FSLM Student Profile
/Meet Caleb Hackleman
By Madeline Smallwood
Photo by Shane Darby.
It’s the week after Christmas break. Students mill around and fill the desks at Pleasant Grove High School. But one desk remains empty. It belongs to Caleb Hackleman.
While his lifelong classmates are gearing up for their final semester of high school, Caleb is beginning his freshman year of college at Oklahoma State University. He graduated a semester early to attend football spring training at OSU in late January. “[Spring training] kind of gives you a head start. It increases your strength level and puts you ahead of other freshmen that would be coming [in the fall],” Caleb said.
Football has been a big part of Caleb’s life. “Several members of my family played [when I was] growing up,” he shared. “As soon as I got to high school, the first thing I wanted to do was join the football team.” Caleb was a three-year member of Pleasant Grove High School’s varsity football team. “The [Pleasant Grove] coaching staff have really helped me grow,” he said.
Photo by madeline smallwood.
Choosing OSU was a no-brainer. “I went on a visit there in June, and I really liked the atmosphere. [Stillwater] is kind of like a small-town deal. I actually decided I wanted to go there on the last day of my visit. Everything felt right,” Caleb recalled.
Although cutting your high school career short might seem bittersweet to some, Caleb doesn’t view it this way. “I am going to miss my friends and family, but leaving is just bettering me and my future,” he said.
“I actually decided I wanted to go [to OSU] on the last day of my visit. Everything felt right.”
Graduating early was not as challenging as Caleb had expected. “[Students graduating early] have to take an online class, and we have extra work, but it’s not that hard,” he said. He is only taking online classes during his first semester at OSU, so he anticipates a smooth transition.
This venture would make any teenager nervous, but Caleb feels mostly gratitude for the people who have helped him take this step. “My mom and dad are great,” he said. “They’ve paid for a lot of extra training and stuff. They’ve always been there and have never missed one of my games.”
Throughout his time in high school, Caleb earned many titles. “The Texas High School Coaches Association awarded me Academic All-State Second Team my senior year, as well as District Co-MVP for Offensive Line by all the coaches in the district,” he proudly shared. He has managed all of this while maintaining a 3.8 GPA.
Caleb is unsure if he’ll be able to attend his high school graduation ceremony due to his spring training schedule. But whether he is able to walk across the stage or not, there is no doubt that his community is cheering him on.