Article from Tribune/Vindy on her transfer to YSU:
No Flash in the pan
YSU lands former Champion standout Turner
LOCAL SPORTS
JUL 9, 2021
ROBERT HAYES
Correspondent
sports@tribtoday.com
Megan Turner, a Champion High School product, recently transferred to Youngstown State, with two years of eligibility remaining. The former Ohio Gatorade Player of the Year and three time state champion batted .336 with 41 RBI in 2021 for Kent State.
After tactfully completing 40 credit hours of college courses as a senior at Champion High School, Megan Turner entered college with a head start — one that allowed her to graduate from Kent State in just three years.
With a degree in accounting and finance, along with a minor in insurance, Turner looked toward the horizon with two years of NCAA eligibility remaining.
The end result was a move back to the Mahoning Valley. The former Ohio Gatorade Player of the Year and three-time state champion has decided to transfer to Youngstown State to pursue her masters degree and her collegiate softball career.
“It’s very exciting and it’s close to home,” Turner said. “I’m really glad that I can play in front of my family and friends. I have a lot of friends in Youngstown, and people that I know already. I’m excited to finish out my career with them and being near my hometown.
“Representing my home-town is something that I can do at Youngstown State. It’s a different feeling that not a lot of people get to experience, so I’m really happy to have the opportunity.”
Averaging .336 at the plate last season for the collegiate Golden Flashes, the first baseman also led Kent State with a team-high 41 RBIs, along with eight home runs. She was named second-team All-Mid-American Conference.
Turner received All-Freshman honors in the MAC in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic limited Kent State to only 19 contests in 2020.
After taking the Horizon League regular-season crown and posting a 36-15 record, YSU adds an infielder who can be inserted straight into the lineup, with NCAA transfer rules eliminating the need for athletes to sit out a season.
“We haven’t brought too many transfers in through my years here, but it (the new rules) does change some of the concept a little bit,” Penguins coach Brian Campbell said. “I felt like Megan was a good fit for us, and that’s the reason why we spoke with her.”
Campbell and his coaching staff think adding a veteran of the Mid-American Conference is a major plus.
“When you look at the schedules, having that experience as a player and being in some of those games, it’s really nice to be able to take a look and have her contribute,” Campbell explained. “I think that the numbers she put up there are really good for the competition she played.”
Taking home a trio of Division III state championship trophies as a member of the Champion softball program, Turner will reunite with pitcher Sophie Howell at YSU.
During her high school senior campaign, Turner batted .618 and was named a USA Today High School All-American. She also holds Champion’s career record for home runs, RBIs, and batting average.
Megan’s older brother Michael, helped Champion claim their first state title in program history back in 2017, while moving on to play baseball at Kent State. He recently transferred to Arkansas.
Along with the Champion duo, other local products on Youngstown State’s roster include Conchetta Rinaldi (Cardinal Mooney), Kayla Rutherford (Cardinal Mooney) and Bree Kohler (South Range).
Ultimately, it’s about softball coming full circle.
“I think it’s going to be really neat,” Turner said. “I played against these girls my whole life, and now we’re going to be teammates. That’s going to be cool experience. I think it’s going to be really fun, and I’m really excited get play in front of my community and home town with all the girls I played against growing up.”
There’s a saying around the Champion community, “Once a Flash, Always a Flash,” but for the first time in many years, Turner will have a new name across her jersey, while donning the red and white of Youngstown State.
Regardless what the color scheme is, or what logo adorns her batting helmet, it’s about representing her high school alma mater with pride.
“Coming from Champion, we had high expectations,” Turner said. “I mean we won three state championships and not a lot of people get to experience that. Being able to play with Howell again, and representing Champion is something I’m so excited to do.
“I literally love the memories I have from there. I’ll never forget that, and playing for Coach (Cheryl) Weaver was one of the greatest experiences I’ve ever had. I’ve already had people from Champion say ‘we’re so excited to come watch you and Sophie play together.’ Just being able to do that is so awesome.”
