Like mother, like daughter: Marin dynamic athletic duo
At 2 years old, Carly Amborn began to show signs of her immense athletic potential and focus. Her mother, Pam Nelson-Campbell, had enrolled her oldest son for karate lessons at a new studio in San Anselmo. Her daughter tagged along. “She was following along to all the karate moves,” Nelson-Campbell recalled. “And she could follow […]
At 2 years old, Carly Amborn began to show signs of her immense athletic potential and focus.
Her mother, Pam Nelson-Campbell, had enrolled her oldest son for karate lessons at a new studio in San Anselmo. Her daughter tagged along.
“She was following along to all the karate moves,” Nelson-Campbell recalled. “And she could follow the routine and she was only 2 years old.”
And so begins the intentional journey of Marin County’s top girls basketball player, whose mother just happens to be one of the county’s most successful women’s tennis players.
Darrell Nelson, the mother of Nelson-Campbell, remembers the time her own daughter was a toddler and revealed a bit of what was to come. Nelson couldn’t wait to show her father the girl’s new skills.
“I said ‘Dad, look at Pam — how she can catch a ball and she’s only 2 1/2’,” said Nelson, 79, of Ross. “I said look at how athletic she is and he said, ‘I don’t know how athletic she is but I can tell you one thing — she sure is focused.'”
Nelson’s father, Raymond Shones, played basketball at Cal, and her brother was on the Bears’ baseball team. Nelson-Campbell, who played one season for Marin Catholic, kept the ball rolling when she played tennis for the Bears, winning three Pac-10 doubles titles, reaching the conference singles finals three times and earning Academic All-American honors.
Although Amborn would have been a fifth-generation Cal Bear, the San Domenico junior accepted a scholarship to play basketball at rival Stanford last fall.
“It took my mom about a second to get over it and then she was totally fine,” says Amborn. “It’s always been my dream school growing up and going to their games. When I got my offer from Stanford it was a no-brainer for me. Family is really important to me and they’ve always gone to all my games. So now they get to keep going to my games.”
Family DNA
As Nelson says, athletic excellence is in the family’s DNA.
“Growing up, I always just assumed I would be a college athlete,” says Amborn. “I felt like that was the norm in our house. I didn’t even think it was that crazy at the time — that’s just what we do. And now it is what we do.”
Archie Williams graduate Cal Amborn, Carly’s older brother, is a relief pitcher for the University of San Francisco baseball team. Having an older brother and a mother who made sure her kids were active helped foster Amborn’s drive to play college basketball.
“I love sports — it’s what I do for fun,” says Nelson-Campbell, 48, who lives in Larkspur. “Whenever I have any free time I like to be active. My kids didn’t have much of a choice. They had to go along with that. Carly always liked to do lots of stuff.”
CYO boys basketball helped pave Amborn’s path to stand out at every level of the girls game. When Nelson-Campbell began coaching Cal’s fourth-grade team at St. Sebastian’s, Amborn was a wide-eyed first-grader.
“Carly always came to all his practices,” said Nelson-Campbell. “She just always joined in. She was always able to keep up with her older brother. I think that’s one of the reasons she got hooked on it so young.”
Amborn was so advanced that she played on the CYO boys teams. Due partially to COVID-19, she did not play on a girls team until her freshman year at Archie Williams. She transferred to San Domenico last fall and will play her final high school season for the private San Anselmo school next season before heading to Stanford.
“When you’re a parent, you kind of just want to see your kid happy,” said Nelson-Campbell. “You could always tell she was happiest playing basketball. I just love watching her play.”
Multi-sport approach
Amborn also has two younger brothers, so to carve out mother-daughter time they devised a three-sport routine. They’d start with soccer at Redwood High, then 30 minutes of tennis at Mt. Tam Racquet Club followed by 30 minutes of basketball at the small gym inside the club.
“That was our time together,” said Nelson-Campbell. “I had four kids.”
Amborn is a rare multi-sport athlete who has been named first-team MCAL in basketball, first-team Bay Counties League in basketball, the runner-up in the MCAL tennis singles tournament and BCL singles champ.
