By Brian Reed-Baiotto, Sports Editor

One of the San Gabriel Valley’s most versatile athletes has chosen his destination.

La Salle’s CJ Rettig, a three-sport athlete, will compete for William Penn University in Oskaloosa, Iowa, for the Statesmen.

In fact, Rettig will be part of William Penn’s first (men’s volleyball) program in school history when the season kicks off in the spring of 2020.

To be accurate, Rettig is a four-sport athlete (football, soccer, baseball & volleyball) but there are only three seasons in prep athletics.

At La Salle, Rettig earned first-team, all-league honors six times.

But without question, volleyball is his passion and arguably the sport he shines the brightest.

At 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds, Rettig played huge over the last three years for two-time CIF-SS championship coach, Tiare Tuitama.

In 2018, La Salle star players Will Dalgarn and Rettig led the Lancers to the CIF-SS Division 4 semifinals, before falling to the eventual champions from San Gabriel Academy.

It was the furthest the program had gone in quite a while, including their first league championship in 12 years.

And in 2019, Rettig led the Lancers, along with his teammates and coaching staff to a second consecutive Camino Real League championship.

After an unbeaten run in league play, Rettig earned the Camino Real League MVP.

At William Penn, Rettig will play for coach Luke Bentley and he’ll major in wellness and recreation.

And he very much likes the idea of helping build a brand new program in Iowa.

The other part of his memorable stay at La Salle was that of the quarterback of the football team and a goalie for the soccer program.

But there was also a pretty interesting backstory.

In his junior year, a number of friends of his on the boys soccer team asked Rettig to come out about three weeks before the season was to begin.

In spite of not having played soccer, Rettig came out and played goalie.

Rettig allowed just one goal in league play and helped lead the Lancers to a 10-0 mark to earn the Camino Real League championship.

On August 17 of 2018, Rettig was at Arcadia High School watching his buddies get torched, 64-0, by the Apaches in the season opener.

A few weeks later, No. 11 was calling the signals after deciding the join the team, and with the hopes of lending a hand for the Lancers’ program and first-year coach Andrew Pankow.

The season was far from a success, but La Salle was a much better team for having Rettig onboard and leading the offense.

His source of strength comes first from his parents, Suzy and Chris, as well as his sister, Holly.

Rettig said his parents have always supported him and trusted their son to make decisions for himself, and it’s something he really appreciates.

But he went out of his way to make sure every teammate, coach, friend and faculty member from both St. Rita (in seventh & eight grade) and La Salle knew how much they mean to him and his development, both on and off any field or court.

He’s especially thankful to his volleyball coach, Tiare Tuitama, who he boldly said, “I wouldn’t be in this position I’m in without her guidance and trust in me.”

Rettig said he still misses pitching in baseball games, but there are only 24 hours in a day.

One day, Rettig’s dream job would be that of Athletics Director at the University of Texas.

Until then, he’ll just keep working his butt off in the classroom, the gym and the weight room, to keep improving in any way he can.

Quotable:

La Salle boys volleyball coach Tiare Tuitama: “I am so happy for CJ to be continuing his volleyball career at the next level. He has worked so hard to put himself in this position and he’s earned all the accolades that have come his way. I could tell in his sophomore year that he was going to be a special kid, and he kept raising the bar with his play, work ethic and character.

He was a three-sport athlete, but I’ve always felt volleyball was the sport he had the most potential in, and as well as he’s played, I know he’ll continue to get better because he won’t stop working. He was a quiet guy, but he was still our leader. He didn’t yell at people, but when he did talk, the kids listened, because they knew CJ only spoke up when something really had to be said and they knew it was going to be important.

The way he stuck up for me during challenging times meant a lot to me, and I am so proud of the young man he’s grown into. He is smart, hard working and a talented kid, and William Penn University is lucky to have him. Whether he was in the front row or back row, he was our go-to guy and we knew our captain would come through for us. He plays his best volleyball in clutch moments and that’s something all programs want and need from their elite athletes.”

La Salle (2019) graduate & three-sport athlete, CJ Rettig: “I’ve known volleyball was my number one sport after my freshman year. I played at St. Rita for two years and four years at La Salle. I really developed a love for volleyball, but I also loved playing baseball and football, and I grew to love playing goalie in soccer.

I have been lucky to have such supportive parents, who love me very much, and I’m also close with my sister, Holly. But I am also very appreciative of all the people who have played a part in my life and I thank them all for helping me get to this point in my life. I look very much forward to playing for Coach Bentley and the rest of the coaching staff, as well as my new teammates.

I look forward to having new experiences and growing as an athlete, student and person. I will never forget all the people and friends at St. Rita and La Salle and I hope to make them all proud.

Lastly, I want to thank Coach Tui, because she stuck with me the whole time and she always told us what we needed to hear as opposed to what we wanted to hear. We are better for it, and I certainly am as well. She has played such a positive role in my career and life over the past four years.”