Fullerton soccer's Antonio Campos, son of star Jorge Campos, leans on family after fire

Los Angeles Times

2 days ago

Antonio Campos carries the blood of his legendary father, former Galaxy and Mexican national team goalkeeper Jorge Campos. Perhaps more important, he carries his family's resilience after they worked to recover from the loss of their home in the Palisades fire.
During Antonio Campos' first season with the Cal State Fullerton soccer team, he seeks to write his own story and help his team win.
'Just being in college is a success. I feel blessed,' said Antonio, who is studying business while fighting for minutes as a Division I goalkeeper.
He was born in Los Angeles and grew up in the Pacific Palisades area, the second son of Jorge Campos and Canadian Marcy Raston. His sisters chose to focus on volleyball: Andrea, the eldest, recently signed with a professional club in France after a successful college career. Antonio, on the other hand, was torn between basketball and soccer. At Loyola High, he played point guard, although his height, at 6 feet, limited his minutes.
'Michael Jordan inspired me to play several sports,' said Antonio, who also played baseball and volleyball.
Training sessions with his father during the COVID-19 pandemic led Antonio to eventually focus on soccer and the goalkeeper position.
'With my dad, everything is intense. Lots of training on the beach, reflexes, technique, cutting crosses. Things he did better than anyone else,' said Antonio, who does not shy away from his surname but does not want it to define him.
'I don't feel pressure. I prefer to teach the values my father instilled in me,' Antonio said.
He is part of the first generation in his family to attend college in the U.S. and he knows that his path extends beyond soccer.
In Mexico, Antonio also didn't feel he had much of a future, as his own father, Jorge, criticized goalkeeper trainers in that country last year.
'It's incredible that after 30 years, 40 years, we don't have a modern goalkeeper, of that style, like Manuel Neuer, Ter Stegen,' Jorge said in a recent interview with ESPN.
Antonio was drawn to Cal State Fullerton as more than just a place to improve his soccer skills. The team's philosophy, focused on service, ambition and personal development, resonated with him and his family.
'We emphasize being good people. If you go far, you'll be better socially and culturally,' explained George Kuntz, the Titans' veteran coach.
Antonio had had doubts about playing college soccer.
'I didn't want to play at the university level because first-year goalkeepers hardly ever play,' he said.
However, he was assured that everyone would have real opportunities if they earned them through training.
Between the posts, he will have to fight for minutes against quality teammates Eoin Kennedy, Asger Hemmer and Emanuel Padilla. Fullerton opens the regular season on Thursday at Oral Roberts in Tulsa, Okla.
'I want to play, yes, but I also want my teammates to improve. It's not just about me,' Antonio said.
In 2024, the Titans stood out for their offensive prowess, but they also ranked among the worst teams in the country in goals conceded. That's why Fullerton reinforced its defense with four goalkeepers on the roster. Antonio is emerging as one of the promising players, with an athletic profile and an ambitious personality that has impressed the coaching staff.
'He's brave, has good technique and is improving tactically,' Kuntz said.
Earlier this year, Antonio's focus was pulled away from soccer by a family emergency.
In January, the Campos family home was one of more than 6,800 destroyed by the Palisades fire.
'We lost everything. I couldn't get anything out,' said Antonio, who still gets emotional while talking about his family's loss.
That day, he thought about going home, but he decided to go to soccer training after receiving a message from a friend. The change of plans kept him safe.
Antonio was accustomed to evacuations and didn't worry about the nearby fires. But after learning that his home had burned down, the loss was both material and emotional.
'My mom was devastated. It was her first home in this country,' said Antonio, who highlighted his father's strength.
'What surprised me was seeing my dad laughing and joking the next day. I never saw him cry. He set an example for us.'
Among the lost items, Antonio regrets he could not save a necklace that his uncle gave him before he died.
'He supported me when I quit basketball. He told me I was going to be a professional. It hurt me to lose that,' Antonio said.
However, the fire also brought the family closer together.
'The most important thing for me was that my family was safe,' Antonio said.
Now, the Campos family lives a few miles from Antonio's new university while Antonio works to create his own story on the pitch — one that he hopes, like his father's, can inspire others.
This article first appeared in Spanish via L.A. Times en Español.