The legacy of Campolindo High sports programs continues to grow, as eight student athletes gathered in the quad, Wednesday morning, to announce their college choices on national signing day.
The list of standout athletes included: Carrie Verdon (University of Colorado) cross country/track, Robbie Ashby (Texas A&M) swimming, Gracie Fowler (Loyola Marymount) water polo, Kimi Klein (Princeton) water polo, Cole Rider (Johns Hopkins) baseball, Josh Cushing (Washington) baseball, Austin Rei (Washington) baseball, and James Marvel (Duke) baseball.
“It is all hard work. What these players have put into this is incredible,” said baseball coach Max Luckhurst. “Where they went to school it was school first, it was not baseball first. Their grades gave them an opportunity to play at the next level.”
The signings are yet another feather in the cap for Campolindo athletics, as Moraga’s stalwart only seems to rack up wins, banners and accolades. In 2010-11, Moraga’s Cougars beat out countless other athletic programs to be named division III “Cal-Hi Sports School Sports School of the Year” and collected two state championships.
“It is very cool to see the tradition we have established athletically,” said Marvel. “Last year we were D-III athletic school of the year. You can see all the athletes and sports programs coming together. It great to be around and surround yourself with such high standards.”
Verdon, one of the most dominant runners in the Diablo Foothill Athletic League history, led the cross-country team to a state championship where the team finished a full 21-seconds ahead of the competition (Verdon placed first in the race by nearly two minutes).
Girls’ Volleyball collected the other state title in an absolute thriller, upsetting Cathedral Catholic (San Diego).
Last season, with tremendous contributions from Klein and Fowler, Girls’ Water Polo claimed the North Coast Section title.
However, on this brisk morning, baseball players ruled the day. Four members, Marvel, Rei, Cushing, Rider, of the back-to-back NCS championship team, sat at the Campo bannered table, dressed in their new college hats and shirts, signing and celebrating with their coach and parents. The baseball program currently has seven players total committed to play in college, including three junior verbal offer acceptances.
“It is a special day, to be able to consider myself a Duke Blue Devil,” said big-time pitching prospect Marvel. “I am here with all my peers who have been trying to realize their dreams (of playing in college) for however many years. To be able to celebrate with them like this is very special.”
Just this season alone, Campolindo was able to raise two more banners with Girls’ Tennis and .
