Grade 12 marks a pivotal point in a student's life, deciding what comes after high school. For Huskies baseball player Marcus Herback, the decision to attend George Brown College was shaped by both academics and athletics.
“I chose to attend George Brown College because of the reputation of the academic program that they offer as well as the location being downtown Toronto,” Herback shared. “What attracted me to join the baseball team was how everyone made me feel part of the team when I visited the school and went out to practice with them before I made the decision to play here. I knew it would be a great group of guys to go out and compete with, which is the main reason I chose to play ball here.”
Now in his second year of the Business Administration program, Herback has fully embraced the opportunities it provides.
“What I enjoy most so far about the program is that it covers different sections of business, so I am able to gain a general understanding and figure out which areas I enjoy the most,” he explained.
On the field, Herback has made a significant impact since day one. As an 18-year-old rookie in the OCAA, he was one of the youngest players in the league but quickly became a standout. He led the team with 16 RBIs, ranked second with 20 hits and five doubles, and placed third with a .455 slugging percentage. His stellar debut helped the Huskies achieve the second-best record in program history and earned him a nomination for Huskies Male Rookie of the Year in 2023.
Despite facing challenges this past season, Herback once again led the team with 12 RBIs, showcasing his resilience and commitment.
Being a student-athlete is mainly balancing athletics and academics, which is no easy feat, but the Georgetown, Ont., native has developed a system to stay on top of both.
“For me to balance athletics and academics, I make sure to set a schedule for my day so I can find time to get my schoolwork done. That way, I don’t have to stress about it during practice or a game. It also helps to get as much done as I can while I’m in class or on campus, so I don’t leave too much for myself when I’m at home,” Herback noted.
Although the men’s baseball team narrowly missed the OCAA playoffs for a second consecutive season, Herback remains optimistic about the future.
“I think that we are just a couple of pieces away from becoming a playoff team. We definitely had the team to do it this year, but it just didn’t go our way. I think we’re in a great spot to make playoffs going into next year,” he stated.
For Herback, being a Husky is about more than competing for wins.
“Being a Husky to me means that I have to carry myself with a lot of pride on and off the field because I am not only representing myself but the school as well,” he said.
He’s returning for his third season with the Huskies men’s baseball team. When asked what advice he’d give someone making the tough decision about what institution to go to at a young age, he shared insights from his journey.
"Advice I would give to someone is too firstly make sure they have the right program for you at a location that fits you so either somewhere convenient or somewhere that would feel like a great place to go to school. From an athletics point of view if looking too choose a team, find one where you will fit in well and have a great team around you because that can make a huge impact on how much you enjoy the experience," he stated.
For more information on George Brown men's baseball, contact Varsity Operations Coordinator, Mark Couch at mark.couch@georgebrown.ca. If you're interested in possibly joining the men's baseball team, fill out the prospective athlete form.
