Local student-athletes take advantage of early signing period

High school student-athletes from around the Black Hills took advantage of day one of the early signing period on Wednesday, making their college decisions final.

Cael Larson, RC Central

Cael Larson from Rapid City Central signed a letter of intent this week to compete in wrestling next year at Northern State University in Aberdeen.

Larson is the defending Class ‘A’ state champion at 120 pounds.            

He finished with a record of 56-4 last year.

Larson also finished runner-up at state in 2018 and 2019.

Larson had offers from Division I schools, but he decided Northern State was the perfect fit.

“I had a few schools contact me from the Division I level,” Cael Larson said. “Obviously I wanted it. But I came to reality that D-II was probably by better option to make me succeed and give me a better opportunity for school wise and stay home close.”

“When he joined our program as a seventh grader, he’s always wanted to do exactly what he’s doing today,” RC Central wrestling coach Lance Pearson said. “Be able to wrestle at that next level. So Northern is going to get a guy that he’s never really content to be right where he’s at. He’s always looking to improve and always looking to raise that level of competition. And he’s going to do that at Northern.”