Congrats on your new commitment! What is it about Oakland that excites you the most?
What excites me most about Oakland University is how aggressive they were with wanting me as a player and student. I felt wanted in their program from the first call as it showed me I would be a big part of what the new staff is building there. They were the first school to invite me on campus and were very aggressive in getting me verbally committed. They also care a lot about the academics which means a lot to me because I'm going to school to get a degree as well as play baseball.
You have been with Top Tier for some of your youth and all of your high school career. Talk a little bit about your experience and what playing for Top Tier means to you.
My experience with Top Tier has been great! Every coach will push you to the limits to make you the best possible player you can be. After every single practice or workout you know you will come out of it with something newly learned. The environment Top Tier creates during workouts is amazing. I love going out there every weekend wearing Top Tier across my chest representing the program. During the season, the name is recognized by all the schools and teams in a good light and this really helped getting schools out to our games around the country.
Talk a little bit about the recruiting process and how everything went down.
The recruitment process for me was very stressful at times but I also enjoyed it. Everything started for me during the summer after my junior year. What I enjoyed most about the process was listening to all the coaches I talked to and listen to what they had to offer about every school. When I went on my visit to Oakland University I knew it was the right place for me as I got to know coach Healey and Kaline through the process along with knowing a few current players there.
What were some of the priorities you looked at when deciding where you wanted to commit?
The biggest factor playing into where I wanted to continue playing and attending school was the opportunity of getting on the mound right away. Another factor that helped me decide was me knowing that Oakland would be the place I want to be at for the next 4 years. My first time talking to coach Healey, I really felt wanted and in speaking with a couple current players, I knew he was sincere about their interest in me and my potential role right away.
What challenges do you see ahead of you before you get to campus?
Some challenges I see ahead of me at Oakland Is having to work hard day in and day out to earn a starting spot in the pitching rotation and then keep it.
What are some of the goals you have set for yourself as a college baseball player?
A few goals I have set for myself as a baseball player is to be a starting pitcher on the weekends and to also help Oakland win the Horizon league and tournament my freshmen year (and, every year). Individually, I just want to keep working hard on my skills on the mound and physically in getting stronger to be the best pitcher in the league at some point over my time at Oakland.
Is there anybody you would like to give a shout-out or thanks to?
First off I would like to give a shout out to my teammates and their parents for continuously supporting me and convincing me "my time is coming". Also, to my family for all the support, money and time they have dedicated to me to make everything possible to make me a better person and baseball player. They have sacrificed so much of their time for me and I can't say how much I appreciate them. Lastly, I would like to thank Seth Kenny, Griffin Phelps, Todd Fine and Matt Plante on giving me the opportunity to play for Top Tier these past 4 years and for helping me through the recruiting process.
