North Central senior Gracie Kleikamp signs her letter of intent to Gogebic Community College on April 23, 2024 at North Central High School. (Adam Hinch/Daily Press)

SPALDING — It was a life changing day for North Central senior Gracie Kleikamp as she signed her letter of intent to Gogebic Community College for basketball and volleyball.

Kleikamp will begin classes in the fall of this year and will pursue a career in the nursing field.

“I really enjoy helping others,” Kleikamp said. “It’s also nice to get to be apart of helping people through the recovery process and just be there for people.”

Gracie chose GCC because it felt like home to her to after touring the campus. “I had a couple of offers but this one felt right to me,” Kleikamp said.

Kleikamp has always had a love for the game of basketball but developed a passion for volleyball late in her high school career. She started her high school volleyball career late, something she admitted to regretting.

But thanks to her competitive nature, Kleikamp is playing the sport at the college level.

“She decided to join the team her junior season,” Jets volleyball coach Rick Mick said. “To watch her develop into the player she is in two short years is just amazing. I’m exited to see what she does.”

Kleikamp is coming off a basketball season in which she averaged 13.2 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. She was team captain for the Jets and was named to the second-team All-Conference in the Skyline Central Conference.

“This is something Gracie has worked very hard for,” Jets basketball coach Brooke Granquist said. “To see all her hard work come to fruition and have the opportunity to see her move on to the next level is rewarding. I’m super happy for her.”