Antonio Campos carries the blood of his legendary father, former Galaxy and Mexican nationwide workforce goalkeeper Jorge Campos. Maybe extra necessary, he carries his household’s resilience after they labored to get better from the lack of their dwelling within the Palisades fireplace.
Throughout Antonio Campos’ first season with the Cal State Fullerton soccer workforce, he seeks to jot down his personal story and assist his workforce win.
“Simply being in school is successful. I really feel blessed,” stated Antonio, who’s finding out enterprise whereas preventing for minutes as a Division I goalkeeper.
He was born in Los Angeles and grew up within the Pacific Palisades space, the second son of Jorge Campos and Canadian Marcy Raston. His sisters selected to concentrate on volleyball: Andrea, the eldest, lately signed with an expert membership in France after a profitable school profession. Antonio, then again, was torn between basketball and soccer. At Loyola Excessive, he performed level guard, though his top, at 6 toes, restricted his minutes.
Antonio Campos stands in addition to his dad and mom, Marcy Raston and Jorge Campos, whereas sporting Cal State Fullerton gear.
(Courtesy of Campos household)
“Michael Jordan impressed me to play a number of sports activities,” stated Antonio, who additionally performed baseball and volleyball.
Coaching classes together with his father throughout the COVID-19 pandemic led Antonio to finally concentrate on soccer and the goalkeeper place.
“With my dad, the whole lot is intense. Plenty of coaching on the seaside, reflexes, method, chopping crosses. Issues he did higher than anybody else,” stated Antonio, who doesn’t draw back from his surname however doesn’t need it to outline him.
“I don’t really feel stress. I favor to show the values my father instilled in me,” Antonio stated.
Galaxy goalkeeper Jorge Campos celebrates throughout a 1996 sport towards the San Jose Conflict on the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.
(Getty Pictures)
He’s a part of the primary era in his household to attend school within the U.S. and he is aware of that his path extends past soccer.
In Mexico, Antonio additionally didn’t really feel he had a lot of a future, as his personal father, Jorge, criticized goalkeeper trainers in that nation final yr.
“It’s unbelievable that after 30 years, 40 years, we don’t have a contemporary goalkeeper, of that fashion, like Manuel Neuer, Ter Stegen,” Jorge stated in a latest interview with ESPN.
Antonio was drawn to Cal State Fullerton as greater than only a place to enhance his soccer expertise. The workforce’s philosophy, centered on service, ambition and private improvement, resonated with him and his household.
“We emphasize being good individuals. When you go far, you’ll be higher socially and culturally,” defined George Kuntz, the Titans’ veteran coach.
Antonio had had doubts about enjoying school soccer.
“I didn’t wish to play on the college stage as a result of first-year goalkeepers rarely play,” he stated.
Nevertheless, he was assured that everybody would have actual alternatives in the event that they earned them via coaching.
Between the posts, he should combat for minutes towards high quality teammates Eoin Kennedy, Asger Hemmer and Emanuel Padilla. Fullerton opens the common season on Thursday at Oral Roberts in Tulsa, Okla.
“I wish to play, sure, however I additionally need my teammates to enhance. It’s not nearly me,” Antonio stated.
In 2024, the Titans stood out for his or her offensive prowess, however additionally they ranked among the many worst groups within the nation in objectives conceded. That’s why Fullerton bolstered its protection with 4 goalkeepers on the roster. Antonio is rising as one of many promising gamers, with an athletic profile and an bold character that has impressed the teaching workers.
“He’s courageous, has good method and is enhancing tactically,” Kuntz stated.
Earlier this yr, Antonio’s focus was pulled away from soccer by a household emergency.
In January, the Campos household dwelling was one in all greater than 6,800 destroyed by the Palisades fireplace.
“We misplaced the whole lot. I couldn’t get something out,” stated Antonio, who nonetheless will get emotional whereas speaking about his household’s loss.
That day, he thought of going dwelling, however he determined to go to soccer coaching after receiving a message from a buddy. The change of plans stored him secure.
Antonio was accustomed to evacuations and didn’t fear concerning the close by fires. However after studying that his dwelling had burned down, the loss was each materials and emotional.
“My mother was devastated. It was her first dwelling on this nation,” stated Antonio, who highlighted his father’s power.
“What stunned me was seeing my dad laughing and joking the following day. I by no means noticed him cry. He set an instance for us.”
Among the many misplaced gadgets, Antonio regrets he couldn’t save a necklace that his uncle gave him earlier than he died.
“He supported me after I stop basketball. He informed me I used to be going to be an expert. It harm me to lose that,” Antonio stated.
Nevertheless, the hearth additionally introduced the household nearer collectively.
“Crucial factor for me was that my household was secure,” Antonio stated.
Now, the Campos household lives a number of miles from Antonio’s new college whereas Antonio works to create his personal story on the pitch — one which he hopes, like his father’s, can encourage others.
This text first appeared in Spanish through L.A. Occasions en Español.
