Kristen Campo

        Meet Kristen!  Kristen is a life-long softball player from Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, and currently residing in Wall Township.  Kristen currently works at L’Oreal in brand finance, a role that frequently has her going back and forth to New York City.

        Kristen started on her athletic journey in recreational soccer, basketball, and softball. Yet, it didn’t take long for her to discover that softball held a special place in her heart. Her passion for the sport flourished through both travel softball and her high school varsity years at Hunterdon Central Regional High School.

        Kristen’s academic pursuits led her to The College of New Jersey, where she studied International Business with a minor in Spanish. At TCNJ, Kristen was also part of the Division III Softball Team as a shortstop. She emerged as a key contributor, ranking among team leaders with a .327 batting average and helping her team get to the NCAA Regional Tournament twice. Beyond athletics, she balanced her commitments by being an active member of Delta Sigma Pi, a co-ed professional business fraternity.

        Post-college, Kristen’s devotion to softball didn’t waiver. She seamlessly integrated fitness into her routine, and currently participates in Crossfit classes at Fitness By The Sea in Avon, NJ. Her love for the game continued as she joined a co-ed softball league alongside her husband, Mark, and occasionally plays in women’s tournaments. Kristen’s love for fitness goes beyond the softball diamond, and running has also become a passion of hers.   Kristen has completed three half marathons, numerous 10k’s, 5-mile runs, and local 5k’s.

        Kristen’s commitment to softball and her passion for fitness is an example of a dedicated athlete whose love for the game transcends the boundaries of youth and collegiate sports. Let’s read more about Kristen!

Q: What sports did you play growing up?

        Growing up I mainly played softball. I started out playing recreation softball until I joined my first travel softball team at age 10. I continued playing travel as I got older and went on to play in high school and college. I also played recreation soccer and basketball when I was younger, but softball was truly my passion.

Q:Was there anything that made you hesitant about starting your sport(s)?

        I don’t recall being hesitant about starting softball mainly because of my dad’s influence. He played baseball his entire childhood and transitioned to playing slowpitch softball as an adult. I had many fond memories of attending his softball games as a kid. Fun fact – my dad’s softball number was 24 so when it came time for me to choose a jersey number on my first travel softball team, I chose #12 since I was “half” of my dad. I continued wearing the number throughout my softball career, even in college!

Q: What female athletes (or any athletes) did you look up to?

        Growing up I looked up to Jennie Finch. She was an extremely talented player at Arizona and went on to pitch for Team USA in the Olympics. I admire Jennie because she became the face of softball and brought so much respect to the game. I was even lucky enough to meet her multiple times after my collegiate career. She hosts an annual coaching clinic in the town I grew up in, and I was asked to be a volunteer. Hearing her speak about her career in person was an incredible moment for me.

Q: What is your favorite memory associated with sports?

     It’s so difficult to chose just one memory over the years. One of my favorites was the annual spring break tournament trips we would take down to Florida when I was at TCNJ. For an entire week we were 100% focused on softball – no classes, no parties, no distractions. We spent time bonding as a team and would even take day trips to Disney World or Universal. It was always my favorite way to start off the season.

Q: How has playing sports helped shape your life?

    Playing sports has shaped me into the person I am today. Sports teach you that not everything in life is fair – sometimes you win, and sometimes you lose. Not only did sports teach me how to be a good teammate, but also how to be coachable. These are both attributes that I carried into my professional work life. Sports also brought me true friendship. My former softball teammates from high school and college are still some of my best friends to this day.

Q: What advice would you give to young girls who are just starting off in sports?

         My advice would be to have fun and enjoy it! I remember countless weekends growing up when my friends would invite me to events, but I always said: “sorry I can’t, I have softball”. At the time I felt like I was missing out. Those long tournament weekends were some of the most fun I had throughout my childhood. Now as an adult, I make the active decision to participate in softball because I miss those days when it was such a huge part of my life.