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Q&A with McHenry County College commit Jesse Turner

January 28, 2014

By Steve Nielsen
Scouting Director – Wisconsin/Illinois

Jesse Turner (Lake Country Lutheran, 2014) is a two-way player who recently committed to McHenry County College, a Division 2 Junior College in Crystal Lake, IL. Last year the Scots went 40-12 on the season advancing to the Sectional Championship game. Turner already has a winning background advancing to the state title game in 2013, he hopes to repeat that in 2014 and continue to bring wins to the Scots in college.

PBR: What were your expectations about the recruiting process? Was it as expected? Easy/Difficult?

Turner: I didn’t think it would be too hard to get multiple scholarship offers from good schools. I was completely unaware of the level of competition and the commitment necessary for a high-level offer. Once I became aware of the expectations of a college player at that level, it became apparent that I would need to step up my game and really take the process seriously.

PBR: Did location or distance from home play a factor in your decision?

Turner: My primary focus when looking for a college was the academics and whether or not it had a solid baseball program. I had no problems with playing as far away from home as necessary to get the best college experience possible.

PBR: When did the recruiting process really start to heat up for you? Was there a particular game or event that you feel turned the corner for you?

Turner: My dad helped me a lot by sending out e-mails and making initial contact with over 100 schools before my Sophomore season. We did a recruiting video and posted it on youtube and sent the link in our e-mail. Several of the schools responded and placed my name on their list of potential recruits. I kept hearing from some of them until I got injured and was unable to play last summer. The timing of the injury was terrible for my recruiting. That was when I decided to look at JUCOs.

PBR: Where did McHenry County first see you? How did your relationship develop with them?

Turner: Coach Wacker from McHenry County College responded to an e-mail my dad and I had previously sent. He expressed his interest in me coming for a workout and a campus visit. I had a very strong sense from the beginning that he was serious about me becoming a part of the MCC program.

PBR: What were you looking for out of a college program to continue your baseball career at?

Turner: Like most high school kids, I was hoping for an NCAA D1 offer. Several schools had expressed an interest but after I had an injury at Sectionals last season, I stopped hearing from them as often. I had to cut my summer season short in order to rehab and in the process I missed some very valuable recruiting opportunities. I feel great now and Lord willing I will get another chance to play at the D1 level when I leave McHenry.

PBR: What do you like most about McHenry County and what were the key factors in making your decision?

Turner: McHenry is close enough to home that my family will still be able to see me play. My dad has coached me since my first days of youth baseball so I know he is especially happy about how near I will be for the next two years. At a JUCO  I will have a really good chance to earn playing time right away. The first two years that Coach Wacker has been at MCC, their record has been 35-20 and 40-12. McHenry is a program that is definitely headed in the right direction.

PBR: What advice would you give to young baseball players striving to get where you are?

Turner: If you want something badly enough then work as hard as necessary to achieve it. If setbacks occur, don’t give in to discouragement.

PBR: What is the most memorable moment in your baseball career to this point?

Turner: I have three from last season that are most memorable. 1) Being able to play a game at Miller Park in Milwaukee is something I will never forget. I pitched four innings of relief and earned the win that night and struck out 10 of 12 batters I faced. 2) Winning Sectionals and beating the four time defending state champion for the first time ever. I pitched six innings of relief and earned the win that sent our team to the State Tournament for the first time in program history. 3) The state tournament and all that goes along with it. We ended last season on a disappointing note as state runner-up but it was still an exciting time.

PBR: Preview your high school season for us. How do you feel your team will be? What are your expectations and goals?

Turner: I expect our team to be really good this season. We lost three seniors from our state runner-up team, but our top 4 pitchers are all returning. We have good senior leadership at key positions and very strong underclassmen as well. Our goal is to make another trip to the state tournament. If we can stay healthy we should have a very good chance to go back to Appleton and hopefully win the first State Baseball Championship for Lake Country Lutheran.

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