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GHS ATHLETES OF THE YEAR-
Cole Rasmussen
Male Athlete of the Year
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Photo by Gwen Stevenson
Cole Rasmussen was presented the GHS Male Athlete of the Year award by varsity head football coach Warren Schroeder, one of his three coaches this season at last week’s Senior Awards.
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By Kerensa Uyeta-Buckley
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Cole Rasmussen pretty much grew up with a football in his hand.
“I’ve been playing sports for a pretty long time. I pretty much grew up with my dad throwing a football from the time I could walk,” Rasmussen said last Wednesday.
“I started playing T-ball around four,” said Rasmussen, whose father is Blake and mother is Jill.
Since then, Rasmussen has grown into a three-sport athlete at Galt High School, where he played baseball, basketball and football.
Through his years at Galt, he has developed into a leader on the field and court.
After playing through losing seasons at various times, Rasmussen remained intent on being a leader for his teammates.
“Cole was a tremendous leader who never lost heart and continued to inspire our team through even the toughest games,” Galt head coach Warrren Schroeder said.
“The other players looked to him for motivation and he gave every ounce of himself to inspire his teammates.”
As the Warriors’ starting quarterback during the 2007-08 football season, Rasmussen passed for 889 yards, led the team in rushing with 525 yards and led the team in scoring with 36 points.
As a defensive back and quarterback during the 2006-07 season, Rasmussen rushed for 122 yards and four touchdowns and passed for five touchdowns and 833 yards.
Although the Warriors have had tough times lately on the football field, Rasmussen was known for giving his all no matter what.
He credits his father and Schroeder with motivating him during both the highs and lows.
“He is the one that got me interested. The other is Warren Schroeder. He’s done a lot to inspire me and has helped me a lot through our football season, helped me grow as a person,” Rasmussen said, referring to his father first and then Schroeder as his role models.
“We had to use Cole’s running ability last year much more than we had done in his junior year. He did a great job of throwing and running the ball effectively and helping us establish some great offensive drives,” Schroeder said.
Now bound for the University of California, San Diego, Rasmussen most recently had the thrill of competing in Galt varsity baseball’s first playoff season in 15 years.
“The baseball season is awesome. I’m loving every minute of it,” Rasmussen said. “The coaches are great, they’re all new coaches coming in their first year and doing a great job.”
He has been a second baseman on the varsity baseball team from sophomore through senior years.
In his senior year, Rasmussen was second on the Warriors in stolen bases with 12 and was fifth on the team with 11 RBIs.
Rasmussen had 21 runs and 22 hits in 88 at-bats this season.
In his junior year, he had a .303 batting average, a .364 slugging percentage, and five stolen bases.
Rasmussen also had 20 hits and 20 runs in 66 at-bats.
As a sophomore, Rasmussen had 34 plate appearances in 15 games for the Warriors.
“I’m very happy for Cole, he’s well-deserving,” Galt varsity baseball head coach Joe Garcia said Tuesday. “He’s a hard working individual, very mature.”
It has been easy to stay active in all three sports.
“I’m a really competitive person. I love to just be out there, I’m very active,” Rasmussen said.
That competitiveness has spread to his brother and sisters, who are also active in sports.
Sydney, who is a junior at GHS, plays soccer and Allie is a gymnast.
“She puts in a lot of hours a week over at Lodi Gymnastics. My little brother, Clay, wants to participate in rodeo,” Rasmussen said of his siblings.
“Our whole family is very athletic and just from the very beginning, we’ve always been playing sports,” said Rasmussen.
Rasmussen is thinking of joining the U.C. San Diego baseball team once he arrives on campus, but is unsure of his major at the moment.
“I really want to excel in whatever I choose at U.C. San Diego. The other of course is to make the baseball team. I hope to walk on and play,” Rasmussen said.
Rasmussen was on varsity basketball his junior and senior years.
Rasmussen scored 141 points during the 2007-08 basketball season, averaging 6.1 points per game.
Rasmussen also had a 70 percent free throw percentage and made 13 three-point field goals as a senior.
During the 2006-07 basketball season, Rasmussen scored 81 points, averaged 2.2 rebounds per game, had 31 assists and 21 steals for the Warriors.
His impact on the court and on the field has been noticed by friends and coaches, and whether Rasmussen remembers his wins on the gridiron, the Warriors’ baseball playoff experience or multiple highlights over the years as part of the varsity basketball team, one thing is certain.
“I had a really fun time in high school, I wouldn’t change anything,” said Rasmussen.
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