Q&A With Wayne State Commit: '16 Lawson Zenner, RHP, Prior Lake

January 8, 2016

By Rob Allison
Prep Baseball Report Minnesota

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Name: Lawson Zenner
Position: RHP
Class: 2016
Height/Weight: 5-foot-10, 165-pounds
High School: Prior Lake
PBR Rank: #72 in MN 2016 Class

PBR: Why did you choose Wayne State College in Nebraska?
ZENNER: I chose to play baseball at Wayne State College because I felt it was the right fit for me. My goal was to play Division 2 baseball for a competitive school somewhere further south than Minnesota. Wayne State College seemed to fit perfectly, it also has my intended major as of now which is criminal justice.

PBR: What other schools were you considering?
ZENNER: I was really only considering two schools. Wayne State College and University of St. Thomas.

PBR: Where did the coaching staff first see you? How did your relationship develop with them?
ZENNER: In order to get noticed by schools that were out of state I had to go to their showcase camp. My dad and I took a road trip to Wayne State College towards the end of summer where I participated in their camp. On the way home after the camp the pitching coach sent me a text saying that they were very interested in me as a player. From then on we stayed in contact through my official visit which was a month later. I stay in contact with my pitching coach and gave him updates on different events that are happening in my life.

PBR: Do you feel relieved now that the process is over and you can just focus on baseball and not deal with everything that goes into picking a school?
ZENNER: I always thought that once I committed to a college that there would be this big relief that would come over me and everything would slow down but I'm not sure if that's entirely true. It’s nice not having to email coaches and figure out dates for visits and camps. But now I need to keep my skills sharp so I can compete at the next level.

PBR: Was there one deciding factor that put your choice over the top?
ZENNER: Wayne State College really had everything I was looking for in my decision. I wanted a school that was south of my hometown, with an affordable tuition and a competitive baseball program. Wayne State College also has the two majors that I am considering as of now and is located in a smaller town where I can experience the college life.

PBR: Who has helped you the most to get to where you are today?
ZENNER: The Minnesota Blizzard has helped me the most with player development. I have made humongous strides with each of the three years that I've been with the program. I really wish I would have started at a younger age to gain more development and knowledge.

PBR: What were your expectations about the recruiting process? Was it /difficult?
ZENNER: With playing on an elite club team I thought the coaches would come to me. I was just going to wait for a school to call me one afternoon and make me an offer to play for their program. But that's not how it works for everyone. The most difficult part of the recruiting process is figuring out what level is best for you. It can be very overwhelming with so many schools to choose from, but once you can narrow down your schools to a top 10 the rest is pretty easy.

PBR: What plans does the coaching staff have in store for you in your freshman season?
ZENNER: My coaches would like to see me on the traveling 27 man roster my freshman year. They also plan on me working my tail off in the weight room putting on pounds and hopefully growing a few inches.

PBR: What is your most memorable baseball moment to date?
ZENNER: As of now my most memorable moment in baseball was pitching against the San Diego Show at the perfect game tournament in Arizona. We won our pool and advanced to the playoffs were we matched up against the top ranked San Diego Show. I started and completed that game allowing only 1 run on 6 hits and the final being score 3-1. That game would go down in Blizzard history for defeating a top ranked team and having their coach leave in frustration before the game was completed.

PBR: Who is the best player that you have competed against?
ZENNER: The best player I have competed against is University of Florida commit, Sam Carlson. Burnsville Center Fielder and Right Hand Pitcher who can absolutely mash the ball. I am always nervous when facing him at the plate during high school ball, but love when we play together on the Varsity Blizzard Blue team.