Wrestling:

By Brian Baiotto, Sports Editor

Imagine the disappointment, frustration and even anger that a high school student-athlete might harbor when an injury causes him (or her) to miss the majority of a sport they love.

And to add salt to the wound, consider that occurred during his senior year.

Unfortunately, that was the case for Glendora High two-sport athlete, Cale Smith.

Smith comes from an athletic family.

Cale’s father (Corey Smith) was the all-time assist leader after a successful run as the GHS point guard.

He played for a 1,000-win coach in Mike LeDuc, and he had the luxury of former UCLA and NBA standout Tracy Murray being on the other end of most of his passes.

Cale’s uncle Greg might have looked like he weighed 120 pounds, but he constantly knocked opponents twice his size on their butts for Dean Karnoski’s football program in the early 1990’s.

Luke and Hunter Smith, Cale’s cousins, are both excellent athletes.

In 2024-25, Hunter will have one more season to bury 3-pointers for Tim Godley’s Palomares League champions at Bonita.

That gets us to Cale.

Smith played linebacker for Brandon Rohrer, and he was the 157-pounder for Dave Hester’s wrestling program.

In week seven against Ayala, Smith injured his knee, but this badass returned after halftime, and he didn’t miss a single game.

He finished the season with 43 tackles, which was fifth best for the Tartans.

What makes that feat incredible is the fact that Cale got an MRI done at the end of the season, and it revealed that he played on a partially torn ACL and LCL.

As a result, he wasn’t medically cleared to begin wrestling practices until the first week of January.

Smith hoped he would be ready for the Palomares League team duals in January, as well as league finals, CIF-SS Individuals, and so on.

Following a close team loss to Bonita in which he was pinned by Nathan Ebel in the third period, Smith made a gut-wrenching realization.

He wasn’t ready.

In arguably the most demanding sport at the high school level, two weeks wasn’t a sufficient amount of time to recover physically.

He accepted the reality that he couldn’t give Glendora its best shot at succeeding at league finals, and he didn’t want to let his coach, the wrestlers and their program down.

He displayed a character beyond his years by delivering that message in person, and not via email or text like so many do in uncomfortable situations.

Furthermore, Smith promised his teammates that he’d be there in person the rest of the way, and that he’d help in any way that he could.

But how heavy must Cale’s heart have felt, and how would he deal with the disappointment?

The answer is quite simple.

At the age of 18, Cale Smith is already a champion in life.

Through the worst of times, Smith learned in his early teens what many of us in our 50’s still haven’t accepted to this day.

And that’s don’t sweat the small stuff.

Cale Smith has been through the scariest moments of life, and he’s had to contemplate his own mortality four or five decades before it should have ever crossed his mind.

But with the support and unconditional love of his immediate and extended family, as well as scores of friends and the Glendora community, Cale Smith looked cancer in the face and kicked its ass.

Here is Cale’s story:

Just a few weeks after his 10th birthday in February of 2015, Cale was experiencing numbness on the left side of his face.

Smith’s parents (Karine and Corey Smith) thought it was likely a reaction to some dental work that Cale had just endured.

In the worst news possible for any parent, however, Cale was diagnosed with a skull tumor.

But it was originally believed to be a benign, slow-growing type of nerve tumor.

After a number of tests and an MRI, the doctors at the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles had initially planned an eight-hour surgery to remove the tumor from Cale’s skull.

That next month, he began to experience facial nerve pain, and he was admitted to CHLA for further testing, which included a bone scan, CT scan, biopsy, bone marrow biopsy and a spinal tap.

On April 1st of 2015, the Smith’s worst nightmare was also their reality.

Cale was re-diagnosed with a rare and malignant tumor called Rhabdomyosarcoma (soft tissue cancer).

It wasn’t just a form of cancer, it was an aggressive type that required immediate treatment.

Cale’s mom described it this way.

Said Karine Smith: “Upon hearing this, we quickly and proactively began a journey of cancer treatments, which included a year of chemotherapies and two months of proton radiation. Our world collapsed. Everything we had planned for changed in one day. Our 10-year-old son had cancer. Those are words that no parent would ever want to hear. Our hearts were broken. As parents, we were devastated, but for Cale, we remained calm and sought the best medical treatment available to us. Along with everything Cale had to go through, it also cost us a lot of time that we would have normally spent with our 14-year-old daughter Kaylie, and our eight-year-old son, Caden.

