he collected three runs batted in.
He picked up his first hit in Northwest Conference play against Meridian with a two run single.
He got the final batter out to earn his first save against Sedro-Woolley in a 10-9 win.
Two games later he struck out four batters in an inning and two thirds in relief.
He picked up two hits and a run batted in late in the season against Ferndale.
In the district tournament he went 2-for-3 in game one against Overlake as the Lyncs advanced to the following weekend before again falling to Meridian in an elimination game.
LC finished 14-10.
2019 Season
In his junior season, Sipma played in each and every game of the year.
After a narrow 9-8 loss to Friday Harbor to start the season, he knocked in three runs against Mount Baker which helped edge the Mountaineers 7-6.
He continued to throw well out of the bull pen, and picked up multi-inning saves against Granite Falls and Nooksack Valley.
He got the starting nod against pretty strong opponents, including Sedro-Woolley and Anacortes. He also did against Squalicum, and had one of his best career games.
He game up just four hits, in over five innings of work, and offensively he went 3-for-4 with two runs batted in and a stolen base.
That began a four-game streak of base hits and runs batted in.
He got the complete game win over Meridian in the final game of the regular season, which allowed the Lyncs to face University Prep in a play-in game for the district tournament. Sipma went 1-for-4 in the contest, but the Pumas won 10-1, which ended Lynden Christian’s season.
The Lyncs finished with a record of 8-13.
2020 Season
Unfortunately, COVID-19 hit less than a week before the first game, and ultimately terminated the entire season.
Baseball Career
Known as a power-hitting first baseman, and a stud on the mound, Sipma was that middle-of-the-lineup kind of guy that you love to have.
CAREER OFFENSIVE STATISTICS
CAREER PITCHING STATISTICS
