5 Super Athletes With Ties To Oceanside-Camp Pendleton

Sports have a way of teaching invaluable life lessons — building character, fostering teamwork and strengthening the bonds within a community. In the Oceanside-Camp Pendleton area, these values have shaped some truly remarkable athletes from different eras, whose accomplishments continue to inspire.

Patch has teamed up with T-Mobile to spotlight five standout athletes whose achievements have left a lasting mark on our community. While this list is just a snapshot, there are countless others who have helped shape the rich sports culture in our area.

1. Junior Seau (Football)

A legendary linebacker in the NFL, Seau played for teams like the San Diego Chargers, Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots. He grew up in Oceanside and attended Oceanside High School, where his talent for football began to shine. Seau is remembered not just for his athletic prowess but also for his contributions to the community.

2. Caity Simmers (Surfing)

Caity Simmers, an Oceanside native, has established herself as a superstar in the world of surfing, earning the 2023 WSL Championship Tour Rookie of the Year title. With major victories, including winning the US Open of Surfing at just 15, she continues to dominate the sport, taking on the world's best with confidence and skill. Outside of surfing, Caity is a talented skateboarder, dancer and filmmaker, highlighting her diverse talents both in and out of the water.

3. Isabel Ortiz (Track and Field)

Born and raised in Oceanside, Isabel Ortiz has excelled as a sprinter at Cal State San Marcos, earning All-CCAA third-team honors in 2023 and setting one of the program’s fastest 100-meter dash times. A graduate of El Camino High School, she was a team captain and key contributor to a CIF SDS Division I League Championship. Now majoring in Biology, Ortiz continues to shine on and off the track while staying connected to her hometown roots.

4. Willie Buchanon (Football)

Willie Buchanon, a 1968 graduate of Oceanside High School, made a name for himself both on the football field and in his community. After earning All-American honors at San Diego State, he played as a defensive back for the Green Bay Packers and San Diego Chargers, later being inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame and the San Diego Hall of Champions. In addition to his successful sports career, Buchanon founded the Health Awareness Foundation and now runs his real estate business, Buchanon and Associates, in Oceanside.

5. Ruby Lilley (Skateboarding)

Ruby Lilley, a world-ranked skateboarder, moved to Oceanside, California, in 2018 to train and compete at the highest level. Since then, she has earned a spot on Team USA for the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics and is currently ranked No. 14 globally and third in the U.S. Lilley has marked several accomplishments in the sport, including second-place finishes at the 2023 X Games in Japan and the Red Bull Bowl Rippers in France, and she is driven to inspire young girls to take up skateboarding.

This content is brought to our community in partnership with T-Mobile.