For Ashtyn Cline, athletics have never been just a phase of life. They have been part of who she is for as long as she can remember.

Full Interview

Defender fans may remember her as Ashtyn Veerbeek during her playing days at Dordt, where she competed in basketball. Today her last name has changed and her life has taken on new dimensions as a professional, wife, mother and coach. The thread connecting it all is still athletics.

And that story began long before her college years.

Cline grew up in a family where sports were woven into everyday life. Her mother, Tammi Veerbeek, spent years coaching volleyball, and her father remained connected to athletics through hockey officiating. That environment meant gyms, practices and games were simply part of growing up.

"Athletics have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember," Cline said. "With my mom being a coach, I was in the gyms at a very young age, running around when she had to go to practice."

While many people associate Cline with volleyball and basketball, her first competitive experiences actually came on the ice.

"My first sport I actually played was hockey," she said. "My dad is Canadian, so he was really into that and put me and my brothers in it when we were in kindergarten. I was one of two girls playing on an all-boys team."

Those early years helped develop coordination, competitiveness and toughness that carried over into the sports where she would later excel.

As her athletic career developed, the influence of her family only grew stronger. Her parents and grandfather were constant supporters, helping provide opportunities for camps, travel teams and competition across the country.

"They just supported me really well," Cline said. "They put in a lot of time and money into my sports so I could achieve my goals and get where I wanted to be."

The encouragement shaped not only her opportunities, but also her mindset about pursuing athletics beyond high school.

In fact, she was already dreaming about it before she even reached high school.

"In eighth grade we had to write a book about our life and our future goals," she said. "My goal was to play volleyball and basketball at Dordt."

Life took a few turns along the way, including a stop at Nebraska before eventually returning to Dordt, but the dream of competing in college athletics became a reality.

After graduating from Dordt with a business degree, Cline began building her professional life. She now works at American State Bank, balancing a full-time career with another role that keeps her connected to the game through coaching.

Today she serves as a coach at Western Christian High School, where she works alongside her mom.

The opportunity was something she had considered even before finishing college.

"During my senior year we talked about whether I could find a job that would work with an athletic schedule so I could leave in time for practice," she said. "Being able to coach alongside my mom was definitely something we thought about."

The arrangement has worked well, allowing her to step back into the gym each fall and reconnect with the competitive environment she loves.

For Cline, coaching is about far more than strategy or skill development. The relationships formed along the way are what matter most.

"Definitely the relationships with the girls is what draws me back," she said. "You get to spend so much time with that younger generation and hopefully make an impact on their lives."

The experience has been meaningful in both directions.

"I also feel like they make an impact on me," she said. "I feel blessed to coach at Western Christian. They rub off on me and make me a better person too."

Life today looks much different than it did during her college playing days. Cline and her husband Logan, who coaches baseball, are balancing careers, coaching responsibilities and raising their young child.

Fortunately, the nature of their sports schedules helps make things manageable.

"Our seasons are kind of opposite times of the year," she said. "Baseball is heavy in May and June, while volleyball runs August through October."

Still, adding a child to the mix has brought new challenges.

"It was easier before we had a baby," she said. "Now communication is really important. When one of us is gone coaching, the other one steps in and takes care of the house and our baby."

Support and teamwork have made it possible to continue pursuing the activities they care about.

As Cline reflects on the role athletics have played in her life, she sees coaching remaining part of the picture for years to come, especially with the chance to continue working alongside her mom.

"I hope to keep doing it for a while," she said. "I really enjoy doing it with my mom, and I think we have a lot of years ahead that we can coach together."

That possibility carries special meaning for someone whose earliest memories involve running around gyms while her mother coached.

Now the roles have changed, but the connection to athletics, family and faith remains just as strong.