Republic’s three-sport all-state athlete has chosen her college sport, and chosen her college. Sarah Kreul has signed with College of the Ozarks to play volleyball next year.
Kreul has earned all-state honors in basketball, volleyball and track, but she says volleyball is the sport she has always seen in her future.
“I’ve always wanted to play college sports and I feel like I found a great place in C of O, and I could go play right now,” says Kreul. “Volleyball was my first love and it’s harder to imagine not playing that than not playing the other sports. It’s what I saw my future in.”
Bobcats volleyball coach Nick Sharp says he expects Kreul to make a big impact on the program. “We think her leadership and her character will definitely shine through, (and) look forward to getting to know her better over the next four years.”
Kreul’s volleyball career at Republic included two district championships, and her basketball career has already led to a state championship. She earned all-state honors in the discus by finishing 7th at the state track meet in 2011. Her signing ceremony included a list of many of those accolades, but Kreul says they don’t all belong to her.
“It makes you really feel humble. Besides track, I play team sports, so what they said was very nice, but I’m a team player. It wasn’t just me who won the state championship, it wasn’t just me who won all those district championships.
“The recruitment process was hard, and I didn’t expect that, but I did pray about it a lot, and God led me to C of O, which kind of makes sense,” says Kreul. “The moment that I talked to Coach Sharp, it felt like a weight was lifted off my shoulders…and I just kind of knew.”
Athletic Director Greg Garton says no one else compares to what Kreul has accomplished in her career at Republic.
“There’s probably not a better example of a student-athlete that we’ve ever had at Republic High School. To do all those things she’s done, she’s worked very hard. Those things just don’t happen,” Garton says. He also thinks she an example for other students who might be tempted to specialize in one sport.
“She’s a better volleyball player for playing basketball and doing track, and vice versa,” says Garton.
Republic volleyball coach Piper Wright says having Kreul on her team has been a “huge blessing and honor. She is an amazing athlete and she is an amazing leader. Anything on and off the court I’ve ever asked her to do, she has done willingly.”
