WATSONVILLE, Calif. --- Biola Baseball has strong ties with Watsonville and Monte Vista Christian with five-year player Sam Thorne coming through the school. Now, it adds another Watsonville import in Jackson Collins, a first baseman.
 
Collins comes to the Eagles following four successful years with the Mustangs. He was a multi-sport athlete (baseball and football) at Monte Vista Christian and racked up a plethora of honors in both sports.
 
He earned Santa Cruz County Male Scholar Athlete of the Year and was also the county's Defensive Player of the Year as a linebacker on the Mustangs' football team. Collins earned all-league, all-county and all-section honors in both sports throughout his time at MVCHS.
 
"Jackson played three sports at Monte Vista and as a left handed hitter we feel he has a great opportunity to contend for at bats right away," said Head Coach Jay Sullenger. "Upon meeting Jackson's family and seeing him interact it was easy to see how he has great days ahead of him. I like the way he goes about his business and believe he is going to make other people better within our program. Caring for others is a big value on this team."
 
Collins is also extremely bright. He was a part of the National Honors Society and California Scholastic Federation throughout high school and earned the President's Academic Award. He was also a recipient of the ACSI Distinguished Award for Athletics and was actively involved in student leadership.
 
"I chose Biola for the sense of community," said Collins.
 
He will join Biola this fall and plans to study business administration.