Central Michigan University Athletics
Photo by: Allissa Rusco
Oesterle's First Class A Solid Trio
11/13/2019 6:53:00 PM | Women's Basketball
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Heather Oesterle's first recruiting class is a dandy.
Oesterle, named to head the Central Michigan women's basketball program in July, announced a trio of standouts who comprise the class of 2020.
"I like it fast paced, five people on the floor who can shoot the ball, and these players fit my style for sure," said Oesterle, who helped build CMU into the premier program in the Mid-American Conference during her 11 years on the staff of retired coach Sue Guevara.
The class comprises 6-foot-1 Sydney Graber of Fort Wayne, Ind.; 6-foot Rachel Loobie of Indianapolis; and 5-10 guard Carlee Crabtree of Coldwater.
The trio joins a program that has won three consecutive Mid-American Conference regular-season championships and has earned NCAA Tournament berths in each of the past two seasons. The Chippewas are a combined 100-33 over the past four seasons.
Graber and Loobie are both swing players who have shown an ability to score in a variety of ways. Loobie, in particular, possesses a strong 15-foot pull-up jumper while the left-handed Graber can "really stretch the defense," Oesterle said.
Crabtree has the "ability to get to the basket and is a knockdown 3-point shooter," Oesterle said.
Carlee Crabtree • 5-10 • Guard/Forward • Coldwater, Mich./Coldwater HS
Named to Detroit News and Detroit Free Press All-State second team in 2018-19 … earned All-State Honorable Mention from the Associated Press in 2018-19 … named the Branch County Most Valuable Player in 2017-18 and 2018-19 and earned a spot on the All-Branch County First Team in 2016-17, 2018-19, 2019-20 … three-time All-Area selection by the Battle Creek Enquirer … three-time Coldwater Daily Reporter Dream Team pick … three-time All-Interstate 8 Athletic Conference First Team selection … 2017-18 Interstate 8 MVP Award winner … three-time Academic All-Interstate 8 honoree … two-time Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan (BCAM) All-Stater … named to BCAM Academic All-State team in 2018-19 … led Coldwater to Interstate 8 championship in 2018-19 … led team to back-to-back Division 1 district championships in 2017-18 and 2018-19 … three-time team captain … holds school single-game scoring record (35 points) … ranks fourth in program history in career scoring and career 3-pointers … earned two letters each in cross country and in track & field … played for coach Ken Smoker at Coldwater High School … played for the Clio-based Michigan Mystics, coached by Rob Ruhstorfer, from 2017-19 … played for the Fort Wayne, Ind.-based Nike Lady Gym Rats, coached by Justin Jordan, from 2012-17.
Sydney Graber • 6-1 • Guard/Forward • Fort Wayne, Ind./Homestead HS
Helped lead Homestead to three-consecutive SAC championships, to sectional and regional championships in 2016-17 and 2017-18 … 2019-20 nominee for Indiana Gatorade Player of the Year and for Indiana Miss Basketball … Named by Rick Bolus Scouting to its Indiana Top 8 Senior list and as its Best Preseason D1 Blue Collar player … named one of Indiana's top 10 player by IndyStar.com … helped Homestead to state title in 2017 .. named one of Hudl's top five players in Northeast Indiana in 2018-19 and 2019-20 … earned all-conference and all-state honors in 2018 … named an Indiana Junior All-Star in 2018-19 … received four stars from ESPN in 2018-19 … played for the Fort Wayne, Ind.-based Always 100, coached by Rod Chamble.
Rachel Loobie • 6-0 • Forward • Indianapolis, Ind./Franklin Central HS
Associated Press All-State Honorable Mention in 2018-19 … First Team Indiana All-State in 2017-18 … Indiana Junior All-State 2018-19 … Indianapolis Start Preseason Super Team 2018-19 and 2019-20 … three-time All-Hoosier Crossroads Conference selection … two-time Franklin Central Most Valuable Player … entered senior year averaging 17.3 points, 2.1 assists, 9.8 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.8 blocks per game … earned one letter in volleyball … played for Indiana Elite Thunder, coached by Tony Marlin, in 2018-19, and for Indiana Flight, coach for Chris Phillips, in 2013-17.
