It’s the busiest time of year for major D-I commitments in the nation’s No. 1 hotspot for lacrosse, the NY/NJ/CT tristate region. Get caught up right here, right now.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3K_0hDJ7Ub0
Whether it’s lacrosse or football, Spencer Turkel is always ready when the whistle sounds.
The rising senior at Weston High School (CT) is starting quarterback in football and a faceoff specialist in lacrosse.
“I react to the whistle well, and after the faceoff, I can also contribute on offense,” Turkell said. “This allows me to effectively run a fas break and be a part of the offense in a six-on-six situation.”
Turkel hope that holds true at the next level. He verbally committed this week to Lafayette College after a post-grad season.
The 5-foot-9, 165-pound Turkel, a righty, is Lafayette’s fourth 2016 tristate commit.
Now, here’s a Q&A with Spencer on his commitment.
What were the main factors in your decision?
During the recruiting process, I was looking for a school with strong academics paired with a competitive lacrosse program. Lafayette will give me the academic and athletic experience I’m looking for.
Also, I felt a strong connection with (Lafayette Head) Coach (Jim) Rogalski, and that really impacted my decision. Lastly, I felt very comfortable on campus. I am excited to spend the next chapter of my education and lacrosse career at Lafayette.
What other schools were you considering and what schools did you visit?
Throughout the process, I visited Dartmouth, Delaware, Gettysburg and Middlebury. I also have been speaking to Drexel and Bucknell.
What are your strengths as a player?
My biggest strengths are my quick hands and versatility.
What area of your game do you need to work on?
As a faceoff man, I always need to be improving my technique and reaction time to the whistle. I also need to improve at playing defense for when I lose the draw.
How did you get introduced to lacrosse and what other sports have you played?
A couple of my friends played lacrosse in second grade, and I decided to join the team. I have also played football since third grade.
What travel team do you play on what showcase events did you participate in?
I play on CT Eclipse and LI Express. With Eclipse, I went to the Legacy Invitational and FLG in 3D. With Express, I went to the Adrenaline Platinum Cup as well as Best of the Best.
Any final thoughts?
First off, I’d like to thank my mother for her support throughout the recruiting process as well as my everyday life. She spent hours driving to my tournaments and camps. She is the loudest mom on the sideline and her support fueled me.
I’d like to thank my high school coaches, John Mathews, Josh Maciorowski and Gordon Bombay for their support and dedication to the Weston High School lacrosse program.
I wouldn’t be the player I am today without Coach Josh Thornton (Norwalk head lacrosse coach). He was my coach from 7th-10th grade and pushed my teammates and me to our full potential.
I’d like to thank Jim Mason and Lukas Horn for their guidance and for the life lessons they have taught me.
Thank you to Dave Fiorini for preparing us physically and mentally for our season.
Thank you to Eclipse Lacrosse for an awesome summer. They taught me a lot and were always willing to help in the recruiting process.
Lastly, I’d like to thank the Lafayette coaching staff for giving me this opportunity.
Have a recruiting commitment to report? Send an email to info@laxlessons.com, contact Joe Lombardi directly at joe@laxlessons.com or send a Tweet to @Joe_Lombardi or @LaxLessons.
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Posted In: Connecticut, Recruiting Rundown
Lafayette went 2-11 overall in 2014. Hopefully the program turns around before 2016.
“Spencer is a dedicated lacrosse player. Not only is he a pure scorer he is a great teammate when it comes to passing the ball. His leadership on and off the field is incredible. Not only does he get me to work harder by talking but he leads by example when he is on the field. He is a hardworker not only during the lacrosse season but in the offseason he sets an example to the guys how hard you have to work in the offseason to be better. Spencer has all the assets to be a college lacrosse player.”