Carlsen’s Calling Is Canoga Park

If his mother had her way, Kevin Carlsen would be a starting wide receiver at Crespi High.

But Debbie Carlsen’s way ended more than a year ago, when she granted the younger of her two sons his wish--to play football for Canoga Park.

Two years ago, after his freshman year, Kevin told his mother he wasn’t getting a fair shot on the baseball and football teams at Crespi and begged her to let him attend Canoga Park, where his older brother John graduated in 1994. After a year of cajoling, mom finally agreed.

“[I bugged her] every day, every single day, until she finally said, ‘I’ve had it with you. Fine, you go there. If you don’t like it there, tough,’ � he said.

Carlsen, now in his second season at Canoga Park, loves playing for Coach Rudy Lugo and the Hunters--and vice versa.

Carlsen has caught at least one touchdown pass in four of the Hunters’ five games and is among the area’s top City Section receivers with 27 catches for 390 yards and six touchdowns.)

Still, Canoga Park is an interesting choice considering the Carlsens live in Woodland Hills, just three blocks from El Camino Real High. The 6-foot-1, 175-pound senior also happens to be an effective right-handed pitcher. Given a choice, one would assume he would want to play for the Conquistadores, who were City Section 4-A Division baseball champions in 1993 and ’94.

But because pitcher Shaun Fishman is the ace at El Camino Real, Carlsen opted to go elsewhere.

“[At El Camino Real] baseball is all Shaun Fishman,� he said. “I’d always be No. 2. I’d rather be No. 1 here where I could show my stuff against the big teams.�

Carlsen did just that. His highlight last spring was a three-hit shutout against Poly, the eventual City runner-up.

But it’s on the football field where Carlsen is showing his stuff lately. College recruiters from Arizona State, Colorado, Arizona and Oregon are taking notice and leaving their calling cards. And the 4.4 40-yard dash he ran at the Colorado camp in June isn’t the only reason.

“He has great catching ability and a knack for getting open because he studies his defender,� Lugo said.

Obviously, Carlsen knows how to work the angles. But when it comes to his mother, he’s having a tough time selling his latest wish.

“I wanted to shave my head, but my mom wouldn’t let me,� he said.