Submitted photos – Kalie Chittenden recently signed her letter of intent to play for College of the Redwoods.

By Ray Hamill — The Fortuna to College of the Redwoods connection is alive and well.

Huskies senior Kalie Chittenden recently became the latest athlete from The Friendly City to commit her future to the local community college and she did so precisely because of that connection.

While working out recently with CR men’s assistant coach Zac Claus, a former Huskies and CR standout, Chittenden caught the attention of CR women’s head coach Bree Northern.

“I was shooting with Zac — he was helping me with my shot — and the CR (women’s) coaches were there and they approached me and asked me if I wanted to watch the team practice,” Chittenden said. “And then they asked me if I wanted to play for them.”

Northern was immediately impressed with what she saw that day.

“Just watching her shoot, she has a really nice shot,” the first-year CR coach said. “We watched her play and we loved the intensity she played with. She never gave up.”

That approach to the game should benefit the Corsairs when Chittenden joins the team after graduation in 2025.

And the Fortuna senior, who likely will play shooting guard for the Corsairs, sees it as a perfect fit.

“I really wanted to stay here for a couple of years and get my general education,” said Chittenden, who wants to major in nursing. “And they talked to me about the program, and I know a lot of the girls on the team, and it’s really nice to be able to stay home and play.”

Fortuna head coach Tom Chapman believes Chittenden has the tools and drive to succeed at the next level.

“I am so proud of Kalie,” he said. “Her hard work, dedication and absolute love of the game drives her. She is a maximum effort player 100 percent of the time. Her work ethic and commitment will set her up for success at CR.”

That love of basketball has never been in doubt.

The multi-sport Chittenden also played soccer and runs track for the Huskies, but when asked if basketball is her favorite sport, she responded emphatically.

“One hundred percent,” she said. “I love everything about it. I love the competition. I love being able to play.”

With her future in the game now secured, Chittenden can focus on the rest of the high school season, and she believes it will be a good one for the Huskies, who are off to a 5-1 start as they get set to compete in this week’s Healdsburg tournament.

“We’re playing really good together,” she said of the team. “And we have a lot of good team chemistry. Everyone on the team is bonding really well.”

The Huskies will open conference play in the new year and Chittenden believes they can be a force in this year’s Big 5.

“I think we can compete for it for sure,” she said. “I love the team chemistry and we all have each others’ back. We all bring each other up.”

Chittenden says what she’ll remember the most from her time at Fortuna is the coaches, who have had a big impact on her development as a player.

But they’re not the only people who have influenced her on her journey.

“My biggest influences are probably my parents (Bridget and Travis),” she said.

As for what she expects when she begins her college career, Chittenden just wants to continue to develop as a player and help out in any way she can.

“I just want to excel,” she said. “I want to grow as a player and get better and I want to see CR succeed as a team.”