Successful on and off the field

For a lot of student athletes, doing the bare minimum to keep their G.P.A. high enough to play a sport is good enough for them. But, that doesn't cut it for the Citrus College baseball pitcher who is both successful in his academics and on the baseball field.

Playing baseball since he was eight years old, Scholar-Baller Nathan Rollon finds that his success on and off the field comes from a lot of planning ahead.

"[Balancing school, work and my G.P.A.] is all about timing and planning," Rollon said. "You have to make sure that you have a good schedule."

Rollon shows that good scheduling pays off because he has been maintaining a 3.3 G.P.A., playing the sport he loves, and managing the Glendora Learning Center.

"Nathan is extremely determined and has come a long way from when he started last year as a freshman," head coach Steve Gomez said. "He is an excellent student and what we like to call low maintenance."

After his two years at Citrus College, Rollon plans to transfer to University of La Verne after the summer and just in time for the new baseball season.

"It will be a lot harder [to maintain my good G.P.A. and sports] because the classes will be a lot harder," Rollon said. But he is definitely up for the challenge.

New challenges can be extremely difficult, but Rollon has the love and support of his parents, John and Lourdes Rollon, and his girlfriend, Tabitha Harrison.

"My family and friends will support me with whatever I choose to do," Rollon said. "Unless what I am doing is totally wrong."

Rollon isn't the only one in his family to play the sport that his dad was all about. His older brother Andrew, 24, and younger brother Braiden, 17, also played baseball throughout high school.

"Baseball is what my dad was all about when we were little," Rollon said. "He taught [me and my brothers] how to play when we were little. He taught us other sports too but baseball was the one that I was best at."

Every athlete has someone who they are  inspired by and for Rollon, his cousin Raul Perez is that inspiration.

"He played college ball and he did everything that I have done and I am really just trying to follow in his footsteps," Rollon said. "He passed away a few years ago."

No matter where life takes Rollon, coach Gomez is sure that with his determination and dedication, he will continue to succeed.

"[Rollon] is a hard worker and is always working with what he has," Gomez said. "If he continues with his hard work, he will definitely have the opportunity to play ball at a four-year school."