Lots of SLO County sports stars commit to play in college. Here’s where they’re headed

Recent Templeton High grad and baseball star Quincy Winkler grew up watching current pro baseball players Brooks Lee, Bryan Woo, Spencer Howard and Mitch Haniger, among others, play baseball at Cal Poly.

He has followed their success since as they have risen up the ranks professionally to reach the major leagues within their respective organizations.

Winkler, a 6-foot-7, 220-pound right-handed pitcher, now is embarking on his collegiate career at Cal Poly, hoping to make his mark in the Big West Conference to see where his baseball career leads him.

Winkler is one of several recent San Luis Obispo County high school graduates heading off to play college sports this coming year.

“I’ve been to Cal Poly baseball games and the campus my whole life growing up in the area,” Winkler said. “Initially, I didn’t look at it as a place I would go. But I had a conversation with my friend who just finished his freshman year there and that helped me realize all of the positives. I’m getting to play baseball in such a beautiful area and a great town with a program that has just been getting better and better.”

He said a trip to Cal Poly’s baseball camp last summer helped confirm his decision.

“Cal Poly seemed like the right place for me for many reasons, and I was fortunate enough to receive an offer from the team,” Winkler said. “I love the staff, the area, and I am grateful that I can stay close to home and represent Templeton.”

Strong high school senior year

Winkler, MVP of the Ocean League, is coming off of a season in which Templeton posted a 20-7 record (9-3 Ocean League, second place). He hit .444 and had five home runs and 39 RBI to lead his team in each category.

Winkler said he’s proud to have been part of a successful Templeton squad that resembled his freshman year in terms of record (19-8). Last year, the Eagles went 8-18 and his sophomore year they were 15-13-1.

“Freshman year seemed kind of similar to this one,” Winkler said. “We had good success and were winning, but the two years in between, we weren’t. It was good to have a year like this one where we were contending.”

The unfortunate part for Winkler, however, was that he was kept off the mound as a senior while recovering from a flexor (forearm near the elbow) strain injury.

Winkler has been recruited to pitch at Cal Poly on a partial scholarship and is working his way back to full health.

“I just started throwing the other day for the first time,” Winkler said. “I have been staying away from the off-speed stuff.”

Winkler said his field position status simplified his role just to focus on hitting and playing first base.

“I think my job this year was to hit the ball well, and I think I did that pretty well,” Winkler said. “My favorite part of high school ball has been the team chemistry. Coming from a small school, it makes us a tightly knit family.”

Winkler now is playing his summer baseball in Utah for the Marshalls’ program, a baseball complex where games and practices take place throughout the summer (current Cal player and former Arroyo Grande High star Ryan Tayman has played summer ball there as well).

The program has included more than 100 Major League Baseball draft picks and over 750 collegiate players, according to its website.

Playing in college

When he pitches in college, Winkler will use a fastball that is currently topping out between 88-90 miles per hour this summer, a changeup and continue to develop other pitches with the Mustangs’ pitching staff.

And he now joins an elite group of former Templeton stars, including pitchers Mac and Robbie Lardner and Howard.

“Templeton has produced some really good players, and it’s cool to be a part of it,” Winkler said.

Other North County standout pitchers include Jakob Wright and Carson Turnquist, current Mustang pitchers, who both graduated from Paso Robles High.

This summer, Winkler is playing against strong competition in Utah, where players from around the country hone their skills, and has already connected with some future Cal Poly teammates.

“I love it,” Winkler said. “Two of my teammates play at Cal Poly. There’s a really high level of competition here of players from around the country.”

SLO County athlete college commits

Here’s a look at other local athletes who plan to play sports in college who are known to The Tribune. Additional local athletes may be playing college sports as well.

Arroyo Grande

Presley Dunkle (Cal Poly women’s soccer), Paul Keith (Willamette swim), Jade Webber (U.S. Naval Academy track and field), Ephraim Nau (Fort Lewis College football), Gavin Marin (Chabot basketball), Brandon Butler (U.S. Merchant Marine Academy football), Nick York (Cuesta College cross country), John Paul Walsh (Cuesta College cross country), Jacob Garbiso (Allan Hancock football).

Atascadero

Brianna Griffith (Cal State Bakersfield swim), Marlie Cazier (University of San Diego dive), Olivia Moscardi (University of Nevada, Reno softball), Donovan Kerr (Menlo College baseball).

Mission Prep

Drew Harrigan (Cal Poly football), Easton Weir (Whitworth University tennis), Ella Blair (Wesleyan University volleyball), Luke Montoya (Cal Poly golf), Luke Jacobson (Marquette basketball), Chloe Stuckey (Menlo College cheer), Luke Terry (Chapman University track and field), Rylinn MacDonald (Wheaton College softball), Ella Hais (UC Davis beach volleyball), Conner Lopez (Santa Barbara City College football), Brooklyn Neenan (Cuesta College softball).

Morro Bay

Tailer Morrison, (UC Merced women’s basketball offer), Caleb Calhoun (Fresno State baseball tryout), Maddy Plumlee (Fresno State tryout), Nami Hoag (Cal Poly football/track tryout).

Paso Robles

Nevaeh Dyer (Concordia University, Irvine, track and field), Claire Wells and Caelee Martines (Maryville University, Missouri, stunt), Gavin Blythe (Simpson College, Iowa, clay target sports).

San Luis Obispo

Amani Avina (College of Sequioas football), Ashley Brewer (Cal Poly soccer), Lindsey Giannini (Barry University swim), Weston Greenelsh (Cuesta College cross country/track and field), Faith Hartford (Biola University cross country, track and field), Wyatt Maulhardt (University of Connecticut track and field), Parker McCarthy (Fresno Pacific swim), Matthew Perje (Cal Baptist swim), Noland Roemmich (Western Washington cross country, track and field), Zachary Sibenlist (UC Santa Barbara soccer), Jackson Stitt (Cal Lutheran golf).

Templeton

Lucia Barroso (UC San Diego volleyball), Joshua Bell (Stanford University cross country), Quincy Winkler (Cal Poly baseball).