Calel, a senior running back from the Bronx, NY, was born with congenital deafness. In addition to the constant change of his father’s military service, his journey has been shaped by the challenge of adapting to both the hearing and deaf worlds.

As a child, he navigated through public schools and special education programs and eventually enrolled in the California School for the Deaf in Fremont, where he began embracing his identity as a deaf individual and an elite athlete. However, Calel’s transition to college was anything but smooth.

The COVID-19 pandemic eliminated his opportunity for a Division I scholarship offer, which led him to accept a spot on the City College of San Francisco football team. He made an instant impact, returning his first kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown. However, during the fifth game of the season, he suffered a shoulder injury that required surgery and prematurely ended his season. His play earned him the opportunity to transfer to the University of Redlands Bulldogs within the Division 3 Southern California Intercollegiate Athletics Conference (SCIAC).

In his first two seasons, the 5-foot-9-inch 234-pound tailback played in just 13 games due to a rib fracture and meniscus tear, rushing for 361 yards. This past season, he nearly matched his production for the previous two seasons. Becoming a starter, he played in all 10 games, rushing for 315 yards, good for seventh in the conference, and scoring three touchdowns. As an international studies major, he was recognized as an Academic All-District.

What makes Calel’s story remarkable is not just his perseverance, but his courage to reach out for support and find strength in his faith and community. Isolated at times on a hearing college campus, Calel leaned into his spirituality and support systems, attending Bible study and engaging in one-on-one American Sign Language, tutoring and advocacy work. He made it his mission to build bridges between hearing and deaf communities, encouraging understanding through education and connection.

“It’s important to have the right mindset and take initiative,” said Calel. “Whatever opportunities present themselves, take them. You will go further and get closer to reaching your goals.”

As a graduate student majoring in business law and an outside hitter for the women’s volleyball team, Alexa completed her career as one of the most decorated athletes in program history, despite suffering a profound personal loss.

On May 12, 2024, Alexa lost her mother, Cathy Lumb-Edwards—a former Pacific volleyball standout and NCAA championship-winning coach—after a long and courageous battle with cancer.

As she stepped into her final season, bearing the weight of her grief and the legacy of a legend, Alexa played in memory of her mother. Alexa led the West Coast Conference (WCC) in kills, became both Pacific’s and the WCC’s all-time rally-scoring era kills leader, and earned 2024 WCC Player of the Year honors. Beyond the accolades, her journey was marked by quiet bravery and emotional endurance.

Navigating the mental toll of such a personal loss while continuing to lead her team required Alexa to lean deeply into her support system—teammates, coaches, and friends who became her second family. She learned to honor her pain without letting it define her, turning moments of heartbreak into fuel on the court. Her mother’s words—passion and purpose—became daily mantras, guiding her play and her path forward.

Alexa’s story is a testament to the transformative power of mental resilience. In honoring her mother’s legacy, she became a symbol of hope and strength—not just for her team, but for any student-athlete facing grief, loss, or adversity. Through vulnerability, courage, and community, Alexa has shown that healing and greatness can coexist, and that mental wellness is a journey worth fighting for.

“I miss my mom every day, but at the same time, I just step on the court trying to honor her in the best way I can. She was big on two things I carry with me when I play—passion and purpose,” Edwards said.