Caleb Crabtree’s distinguished high school career came to an unceremonious end, but he plans to keep wrestling in college.
A three-time Class 3 Missouri State Wrestling Championships qualifier, Crabtree signed with the University of Central Missouri during a ceremony Wednesday, May 6 at Platte County High School. The Pirates senior chose the Division II Mules over Briar Cliff and Cornell colleges in Iowa.
Crabtree and four fellow seniors signed during the ceremony, the third this season honoring Platte County athletes moving on to the next level.
Crabtree reached the 138-pound final as a junior in 2014, following up on a third-place showing at 132 the previous season. He qualified again at 152 this year but went 1-2 at state and missed out on a third medal.
During Crabtree’s four years, Platte County finished 12th, fifth, fifth and second, and he played a part in the Pirates’ first team trophy in Class 3 this past season.
Straubel became Platte County’s most recent Division I signee, choosing UMKC for track and cross country. A long-distance specialist, he enjoyed a breakout senior season and has already added to a long list of accomplishments with postseason track starting this weekend.
Platte County bumped up to Class 4 this season, but Straubel set the school record on the Missouri State Cross Country Championships course in Jefferson City. He finished fifth in 15 minutes, 50.06 seconds in his fourth time as a qualifier.
Previously, Straubel placed 34th as a freshman in Class 3 and helped the Pirates place eighth as a team his sophomore year and seventh in 2013 as a junior.
Straubel claimed the 3,200-meter school record early this season and looks like a state contender in multiple events. He made his Class 3 Missouri State Track and Field Championships debut last season, qualifying in the 1,600 and 3,200 in addition to running a leg on the Pirates’ 4x800. He earned all-state honors and placed sixth in the 3,200.
Shelley Laures picked Northwest Missouri State for her track career and made the choice official at the signing ceremony. She recently tied the school record in the high jump at 5 feet, 6 inches and qualified for the Class 3 Missouri State Track and Field Championships in that event and the long jump last season, placing 12th in both.
Laures qualified in both events as a sophomore as well, placing 11th in the long jump that season. She also ran a leg on the qualifying 4x400-meter relay as a freshman.
Two more soccer players also signed during the ceremony — Eyob Mohamed from the boys team and Nicole Larson from the girls.
A one-year starter, Mohamed helped the Pirates reach the Class 3 Missouri State Soccer Championships playoffs this past season. They finished 16-10 after a loss to Van Horn in sectionals. Mohamed earned honorable mention honors on the All-Suburban Conference Blue Division teams as a midfielder this past season, recording two assists. He signed with NAIA Central Methodist.
Larson picked Maple Woods Community College. A part-time starter so far this season, she has four goals and two assists this season as a forward for the Pirates, still in contention for a share of the Suburban Conference Blue Division crown.