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Q&A with Newman commit Aaron Mack

October 9, 2013

By Steve Nielsen
Scouting Director - Wisconsin/Illinois

Aaron Mack (Edgewood, 2014) is a left handed hitting catcher from Madison Edgewood and is currently the No. 34 ranked player in Wisconsin’s 2014 class. Mack has recently made his college commitment to Newman University in Wichita, Kansas. Newman is a Division II school in the Heartland Conference which is made up of teams in Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. Aaron Mack

We recently caught up with Mack and talked about his decision making process and how it all went down.

PBR: How did you do your junior year? What were your high school statistics? And how did your team do?

Mack: I played well defensively this spring at multiple positions but never got untracked at the plate. When I did hit the ball well, it seemed like it was either right at someone or a foul ball homer. Our team struggled with consistency too.  I think we had over 10 rainouts that we weren’t even able to be rescheduled. I really started hitting the first game of summer travel ball.

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

Mack: Honestly, I really didn’t know what to expect or how things would play out. Only the decision to commit this fall versus waiting till spring to see what else might develop was difficult.

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?

Mack: After a really rough spring at the plate, I immediately started hitting in travel ball.  So I guess that was a turning point.

PBR: Where did Newman University first see you? How did your relationship develop with them?

Mack: Newman University’s recruiting coordinator saw me at a tournament in Oklahoma City this summer with the Wisconsin All-Stars. He’s called me pretty regularly since then and I came to really like him as well as the head coach.      

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

Mack: Distance from home wasn’t too big of a concern. I was hoping to get an opportunity to play in the South, so that is a real bonus. Most of the schools in the Heartland Conference are in Texas and Oklahoma. 

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

Mack: We did a visit in September, and I just got a very good feeling about the coaches and the school. I’ve gone to Catholic schools all my life, and Newman is Catholic as well so that’s a plus. I also liked the fact that they are in a strong DII conference. Most of all, they were clear about really wanting me and they made a strong offer. 

PBR:  What other schools were on your short list before you made your final decision?

Mack: After a really good freshman year on varsity, I’ve had some injuries and bad luck my sophomore and junior years.  So I can’t really say anyone else was beating down my door.  Several DIII schools had expressed interest, and I’d been in contact with a couple DI schools. I believe I have DI physical tools and ability, so I was tempted to wait and see what developed after my senior season. But the Newman offer and situation was just too good, and I really like everything I’ve seen about their program.     

PBR: What are your goals for your senior season?

Mack: Enjoy every minute of my last high school season!  Edgewood will have a strong team, and we want to win our conference and make it back to Appleton.  I got the opportunity to play in the state tournament as a freshman and want to experience it again with my teammates.

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