Sign and dine: Wildcats honor latest National Signing Day class

Elation, celebration and achievement permeated the walls of Plano Senior Wednesday morning for National Signing Day.

Always a heavy turnout for the Wildcats athletics programs, Wednesday was no different as a throng of student-athletes inked National Letters of Intent in a variety of sports.

Among those was the Plano football team, highlighted by senior Joseph Noteboom's commitment to TCU being made official. A verbal commitment since last summer, Noteboom attended an area-wide prospects camp at the school in June and it didn't take long for the 6-foot-6, 260-pound offensive tackle to turn heads.

"They offered me right afterwards," Noteboom said. "That was where I wanted to go because it was close by and a school with great academics and a great football team."

Texas Tech had also offered Noteboom, with Northwestern, Purdue and Iowa State remaining in the mix before the location and budding prestige to play for the Horned Frogs won out.

Noteboom, who looks to major in business, verbally committed over the summer while senior Andre Morman's decision to play for Ouachita Baptist came about nearly one week prior to Wednesday when he visited the campus.

"I like how willing the coaches were to help me through this process," Morman said. "They'll help me next year with keeping my grades up as well. That's what really brought me closer to them."

Morman said he hopes to major in applied sciences, signing alongside Noteboom on Wednesday. Senior Richard Lagow, committed to Connecticut, was also scheduled to be on hand but according to head coach Jaydon McCullough, was sick and unable to attend although his signing with the Huskies still stands.

While those three will ply their trades at the university level, three standouts from Plano's baseball team opted to go the junior college route.

"The difference between Division I and JUCO is you can get picked up and recruited after your freshman or sophomore year," said Michael Crawford, Plano senior. "If I went Division I, I'm not sure how much I'd play so at least this way, I have a better shot at getting playing time."

That weighed heavily on Crawford's decision to play for Paris Junior College. Looking to major in business or communications, Crawford's move to college will be made all the easier with senior Brad Hoeler also committing to Paris.

"It'll definitely make [the transition] easier," Hoeler said. "I'm going to have somebody there that I know and it's always good when you're first going to college to know someone you're familiar with."

With Plano head coach Rick Robertson initially contacting Paris about a few of his players, Hoeler was among the names who visited. Recommendations from his peers only furthered his interest in the school.

"A couple of guys who went to Plano a few years ago also played there," Hoeler said. "I talked with them and they really liked it, which helped in making the decision."

Hoeler, leaning towards majoring in business, committed in November after a successful fall ball campaign that senior Ryan Thomas was similarly able to showcase en route to committing to Navarro Junior College.

"I like the coaches there," Thomas said. "They're nice and relaxed there and it felt like a good place to go."

Thomas added that Navarro sees him as a two-way player as an infielder and pitcher. Looking to capitalize on this expectations on the diamond, senior Senayt Rinkevich will strive for similar success in cross country.

Rinkevich, who will be attending Central Arkansas, was looking at a number of smaller schools, including the University of Texas in Arlington and Stephen F. Austin, before the comfort level with UCA took over.

"Whenever I talked with the coaches, they really made me feel a part of the team," Rinkevich said. "The whole experience felt great, plus the coach and team were amazing."

Fulfilling Rinkevich's academic obligations was big as well, with UCA giving her the chance to pursue a major in physical therapy and a minor in French for the runner.

Academics was at the forefront of senior Kaitlyn Campbell's recruiting trail as well, with the lacrosse standout at last landing at Southwestern.

"It's really the academics that got me there," Campbell said, "and lacrosse was just a bonus for me. They have a great biology program there."

Hoping to one day attend Southwestern Medical School, Campbell's lacrosse career spans back to fifth grade and through attending a myriad of recruiting tournaments, earned the chance to find success on the field and in the classroom following her commitment.

For continued news and coverage on the local sports scene, follow @MWelchSCN on Twitter.

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