“Carly and I have always thought that playing other sports helps every other sport,” said Nelson-Campbell. “Playing tennis, because it is an individual sport, you learn different skills — and footwork — that translates well to the basketball court. That’s helped her become a better athlete.”
Amborn once envisioned playing basketball and tennis at Stanford and has the confidence to back up that ambition.
“I feel like if I had chosen tennis I could have played in college,” she says. “I’ve always been more drawn to basketball. While I loved playing tennis growing up, I like the team aspect of basketball. I think that’s why I liked it more.”
Family first
Even though she comes from a Cal lineage, Amborn’s family is super excited that she’s staying close to home to play at Stanford.
But don’t be surprised if Nelson tries to give new Stanford head coach Kate Paye a few tips. Nelson-Campbell’s CYO coaching staff always includes her dad and her mom, who is an amazing scout.
“She has a real knack for noticing people’s weaknesses or their strengths,” Nelson-Campbell said of her mom. “She’s always been able to help with strategy. Even now when I coach CYO teams she’ll watch the other team before the game and see who the players are that we need to put our best defenders.”
Amborn says her grandmother becomes an icon on every team she plays, and that everyone calls her Grammie.
“She travels with us to tournaments,” Amborn said. “Anyone who knows me knows Grammie because wherever I am she is. She’s always in the stands.”
When you see the gold necklace dangling from Nelson’s neck and a gold necklace that Nelson-Campbell wears and the one that Amborn sports, it’s evident that their link stretches beyond athletics. They’re best friends and they make sure to connect face-to-face every day.
“I love seeing the joy that Carly has in playing her sports,” says Nelson. “And I love seeing the joy in Pam’s face when she watches Carly playing sports.”
The same inspiration that led Nelson-Campbell to be an elite tennis player is now growing within Marin’s best girls basketball player and future star at one of the country’s most elite programs.
“My mom has pushed me and my siblings to be the best we can be in everything even though we might not be comfortable with it,” says Amborn. “She knows from experience what’s good for us. So even if we might not like it — she insists that we do things and we’re always happy we did.
“That’s the thing I’m most thankful for for her doing.”
Sports Daughter: Sydney Hubbard, Marin Catholic field hockey & lacrosse
Captain for Marin Catholic field hockey and lacrosse teams
First-team MCAL for field hockey
Second-team MCAL for lacrosse
Sportsmanship award for lacrosse and field hockey
Sports mom: Patty Hubbard
Marin Catholic field hockey coach
Played college field hockey at Providence College
Two Big East field hockey championships
Made NCAA field hockey quarterfinals
Enfield, CT Hall of Fame
Salute to Mom:
My mom has always been one of my biggest inspirations on and off the field. She has been my coach for basketball and field hockey from a young age and was my field hockey coach for my last high school season. She has always encouraged me to do my best in sports and beyond that. Something I have learned from her is to always put 100% of myself into whatever I do, whether during practices and games, my schoolwork, or service work in my community. I have watched her balance a job on top of being our head coach, and I always admire how she fully commits to all aspects of her life. She has been my biggest cheerleader and always shows up and supports whatever my goals are, something I will always be grateful for and hope to replicate in my own life.
Sports Daughter: Jordan Marotto, Redwood tennis
Led Redwood to MCAL team tennis titles in 2022 and 2023
2023 Redwood team won NCS and advanced to CIF NorCal tournament for the first time in 22 years
Won MCAL singles title in 2023 and named Player of the Year
Sports Mom: Dana Shapiro Marotto
One of the top singles tennis players in the North Bay
Played No. 1 singles for San Marin from 1983-86
Led San Marin to 1986 MCAL title
Magna cum laude at UCLA in Economics/Business and earned MBA from Harvard Business School
Salute to Mom:
Throughout the ups and downs of my athletic career, my mom has remained a constant. Even when I felt discouraged or encountered roadblocks on the court, my mom provided me with guidance and support, encouraging me to continue to play while also enjoying the game of tennis itself. Her lifelong love for the game has always encouraged me to pursue tennis and has served as a reminder that the challenges and successes that accompany the game of tennis can be uniquely accessed to improve myself both on and off the court. Without the “chauffeur” services that my mom provided on countless early Saturday mornings to tournaments, the hundreds of perfectly wrapped white re-grips, and the sacrifices that she has made for me and my tennis journey, I truly would not be the tennis player and person that I am today.
