This feature originally appeared in the 2022 Fall edition of the Cal Sports Quarterly. The Cal Athletics flagship magazine features long-form sports journalism at its finest and provides in-depth coverage of the scholar-athlete experience in Berkeley. Printed copies are mailed four times a year to Bear Backers who give annually at the Bear Club level (currently $600 or more). For more information on how you can receive a printed version of the Cal Sports Quarterly at home, send an email to CalAthleticsFund@berkeley.edu or call (510) 642-2427.



It was third and a long 2 for USC at the Cal 42-yard line in the season finale last December at FTX Field At California Memorial Stadium. The Bears were leading 10-7 with 4:06 to go in the second quarter when Trojan quarterback Jaxson Dart handed the ball off to running back Darwin Barlow.

Barlow hit a hole in the line, but was soon met by a form tackle and a helmet on the ball from Cal safety Elijah Hicks. The ball popped out of Barlow's grasp and bounced along the turf toward linebacker Trey Paster, who scooped it up and scampered 55 yards down the sideline for a touchdown. That gave the Bears a 10-point lead on the way to a 24-14 win over their rivals to the south.

Paster is from Merced, and is lucky to have his family within driving distance from Berkeley. Trey's father, Jay, is the nominated "coach" of Cal's parents' group in the stands on Saturdays in Strawberry Canyon. He motivates and gets the parents going during the games, while spending a lot of the time with his back to the field.

"One of the parents said, 'turn around and look right now,' and I turned around just in time to see Trey pick up the ball and run," Jay Paster said. "That was awesome because it's something you don't get to see linebackers do that much. Trey knows that playing time comes and goes so every time he gets the opportunity to step on the field he tries to take advantage of it."

For Trey, scoring touchdowns and making tackles are important, but they are all just a part of his seven pillars. He strives to be a part of something bigger in his life, helping both the community where he came from and Bay Area communities during his time at Cal.

Trey started the Seven Pillars Foundation, an initiative to inspire and teach others about the traits that could be carried and applied through all aspects of life. The foundation was made to help people of all different communities, students, student-athletes and anyone with the desire to achieve higher goals and be successful in their lives.

The seven pillars include vision, goals, dedication, patience, consistency, perseverance and attitude. Trey and his family believe these attributes demonstrate the character that is necessary for daily activities and can be applied through all aspects of life.

"Ever since I was a little kid my parents kept me in line and started instilling these beliefs in my everyday life," Paster said. "My mom (Marcie) is a teacher in Merced and my dad works in the juvenile system, so in a way I was born into it. Every Thanksgiving we were helping pass out food, every Christmas we helped hand out presents. We helped clean up areas of the city.  I remember doing that back when I was 7 or 8 years old."  

Trey grew up in Merced playing several different sports, including baseball, track and football. He also has always had a passion for helping others. At the same time, he says growing up in the Central Valley comes with perceived obstacles to overcome.

"There is a lot of talent in Merced that's not seen, and not just athletes, but artists, singers and others," Trey said. "We have to get past a stigma of 'oh, you're from Merced -  you aren't going anywhere, you can't do anything'. It's really important to me to help people and kids from my hometown get past that."

Part of the Seven Pillars Foundation and Paster's desire to help includes a football camp and community day he hosts in Merced. The camp, which started last July, was put together by Trey with the vision of showing kids from Merced that it's possible to do something with your life, and that a lot of locals were playing college football. Paster was joined by 15 other current college football players with connections to the Central Valley for the four-hour camp, which featured two hours in the morning for middle school athletes and two hours in the afternoon for high school athletes, all with a variety of drills led by the college players.

"We had about 70 middle schoolers and around 60 or 70 high schoolers come to the camp," Paster said. "As part of it also being a community day, I had doctors, authors, physical therapists and others on hand to speak with the kids. Our key and goals were to show them that if you apply these seven pillars and dedicate yourself that you can overcome this stigma and do whatever you want in life."

Trey's dedication to youth and community service also extends to another sport dating back to his childhood – he has spent time helping with the Junior Giants organization of young baseball players. Paster has spoken to classrooms and youth groups in the Bay Area as well.

"Trey is somebody who has chosen to lead by example with the work and values he has while being deeply rooted and committed to community," said Jessie Stewart, Cal's Director of Community Engagement & Strategic Partnerships for the Cameron Institute. "When I met with Trey I was really struck by his bold vision for Seven Pillars, but also his deep roots within his community and his commitment to giving back and paying it forward to the young people of Merced. He's using sports as a vehicle for positive impact and the framework he has built will resonate and make an impact not only in Merced, but across a broad spectrum."

One of the most important things to Trey with the platform he has as a college football player is making an impact on as many people as he possibly can while he's in a position to do so. Since graduating early from Buhach Colony High School, Trey has hit the ground running in all aspects with the Golden Bears, and is Cal's 2022 nominee for the prestigious Allstate AFCA Good Works Team for his work with the youth in Merced and the Bay Area.

While Jay and Marcie are proud of what their son has accomplished on the field in his two years in Berkeley, they are even more excited about the way Trey has continued evolving as a person and how he is following his passions that were instilled upon him as a child.

"He really has the community piece in his heart with sincere love for his city and wants to give back in any way that he can," Jay said. "There are so many things he's put together and participates in off the field and that's where myself and his mom are so proud of him with. It's not just about the cleats, but it's about putting on the work boots and doing things to give back to your community, and he's taken that to heart."