By Brian Reed-Baiotto, Sports Editor

It’s been a challenging past 12 months for the entire world.

COVID-19 has wreaked havoc on everyone’s physical and mental health, their jobs and finances, and in so many other ways.

For local high school student-athletes, the pandemic upended almost the entire 2020 spring season, and so far there hasn’t been a game since.

The challenge for athletes (and their parents) is to stay engaged academically via zoom and to find ways to exercise and continue to work on his or her craft, so they’re ready to get back into the swing of the things when we get the good news we’re all hoping and waiting for.

 

For Glendora senior Carson Collett, dealing with adversity and staying mentally strong has always been a part of his life.

Just a couple months after he turned 8, his father Dan tragically passed away.

But thanks to a loving support system, which included many people from both his mother’s and father’s side, Carson and his 19-year old brother, Campbell, have turned out to be terrific and accomplished young men.

It all starts with Carson’s remarkable mom, Kim Urban Collett, who assumed both the mother and father roles, and includes her mom Bonnie, Kim’s brother Mike (and his wife), Dan’s parents Paul and Jan, and his brothers, Dave and Rich Collett.

Both Dan and Kim  have a number of friends that stepped up big and 10 years later, their devotion to Kim and her kids remains just as strong as it did back then.

“Dan had a thick exterior, but he loved so hard and his two boys meant everything to him,” Kim said. “He was so involved with their sports and school work. He was also my best friend and we had a great balance in raising our two boys.  I lost my dad just two years prior to Dan’s death, and it was a very challenging time in all of our lives. I didn’t even think about anything other than making sure my kids were taken care of, and that meant filling both the mom and dad roles at times. But I couldn’t have done this without my mom, brother, friends, as well as Dan’s family and friends. He would be so proud to know how well his two boys have turned out.”

As proof to that claim, his 17-year old son Carson just recently committed to continue his academic and baseball career at Azusa Pacific University.

Carson also has a 3.5 GPA and has the universal respect of his coaches and teammates at GHS.

Just over a year ago, Collett and the Tartans were off to a 9-1 start to the 2020 season when the world shut down.

He had more than doubled his average (.172) from his sophomore season, and was batting .360, with nine hits, four runs, six RBIs and a double.

Additionally, he’s become a dependable catcher and a selfless teammate.

Part of what made the premature end to the 2020 season so disappointing was not just the great start they were off to, it was just as much the solid dugout full of character guys and its senior leadership.

Carson is an intelligent young man, both on and off the baseball field, and he accepted the fact that there was nothing he could do to change the situation (COVID-19).

Instead of feeling sorry for himself, pouting or losing focus, Carson buckled down with his studies and continued to work on his body and becoming a better hitter and catcher.

The popular thought by almost every local baseball coach and athletic director is that a baseball season will happen, it’s just a matter of the starting date that has everyone guessing.

Collett likes the makeup of his current teammates and believes that Dan Henley’s program has the talent and work ethic to make a solid run in the CIF-SS playoffs.

Looking ahead, there’s something else that has Carson excited.

After his days at GHS are over, he will be reuniting with his buddy and former teammate, Cade Marshman, and says he has a really good connection with the APU coaching staff.

The aforementioned Marshman owns most of the GHS receiving records in football, and the 2020 grad was just as valuable on the baseball field.

When asking his mom what she’s most proud of, Kim said, “Carson is kind hearted and has a soft spot for the underdog. He’s majoring in psychology, because he loves helping people that are at-risk or have special needs. His faith and strong relationship with God has helped him along the way.”

Along with the sizeable list of those who have helped Carson and his family, include his brother Campbell.

In spite of being just two years his senior, Campbell accepted and thrived in the role as a father figure to Carson, and it’s something that his mom and Carson are so grateful for.

We asked Carson to comment on the following topics: the heroism of his mom, the role his brother and grandma play in his life, as well as the entire Collett side of the family.

Said Carson Collett: “What my mom has done is breathtaking. She has been my mother and father at the same time. I was 8 and my brother was 10 when my dad died, and that put a lot on the plate to begin with, including her having the responsibility of raising us through our teen years. I’ve always wanted to follow in my mom’s footsteps. She’s a licensed family therapist and it’s the reason I am so passionate about helping others.  My grandma is very similar to my mom.  I understand where my mom got all of her characteristics. She’s been there for us over our entire lifetimes. My mom’s brother and sister in law are great and my dad’s family is there for me and they’ve always loved us. My dad would be so happy to know how his family has cared for us. Ever since my dad passed, Campbell has also been my father figure. He has taught me everything a dad would teach his son and I’d want him to know that he’s the best brother anyone could ever ask for.”

Lastly, to show his continued selflessness, one of the final questions this reporter asked was where he thinks he’ll be in the Tartans lineup.

Carson said that it would probably be somewhere in the top five slots, but, “I’ll hit anywhere they need me. I just want to do everything I can to be the best teammate possible and contribute in as many ways as I can to help us win games.”

He and his family should be so proud of both his maturity and the way in which he lives his life.

Quotable:

Glendora coach, Dan Henley: “Carson Collett has had a tremendous impact on our program. First and foremost, he does an outstanding job in the classroom as a respected student leader. As a baseball player, he is committed to the process of improvement, which is being witnessed through this pandemic by his dedication, determination, desire and patience. He does not let the very real obstacles that we are all facing become excuses for not pursuing his passion with commitment. APU will be a perfect fit for Carson, where he will continue to grow as person and a ballplayer as APU has a great reputation for both. We are all really proud of Carson and his accomplishments!”

Former GHS two-sport star & Cal State LA player, AJ Salgado: “He’s got many skills that contribute to any team he plays for and I think he’s got a great few years ahead of him at APU.”

Former GHS two-sport star & APU player, Cade Marshman: “It’s great to see that another hardworking Tartan has committed to play at a very good baseball program like APU. Carson is a great athlete and baseball player, but he is also a wonderful teammate. He always wants what’s best for the team and will do anything he can to win.”

GHS senior, Jeff Isenhart: “Carson is a very relaxed player and you can always count on him to do his job. He always cares about his teammates and he wants the best for everyone. He is a very hard worker and he has become a key part of our team. He is a leader by example and he is a great person for the younger guys to learn from.”

GHS junior, Braydon Wooldridge: “Carson is best type of teammate you can have. He is always upbeat and makes practices and games fun, but he also knows when it’s time to lock in and get to work. There is no one else I would want to take the field with.”

GHS senior, Matt Gonzales: “Carson is definitely a for the team type of player, he’s always the first one to cheer you on and the first one to hype us up. He is very good at controlling his body in his swing and behind the plate, he has good awareness and it makes him that much better on the field. APU is a great program with great coaches and surrounded with nothing but great competition, I think Carson will fit it very well there with his high energy type of play and chip on his shoulder.”

Carson Collett’s career stats at GHS:

2020: .360, nine hits, four runs, sic RBIs and a double
2019: .172, five hits, one run, two RBIs and two doubles

GHS Records:

2020: 9-1
2019: 16-13

Editors Note: If your school has student-athletes that have recently committed to extend their careers at the collegiate level, please send me info to [email protected]

** A big thanks to Al Salgado and Kim Urban Collett for the pictures in this story.