Our family and friends quickly surrounded us with constant care and support as we navigated frightening terrain. If not for our faith, belief in God’s miracle of healing and the love of Jesus, we would not have been able to handle any of it. Every week we had treatments at CHLA, and then we lived in San Diego for two months so Cale could receive his proton treatment. We went back and forth for months to tend to our other children as well.”

Incredibly, it was Cale himself that comforted his family and friends by displaying an infinite amount of courage.

He never played the role of victim in spite of having every reason to do so.

Instead, Cale would say, “Let’s not worry about the tomorrow’s, let’s focus on today.”

He bravely endured MRI scans every three months that included being put in a tube with his head strapped down for two to three hours.

The Smith’s would have to anxiously wait two days each time to get the results after those scans, and it was the waiting that Karine described as the hardest part.

Karine Smith said life had slowed way down, as they focused on Cale and his treatment.

“The powerful love of our community was incredible,” she said. “They carried us through all of it and never stopped caring or supporting our family. There were strangers along the way, that were like angels, helping us, guiding us, counseling us, and arriving at just the right moments to carry us. It was truly incredible and kept us filled with hope.”

Smith was always active as a young boy.

He loved sports, especially flag football, basketball and wrestling.

He loved to wrestle with his father and younger brother.

Cale also enjoyed hunting and fishing with his dad and his uncles, and it was something he started doing at the age of five.

As soon as the doctors cleared him, he instantly returned to his athletic endeavors.

Playing sports was something that always gave him confidence, and they were instrumental in teaching him how to be a team player and a leader.

It goes without saying that Cale is a tough young man with a ‘never give up’ mentality, and it’s served him well in every sport he’s played.

He’s always loved being part of team sports, but Cale very much enjoys the one-on-one, me-versus-you scenario on a wrestling mat.

The ability to overcome such odds and being able to live a normal life has taken a village, as Smith’s parents would be the first to tell you.

And while we live in a nation that has sadly become toxic and divided by our current political discourse, the Smith family got a firsthand view of what our country can be at its best.

The lengths to which the Glendora community went to show love and support for Cale and his family are breathtaking.

They had everything from meal trains to anonymous donations.

The city of Glendora had honorary ‘Team Cale days’ at local baseball parks and football fields to support him.

A group of friends organized a Team Cale “Day at the Races” at Santa Anita Park.

Organizations like “Friends of Jaclyn” gave Cale an honorary spot on the USC men’s basketball team, which included a “signing day” and a team dinner celebration for him.

The Make-a Wish-Foundation surprised and gifted Cale and his family with a trip to Atlantis after his recovery.

Their friends rallied around the family, and they sold “Team Cale” purple t-shirts and bracelets all over Glendora to raise funds for the medical costs.

They also organized a “Cuts4Cale” fundraiser that garnered over $30,000 for CHLA.

And it included kids and adults from all across Glendora buzzing their heads in honor of Cale.

What is Cale’s health like in 2024?

Against all odds, Cale Smith is a happy and active teenager.

And while Smith will continue to have endocrine system challenges, which are being addressed as they arise, Cale just past (2/12/2024) the eight-year mark with NED, which stands for No Evidence of the Disease.

For a kid that had no guarantee of reaching his teen years, Cale will celebrate his 19th birthday on February the 22nd.

What’s next for Cale?

He’s applied to colleges in Montana, Idaho, Colorado, Wyoming and Iowa, and he intends on pursuing a mechanical engineering degree.

Part of the reason for wanting to go to college outside of California is his desire to hunt, fish and snowboard.

Smith also seeks his independence, and he longs for an environment in which he isn’t defined by his battle with cancer.

It’s one thing for Cale’s family, friends, coaches and teammates to lob compliments his way, but it doesn’t end there.

Rob Froh, who has successfully led the South Hills and Bonita wrestling programs, including a state champion in Thomas Williams, had this to say about Cale Smith.

“Cale is such a great kid,” Froh said. He’s the perfect example of what high school athletics should be about. He’s always polite, displays good sportsmanship, is obviously a team leader and he has a solid work ethic. All of those are incredible qualities, but they become even more impressive when you hear about his backstory and realize how much that young man has had to overcome. He is definitely an inspiration. I was talking to Coach Hester at CIF practice about him not being able to wrestle at league finals. The support he showed for his teammates and school is amazing. He could let it all get to him and be bitter, but he continually rises above it.”