Sports Daughter: Natalia Clifford, Tam volleyball
First-team MCAL in 2023
Team captain as a junior in 2023
Led team to first NCS championship in 2023
Second-team MCAL in 2022
Scholar Athlete Award in 2021 & 2022
Sports Mom: Justine Lesch Clifford
Led Grossmont College in El Cajon to two California State Community College team championships, going 20-1 in singles and 16-1 in doubles
Won singles and doubles in the Community College Invitational Tennis Tournament
Named Academic All-American at UC Riverside
Inspired by her dad, pro tennis player John Lesch, who appeared in five U.S. Opens and two Wimbledons after earning All-American honors at UCLA
Salute to Mom:
My mom is someone that I look up to as a role model, leader and as a person. She has always given me endless support and motivation that has inspired me to become the best version of myself, both on and off the court. Her continuous hard work and passionate self help me strive to reach my goals, as she has always been an amazing influence for me. No matter the situation she is there to celebrate my success or give me advice. Having my mom as one of my biggest supporters is a really important aspect of my success because I can always count on her to be there for me.
Sports Daughter: Jessica Woodall-Massey, San Rafael volleyball coach, 3-sport athlete at Marin Catholic
Played volleyball and basketball at Dominican University
Lettered in volleyball, basketball and track at Marin Catholic
Helped MC volleyball team make its first trip to NorCal championship bracket
Part of NCS championship teams in volleyball, basketball and track
Sports Mom: Susie Woodall
MCAL commissioner
Marin Catholic teacher for 44 years
Marin Catholic girls volleyball coach for 27 years; boys coach for 16 years.
Three-sport athlete in high school
Salute to Mom:
“My mom has been an incredible gift and has shaped me in ways I can’t even fully express. She not only broke the glass ceiling in women in sports in California, but she has embodied hard work, integrity and leadership. She always encouraged me to be the best version of myself and to leave no doubt in anyone’s mind that I deserved a seat at the table. Growing up in a household with two high-level coaches/educators instilled a deep sense of responsibility and purpose. My mom has taught me that giving back is non-negotiable and that helping others is how you do life. Beyond her remarkable achievements and life lessons through sports/career, she built a home filled with love, support and endless amounts of fun. Every day of my life I know that I have her unwavering care and support. I am beyond grateful to her each day.”
Sports Daughter: Kylie Horstmeyer, Redwood and University of San Diego basketball
2020 MCAL Player of the Year for basketball, first-team in 2019
West Coast Conference All-Academic team
Earning Degree in International Relations at USD
Sports Mom: Caren Choppelas Horstmeyer
Inducted into West Coast Conference Hall of Fame as a basketball player and coach
Women’s basketball coach at Santa Clara University and Cal
2004 Pac-10 Coach of the Year at Cal
Member of the Marin County Hall of Fame
1980 Redwood grad named to 10 All-MCAL teams (four each in basketball and soccer and two in softball)
Successful real estate agent
Salute to Mom:
My mom has been instrumental in my journey as an athlete. She’s instilled in me the values of hard work and goal-setting. In times of adversity, she’s emphasized the importance of perseverance. She has also taught me to be kind and empathetic towards others through her ability to get along with everyone. The sacrifices she has had to make to drive me to practice, help me get better, and listen to my rants will never go unnoticed. Above all, she has never stopped believing in me and continues supporting me through every step of my journey. Her influence has been pivotal in shaping my personal growth and success as a student-athlete. I am so grateful to be her daughter and can’t express enough gratitude for all she’s done for me.