EDMOND — Vincent Dike has sent five children through Edmond North. The bittersweetness of that lineage nearing its end does not dull his pride.

Inside Edmond North's Siberian Gym on Wednesday, Huskies soccer star Daryl Dike celebrated officially signing his National Letter of Intent to continue his career at Virginia. Dike follows two of his older siblings, Bright and Courtney, who played Division I soccer after their standout high school careers.

“It helped give me motivation,” Dike said. “My brother's my role model, so I always try to be like him. It also makes it a little bit of competition because I have to try to break his records and break my sister's records.”

After his Huskies tenure, Bright Dike played at Notre Dame from 2005 to 2009. Courtney Dike capped her Oklahoma State career in 2016. Dike's other two sisters, Kimberly and Brittny, are also Edmond North products.

Dike's senior season is all that separates the family from the end of an era.

“I don't know of any word to describe how I feel,” Vincent Dike said. “I'm happy for him for what he has achieved, and it's not easy for me and my wife because that's the last of our five kids. Anywhere, we are with him and our prayers are with him.”

Courtney was in attendance Wednesday, reflecting on how much her little brother has grown.
“I'm beyond proud,” she said. “He used to be so young, and I used to see him running around on the soccer field just as a kid, and now to see him, a senior in high school about to graduate and pursue his dream, is amazing to me.

“He looks like a man, but he's still our baby.”

Dike enters this spring with 52 goals, 15 shy of the state record. After winning a 6A state title as a sophomore, Dike was The Oklahoman's 2017 All-City boys soccer player of the year.

Dike chose Virginia over other top-tier programs such as Stanford, North Carolina and Wake Forest.

“Daryl is one of the first players I've had since his brother was here that's literally had a list of colleges he could have attended,” Edmond North coach Chris Waugh said. “He's a very special player.”

Virginia's coaching staff and facilities, as well as the university's academic opportunities, swayed Dike.

He also recognized the program's ability to push him closer to his goal of playing professionally. Bright and Courtney both have played for the Nigerian national team, with Bright also enjoying a brief MLS career.

“It's a step to go excel more in my career,” Dike said. “I think signing to Virginia is going to help me take another big step forward.”

