By Rich Palzewic
Sports Editor
SUAMICO – Three Bay Port High School student-athletes – Preston Cedergren, Braden Doyle and Max Meeuwsen – were recognized Dec. 18 for signing their National Letters of Intent to continue their athletic careers at the Division I collegiate level.
Cedergren will be attending the University of Nebraska-Omaha to play golf and study journalism/communications.
“I’m relieved,” said Cedergren. “It’s been a long time coming. I spent lots of time during the previous two years talking to coaches and visiting campuses, but I’m thrilled to be attending my dream school. My goal is to start golfing right off the bat with the team when I arrive.”
Besides UN-Omaha, Cedergren visited South Dakota and the University of St. Thomas.
The 6-foot-4, 295-pound Doyle will be playing football at Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan.
“It feels good and is a weight off my back,” said Doyle, who hopes to become a special needs teacher. “Recruiting can be a difficult process, but it was also fun. I met lots of different people from around the country and made numerous connections.”
Doyle said he will do his best to compete for playing time as a freshman, but redshirting is also an option.
“To be an offensive lineman in college, it’s different than high school – everyone is bigger and stronger. You have to expect to get your butt kicked a bit.”
Doyle also had Division I offers from New Mexico State, Western Illinois, South Dakota State, South Dakota, Air Force and North Dakota.
Meeuwsen will attend the Naval Academy to play football and study political science.
“It feels good – it’s what I’ve wanted since I was little,” Meeuwsen said. “I’m going to miss all the boys at Bay Port because it’s my home, but I’m excited to move on to bigger things.”
The 6-foot-1, 240-pound Meeuwsen is the defending WIAA Division 1 heavyweight wrestling state champ and currently ranked No. 1 in his weight class.
Meeuwsen had approximately 10 Division I offers and strongly considered the Air Force Academy and North Dakota State as well.