Distinguished Alumnus Profile - Keola Calderon
April 02, 2009 | Softball
April 2, 2009
Keola Calderon was one of the first players ever to step foot on the University of Louisville softball diamond. Now, the former California native has found a home in the Bluegrass State.
Calderon, who played for the Cards from 2000-03, went back to school after spending a few years in the work force and received her nursing degree from JCC. She recently landed a job with University Hospital on their Bone Marrow Transplant Unit.
"It's very similar as to how I was recruited," Calderon said. "I had interviewed with other hospitals but U of L hospital was the most aggressive and most interested in me. I had to go with who wanted me the most and going to a facility that nurtured education was important to me as a brand new nurse."
Calderon said she made the decision to return to school because she had to. After reading a book titled "Do What You Are," she decided to pursue nursing.
"I was jumping job to job and found myself not satisfied with a career," Calderon said. "The book matched my personality with potential careers. I knew I wanted to get into health care I just didn't know in what. When I saw nursing as a possible career, a light bulb went off and I knew that's what I had to do.
On the field, Calderon stands as one of the best players in program history. A four-time all-conference team member who played outfield, first base, third base and designated player, she currently holds the school record for most career doubles with 53 and is second in RBIs with 140.
Sandy Pearsall, Louisville softball's head coach for the past decade, remembers why she recruited Calderon in the first place.
"Keola loved the game and always played with enthusiasm and desire. On the field, she could hit the ball well and I felt like she could be a big asset for our young team," Pearsall said. "We knew she would be a good player, but she surpassed even our expectations because she took every opportunity to work every day and become a better player. She never just showed up to go through the motions. She definitely worked hard and earned all of the honors she received."
Calderon was a member of the initial class of freshman and four-year senior class at U of L. She never missed a game for the Cardinals, and ended her playing days holding the school record for most games started and played.
Calderon said she has no idea how she was able to stay on the field so much.
"I had my share of sprained ankles and pulled muscles but I'm grateful that I didn't get anything worse than that," Calderon said. "I played with reckless abandonment and had so much fun doing it. I guess I was lucky."
"Keola had a durability and a dedication to stepping on the field everyday, she always came ready to play," said Pearsall. "I think it speaks for her determination and dedication to something she had her heart set on."
Calderon was the only Louisville player named to the C-USA All-Decade team in 2004. She described feeling "incredible" when finding out about the honor.
"I was very surprised to know that I was chosen for the team," Calderon said. "I remember C-USA being a fierce conference where every game was a huge battle. With those types of caliber players I didn't think I'd be part of that circle."
Now, Calderon does what she can with U of L softball, attending banquets, donating money and coming out for home games. She makes sure to introduce herself to all the players, especially those who wear her old No. 12 jersey.
"I pull them aside and tell them that they have big shoes to fill and to make that number proud," Calderon said. "It's all joking but I make them think of pride associated with wearing that jersey and number and to take it seriously and enthusiastically."
Most of all, Calderon is proud of how far the program has come since she was a player. When she was a member of the team, she helped the Cardinals build into one of the better teams in Conference USA, amassing 127 wins and always finishing in the first half of the league standings. Since that time, U of L has won three conference titles (one C-USA, two BIG EAST) and made five NCAA appearances. And she has been watching and supporting the program she helped build.
"I'm proud of how well the team has grown since I've been there," Calderon said. "It's gratifying to know that the teams after us have done so much better than we did."
In turn, Pearsall is proud of how Calderon has grown since coming to Louisville as a teenager.
"I think Keola has a lot of compassion for people and will be a tremendous asset to the nursing profession," Pearsall said. "She worked hard to put herself through school and approached her new career with a lot of passion and determination and I think we're all better off having someone with so much energy, compassion and dedication in the nursing field."
