James Jackson/MDN Photo Des Lacs-Burlington Lakers seniors Carson Yale and Lauryn Keller will stay close to home to continue their academic and athletic careers after signing their letters of intent with Minot State University on Wednesday afternoon. 

After four years of the Des Lacs-Burlington Lakers athletic program serving as their natural habitat, hardwood talent Carson Yale and golf standout Lauryn Keller will not be far from familiar waters as they transition to life helping to build the dam after signing on as the newest additions to the Minot State University Beavers family.

Adding even more height to an already towering frontcourt, the versatile 6’9″ Yale arrives with the tools, size, and experience to work out of both the small forward and power forward positions. In today’s world of basketball where tall wing players that can score and defend are at a premium, Yale provides the Beavers with a deadly combination of length and speed for covering undersized small forwards, while also sporting a large enough frame and range to operate dangerously as a stretch four.

For Keller, her future arrival on the MSU campus comes with an impressive body of work after a tremendous fall season on the links for the Lakers.

Leading Des Lacs-Burlington to a fifth-place team finish at the 2022 North Dakota Class B Girls’ State Golf Tournament, Keller’s score of 75 on the first day of competition put her in second place going into the final round of play.

Tallying a score of 85 after the remaining 18 holes for a two-day total of 159, Keller’s individual performance earned her sole possession of third place amongst the best Class-B golfers from around the state.

With all of the necessary paperwork present on Wednesday afternoon, and more importantly a crowd of family, friends, classmates, teammates, and coaches on hand, Yale and Keller put their pens to paper and inked the start to the forthcoming phases of their athletic and academic journeys poised to commence next year at Minot State.

When asked about what they bring to the table as the newest additions to the Beavers family, Keller agreed when Yale explained, “A couple of good students. Good kids in class, good kids around campus, and good leaders in the community. Just, you know, two good kids staying home.”

Adding to Yale’s perspective, Keller made sure to emphasize the fact that they bring with them a passionate Lakers fanbase looking excitedly towards watching the success and progression of two of their hometown fan favorites.

Despite a bright future ahead for the student-athletes, both Yale and Keller are relishing their final moments of high school, along with them cherishing the fond memories of their time at Des Lacs-Burlington.

Keller was humble and heartfelt when reflecting on her amazing senior season of golf and high school, stating that her favorite times have been “just being around all of her friends and participating in extracurricular activities with them.”

However, with the start of his senior season of basketball rapidly approaching, Yale was quick to note that the best of his DLB days are on the horizon.

Explained in words filled with optimism and confidence, Yale elaborated that when it comes to his most memorable moments, “I’m hoping to make some new ones here come winter. I’ve got my senior season left, so hopefully the best memories are yet to come.”

Regardless of the outcome, Minot State most definitely anticipates great things out of these stellar additions to the Beavers family.