Blair High School senior athletes Norah Cloudt, Dane Larsen and Seagan Packett-Trisdale put pen to paper Wednesday morning, making their college commitments official.
Cloudt signed her National Letter of Intent to join the Doane University track and field team, Larsen is Wayne State College bound to play football and Packett-Trisdale will play his college football at Peru State.
Norah Cloudt, Doane Tigers
Former Blair coach and current Doane assistant Darren Harsin returned to BHS for Cloudt's signing Wednesday.
He led the Bears' track and field program until recent years when Bryan Soukup took over, but now has a multi-sport athlete officially signed to join him in Crete.
Cloudt is a volleyball and basketball player who participates in the throws during track season. She is busy with athletics year-round and is excited to continue past her high school graduation.
“It's special because I've done this my whole life,” the senior said. “Just to keep going to the next level is just really important.”
Cloudt said she enjoys Doane's campus and is looking forward to the move.
“What really stood out to me is that it's just like Blair,” she said. “It's just like home.”
The Bear will continue in the throws and is open to competing in all events.
“I'm going to do whatever they tell me to do in the throws,” Cloudt said.
As of now, though, the BHS senior still has a basketball season to finish and a track and field campaign to embark on.
“Just trying to still get it out there,” Cloudt said with a smile when asked about her goals for her senior track season. “Trying to get 100 (feet) or over in the discus.”
Dane Larsen, Wayne State Wildcats
The newest Wayne State Wildcat felt more than one emotion during Signing Day.
“Nervous and excited at the same time,” Larsen said. “It's a pretty awesome opportunity to be able to continue doing what I love. So, I think that's the biggest thing.”
There was another factor, though.
“And, of course, I get to play with my brother again,” he said.
The Blair senior will join his sibling Dex Larsen on the Wildcats' roster next fall. The starting linebacker and new recruit may play alongside fellow former Bears Wyatt Ogle and Nolan Ulrich, too.
“The program itself is phenomenal and, over the last couple of years, they've just been growing and growing,” Larsen said. “Getting better and better.”
Wayne State went 9-3 last fall with what the senior described as a “young” roster.
“I see it only going up,” he added.
After splitting time on offense and defense during high school ball, Larsen expects to exclusively play in the backfield as an offensive player in college.
“I think it's going to be pretty sweet,” he said. “Obviously, I'll get a lot more reps at one spot rather than two and fully develop as a running back.”
The all-state honorable mention Bear ran for 286 yards and four scores in 2022 after going for 431 and a score as a junior, and 314 and five touchdowns as a sophomore.
Seagan Packett-Trisdale, Peru State Bobcats
Packett-Trisdale, another BHS Class B all-state honorable mention recipient, becomes a Peru State College Bobcat next fall.
“I feel like it's every kids dream to go play (college football), and the opportunity presented itself,” he said Wednesday.
A visit to the Oak Bowl and the school itself won the Bear's commitment.
“Quite a bit,” Packett-Trisdale said when asked how big of role the setting played in his decision. “I actually really like the campus and the stadium.”
Peru State was 6-5 overall last season, including its 4-1 Heartland of America Athletic Conference record. It is coached by Phil Ockinga, while Packett-Trisdale expects to work closely under assistant Tanner Stallings. The offensive line coach is a former Division I, UTEP Miner.
“I'm really excited about him,” the Blair lineman said.
Once he arrives, Packett-Trisdale has big goals for his college career. He said he wants to earn a starting position by his sophomore season and knows what it'll take to get there.
“I need to get a little bit bigger,” he said. “Quicker, I'd say, too.”
