Paso Robles’ most famous athletes
Located midway between Los Angeles and San Francisco, California, Paso Robles is a small city that’s renowned for its wineries, rolling hills of the Santa Lucia mountains and for its community of laid back surfers and cowboys. The tucked-away city is frequented by big-city dwellers looking to escape the hustle and bustle and trade it in for the relaxed atmosphere and fantastic culture of Paso Robles.
Yet the city is also known for something else. The city also produces a mass of some of the USA’s finest athletes. From the great facilities available to the focus on sports and athletics in school, there’s something about Paso Robles that ends up producing Olympic athletes! Below we’ll take a look at some of the US’s best athletes to come from Paso Robles.
- Rusty Kuntz
Now aged 66, Rusty Kuntz is an American former Major League Baseball outfielder. Kuntz was born in Orange County, California, and later moved with his parents to Paso Robles where he attended Paso Robles High School. It was during this time that he played baseball, basketball and football. At the time, Kuntz said that baseball was his least favourite sport and basketball was his favourite due to the more favourable pace.
His major breakthrough came when he was drafted for the Chicago White Sox. At the rookie-level, Kuntz played 51 games with the team, before he was promoted to the Knoxville Sox. From here, he led a successful career, playing for the likes of the Minnesota Twins and the Detroit Tigers.
Kuntz retired from Major League baseball with 277 games played, a .236 career batting average, 5 home runs and 38 RBI.
- Josh Oliver
As one of the most notable alumni of Paso Robles High School, Josh Oliver is one of the city’s stars who was drafted to the NFL last year. He is currently playing for the Baltimore Ravens, one of the stronger teams in the NFL, they are fifth favorite to win the Super Bowl this season according to the football betting page at DraftKings. Oliver, who was the 69th overall pick by the Jacksonville Tigers, excelled as a multi-talented sports star throughout high school, having excelled at both football and basketball.
In his senior season, Oliver played defensive lineman and helped lead the Bearcats to the CIF Championship. Overall, he recorded 25 receptions for 453 yards and seven touchdowns during his junior and senior seasons.
In terms of basketball, Oliver played both offensive and defensive, where he played against other junior athletic stars including Quinton Adlesh. While Oliver led his team to victory and earned his team all-league honors, he pushed basketball aside at the end of high school when he signed a national letter of intent to play football at San Jose State College.
- Savannah Camacho
Savannah Camacho is from the 2012 class at Paso Robles High School and is today decorated as one of the most talented cross country and track stars on the west coast. In long-distance running, Camacho was known as the cross-country champion where she ran for the Eagles. She placed fifth at the 2011 California State Cross Country Championships.
In track and Field, Camacho is truly considered the best on the west coast. While playing with the Eagles, she became a three-time Division 4 champion in the 800 metres and a three-time runner up in the California State Championships. Camacho was also known for being a four-time champion in the Los Padres League for 800 and 1600 metres.
Today, Camacho is signed with Oklahoma State where she lives out her professional athletics career.
- Rob Berwick
Rob Berwick graduated with the 2014 class at Atascadero high school, in which he was one of the most decorated athletes of the decade. He played two sports; basketball and football, during his time at Atascadero, but astonishingly managed to earn seven varsity letters. Berwick played for four years on the varsity basketball team and as a quarterback for three seasons in football.
In his senior season with the Greyhounds, he scored 11 touchdowns, adding 349 yards and seven scores on the ground. Berwick received awards for being PAC 7’s most valuable player and also set the Hounds’ career record for passing touchdowns and yards, scoring 32 touchdowns and 4,450 yards in three years.
- John Seedborg
As a former American football guard and kicker in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins, John Seedborg is another celebrated athlete from Paso Robles. Now aged 75, Seedborg had a decorated career that started in high school; however, his major breakthrough was playing college football for Arizona State University.
Seedborg was drafted in the 19th round of the 1964 NFL draft, where he became a supercharged NFL player of his time. Today, Seedborg runs summer camps across the county, helping the next generation of young athletes to accomplish their dreams.
Overall, it’s astonishing that so many athletes can come from one city. Whether it’s something in the water or the talented staff and resources in the local high schools, there’s something going on in Paso Robles. But whatever is it, it needs to continue.
