Freshman Poll: Why Trinity?

The fall of 2009 was a good one for the Tiger freshmen as they got their first taste of college baseball while settling in academically and being away from home for the first time. Some players stayed close to home (Knox Schroller, Alamo Heights, San Antonio), while others came from as far away as California (Kevin Clements, Pacific Grove HS; Kevin Francke, Mater Dei HS; Chris Ryan, Menlo HS) and Virginia (Kyle Bogese, Richmond). Other states are represented as well, notably Georgia (Kelly Woodruff, Atlanta), Illinois (Jon Hall, Chicago) and Colorado (Ryan Lucero, Cherry Creek; Andrew Webb, Mullen). As with every incoming class, these players were faced with many options of where to spend the next 4 years of their baseball lives. So why Trinity? What made students from all over the country choose to come to a liberal arts school in the heart of Texas? We had the players anonymously rank what swayed their decision on a 1,2, and 3 point basis, choosing from the following options:

Coaching Staff, Program History, Traditions, Game-Day Atmosphere, Current Players, Academics, and Strength and Conditioning Program

The players ranked their top 3 criteria, and the top 3 reasons that this years freshman class chose Trinity was:

Coaching Staff, Program History, and Academics

Coaching Staff- Led by Tim Scannell, the Tiger coaches are commited to winning games as well as creating players and, more importantly, people that this program can be proud of. With a .690 winning percentage, as well as 9 professional players under Coach Scannell's leadership, the Tiger program remains in good hands. The staff is commited to Trinity being at the top of the college baseball landscape, as well as placing players in the best summer leagues in the country.

Program History- Tiger Baseball has a rich history of winng baseball here in Texas. Just recently, Rick and Micky Mahler were both elected into the TU Hall of Fame Class of 2009. Mickey is Trinity's All-Time Leader in Wins with 28 and enjoyed a 9-year Major League Career, while Rick had a 13-year Major League career from 1976-1991. The Mahler brothers were teammates at Trinity and again with the Atlanta Braves in 1979. That year, the Mahler brothers pitched in the same game against the Houston Astros. Rick passed away in 2005, and the TU Baseball Family misses him dearly.

PS. (We're waiting for our Evan Bronson vs. Chuck Huggins matchup in upcoming World Series games when the Washington Nationals play the Toronto Blue Jays.)

Academics- It's no secret that Trinity is a world-class education. It is exciting to see our player's embrace academics as they mold themselves into young men we can be proud of as they continue on and represent the school and this program positively in the community.

We are expecting big things from this group, both in the classroom and on the field!

Thank you to the Tiger Class of 2013 for your answers and insight into what helped shape your decision to attend TU.

Written by Grant Chambers