Grant Brunier, the head coach of the 2023-24 Palomares League champions from Ayala echoed Froh’s sentiments.

“Cale is a great young man, Brunier said.  “He was always respectful and hard working.  His growth has always been something you find honorable.  You see his growth and you know he’s been putting in that extra work when no one is looking.”

One of Cale’s best friends is Ryder Cadam, who was a star receiver at Bonita, as were Ryder’s older brothers.

“When I first learned about Cale’s diagnosis, I was shocked and didn’t know what to think, because I was pretty young at the time. I was 10 years old and didn’t fully grasp the seriousness of the situation,” Cadam said. “I always tried to keep things as normal as possible and treat him like I did before his diagnosis. I knew that he did not like the attention and wanted people to treat him like they always had. Throughout his treatment, I went to several appointments with him, and I could tell how long and draining those days were for him. It was inspiring to see him battle and never give up.

When he finished treatment and they said he was NED, his family had a Super Bowl party for him, and his favorite NFL team (Denver Broncos) won the Super Bowl. What people can learn from Cale’s life story is that no matter how hard or hopeless your situation may be, with the support of family and friends and faith in Jesus, you can overcome. Cale showed plenty of strength and heart throughout his treatment, and I never saw him give up or lose hope. He always trusted God’s plan for him and reminded his family and friends that God was in control, and it would all be ok.”

What is Cale’s take on the last nine years of his life?

“It was as hard as you would imagine,” he said. “Looking back on it, there wasn’t a lot about my situation that was easy. Our goal everyday was simply to make it through that day. Sure, there were times where we laughed and had fun as a family, but it wasn’t something we could live off. Staying motivated gets really hard when it’s tough to stay positive. We just have to stay disciplined in our everyday life and look towards the end goal of becoming healthy. Though the treatment itself wasn’t a walk in the park, the toughest part of it all was not being able to be around friends and family for long periods. There wasn’t a single moment that I remember being the toughest, but being away from the people you love for so long becomes a real mental toll over time.”

If Cale’s journey wasn’t impressive enough for what he overcame, and what he accomplished on the football field and the wrestling mat, Smith maintains a 3.83 GPA with multiple AP courses, and yet he doesn’t think that’s anything special. He expects more of himself.

Cale has a long list of people he wants to thank, and he has a message for them.

Those who have meant everything to Smith include his parents, siblings, friends (Ryder Cadam, Grant Cushman & Dustin Patton), cousins (Luke & Hunter Smith), Aunts Tete & Tonte, uncles Greg, Koert & Shane, as well as Grandma and Grandpa Smith & Takkunen.

“I just wanted to say thanks for being a part of my journey. Although it’s my story, I know that it affected you guys just as much if not more than myself. Thanks for taking the time out of your days to come and visit me or get me out of the house when I needed it most. Thanks for making changes in your own lives to help better my own. Though it was tough, hard times tend to make for the best memories, and the ones that I will cherish forever. I love you all.”

What is Cale’s message to children/kids who might find themselves in a life-or-death scenario?

“What I would say to young people who also struggling with their health is that you don’t know how strong you really are until being strong is the only choice you have. You just have to stay disciplined and keep getting healthier every day. People always ask me how I did it. The only way I know how to respond is that I had no other choice. You just need to lean on the people you love and strive to get a little better every day.”

What is Karine Smith’s message to children and their parents who find themselves in situations that seem hopeless?

“To parents I would say:
Parenting is a challenge, and it doesn’t come with a set list of rules on how to navigate raising our kids. But when our kids go through trials and challenges, it’s our job to encourage them even when we are discouraged. To take every victory no matter how big or small along the way and celebrate it. Being strong isn’t always a feeling, it’s an every-day choice.

To kids struggling I would say: cancer doesn’t define you. No challenge in life does. It’s how you use it to define who you are and how to show others you can overcome. You are brave and strong enough to tackle anything cancer throws your way. This is your unique story. Share it. Use it to help others. Your story is only beginning so make it count.”

To view a photo gallery of Cale and his family through the years, click on a Facebook link here: Facebook

Just below are video tributes to Cale, and a couple matches during his junior season at GHS.

I want to thank the entire Smith family for opening their hearts and old wounds in telling this important and inspiring story.