Oesterle, named to head the Central Michigan women's basketball program in July, announced a trio of standouts who comprise the class of 2020.
"I like it fast paced, five people on the floor who can shoot the ball, and these players fit my style for sure," said Oesterle, who helped build CMU into the premier program in the Mid-American Conference during her 11 years on the staff of retired coach Sue Guevara.
The class comprises 6-foot-1 Sydney Graber of Fort Wayne, Ind.; 6-foot Rachel Loobie of Indianapolis; and 5-10 guard Carlee Crabtree of Coldwater.
The trio joins a program that has won three consecutive Mid-American Conference regular-season championships and has earned NCAA Tournament berths in each of the past two seasons. The Chippewas are a combined 100-33 over the past four seasons.
Graber and Loobie are both swing players who have shown an ability to score in a variety of ways. Loobie, in particular, possesses a strong 15-foot pull-up jumper while the left-handed Graber can "really stretch the defense," Oesterle said.
Crabtree has the "ability to get to the basket and is a knockdown 3-point shooter," Oesterle said.
Carlee Crabtree • 5-10 • Guard/Forward • Coldwater, Mich./Coldwater HS
Named to Detroit News and Detroit Free Press All-State second team in 2018-19 … earned All-State Honorable Mention from the Associated Press in 2018-19 … named the Branch County Most Valuable Player in 2017-18 and 2018-19 and earned a spot on the All-Branch County First Team in 2016-17, 2018-19, 2019-20 … three-time All-Area selection by the Battle Creek Enquirer … three-time Coldwater Daily Reporter Dream Team pick … three-time All-Interstate 8 Athletic Conference First Team selection … 2017-18 Interstate 8 MVP Award winner … three-time Academic All-Interstate 8 honoree … two-time Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan (BCAM) All-Stater … named to BCAM Academic All-State team in 2018-19 … led Coldwater to Interstate 8 championship in 2018-19 … led team to back-to-back Division 1 district championships in 2017-18 and 2018-19 … three-time team captain … holds school single-game scoring record (35 points) … ranks fourth in program history in career scoring and career 3-pointers … earned two letters each in cross country and in track & field … played for coach Ken Smoker at Coldwater High School … played for the Clio-based Michigan Mystics, coached by Rob Ruhstorfer, from 2017-19 … played for the Fort Wayne, Ind.-based Nike Lady Gym Rats, coached by Justin Jordan, from 2012-17.
Sydney Graber • 6-1 • Guard/Forward • Fort Wayne, Ind./Homestead HS
Helped lead Homestead to three-consecutive SAC championships, to sectional and regional championships in 2016-17 and 2017-18 … 2019-20 nominee for Indiana Gatorade Player of the Year and for Indiana Miss Basketball … Named by Rick Bolus Scouting to its Indiana Top 8 Senior list and as its Best Preseason D1 Blue Collar player … named one of Indiana's top 10 player by IndyStar.com … helped Homestead to state title in 2017 .. named one of Hudl's top five players in Northeast Indiana in 2018-19 and 2019-20 … earned all-conference and all-state honors in 2018 … named an Indiana Junior All-Star in 2018-19 … received four stars from ESPN in 2018-19 … played for the Fort Wayne, Ind.-based Always 100, coached by Rod Chamble.
Rachel Loobie • 6-0 • Forward • Indianapolis, Ind./Franklin Central HS
Associated Press All-State Honorable Mention in 2018-19 … First Team Indiana All-State in 2017-18 … Indiana Junior All-State 2018-19 … Indianapolis Start Preseason Super Team 2018-19 and 2019-20 … three-time All-Hoosier Crossroads Conference selection … two-time Franklin Central Most Valuable Player … entered senior year averaging 17.3 points, 2.1 assists, 9.8 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.8 blocks per game … earned one letter in volleyball … played for Indiana Elite Thunder, coached by Tony Marlin, in 2018-19, and for Indiana Flight, coach for Chris Phillips, in 2013-17.
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