Tyler Turnquist was the consummate athlete: driven, enthusiastic, and fiercely loyal to his team and his school. Competing at a time of increased specialization, Turnquist chose to pursue diverse athletic interests, excelling at football, basketball and baseball while creating lasting memories and relationships along the way.Named the Chicago Sun-Times Male Athlete of the Year in 1994 after earning All-Conference recognition in each of his sports, Turnquist reflected on his time as a three-sport athlete, saying in an interview with reporter Taylor Bell, “At the high school level, playing one sport limits your ability […] Many kids are encouraged to specialize. But I would recommend that they try out for as many sports as they can and have four years to determine which is best.” It turns out, he was gifted in all of them. As a high school competitor, Turnquist gratefully acknowledged his family’s support and example, noting that his life as a multi-sport athlete began when he started playing catch with his parents at the age of two. As his talent and love for sport grew, so did Turnquist’s accomplishments.As a diehard Redskin, Turnquist tallied up team and individual awards, records and impressive statistics. No matter what level of personal success he experienced, Turnquist always kept his focus on his teams. As a senior, Turnquist shared, “The biggest thrill I get is winning. I try to keep away from the individual statistics and play for my team to win.” And play he did. On the football field, he earned All-Conference and All-Area honors as a junior wide receiver and again as a senior quarterback, when he passed for almost 1,000 yards, achievements he ranked behind the excitement of sharing quarterfinal games with his teammates. On the basketball court, his impressive point guard play led him to be named to the All-Conference team as a junior and to the All-Conference and All-Area teams as a senior. Though honored by the recognition, he was prouder to make it to the Sweet 16 in 1993 and the Sectional Finals in 1994. On the baseball diamond, he was named to the All-Summer State Team, as well as the All-Conference and 3rd team All-State team, accomplishments he felt paled in comparison to the rush of competing with his team at sectionals in his junior and senior seasons and in placing second as a team in the summer state tournament.In fact, Turnquist’s favorite high school memories focus on the people involved in a special moment: “During my senior year, the second round of the state football playoffs against Joliet High School, I scored on an 80-yard touchdown run on the opening play of the game.” Though his touchdown was a highly personal achievement, sharing it with his exuberant teammates and appreciative fans cemented the moment in his memory. Tellingly, another favorite memory was meeting his future wife, Sara, during his sophomore year.After graduating from Naperville Central with a strong academic record, Turnquist went to Illinois State University on a baseball scholarship, where he was named to the All-Conference team in 1997. He graduated with a degree in Marketing and pursued a career in professional baseball; Turnquist was signed by the Houston Astros as a non-drafted free agent in 1998, and in 1999, was selected for the Single A Midwest League All-Star game, finishing 9th in the league in batting average.He and Sara live in Naperville with their two daughters: Ava, age (11) and Ella (age 8). Twenty years after his time in three different athletic arenas, Turnquist is as loyal as ever to his home “team”; the consummate high school athlete has just added father and husband to his list of specialties.