Following her father’s footsteps

If imitation is indeed the greatest form of flattery, then former Lion basketball player Tony Walker must have felt exalted when his daughter Arin Dear-Walker decided to follow his footsteps and become an LMU athlete.  Dear-Walker, who has decided to red-shirt during her freshman volleyball season, garnered All-League recognition in each of her three varsity seasons in high school, and also received Scholar-Athlete recognition in each of her seasons as well.

Because of these accomplishments, Dear-Walker was highly recruited, receiving interest from Troy University, Cal State Monterey Bay, Cal Poly Pomona, Vanguard University and Gardner-Webb.  In the end, however, she chose LMU, citing the fact that her father’s time as a Lion impacted her decision.

“My dad playing basketball here was a plus for me,” said Dear-Walker.  “I guess I was destined to be a Lion.”  The fact that her parents met while at LMU suggests that destiny did in fact play a major role.  Tony Walker and Rebecca Watkins met through a mutual friend at LMU, and dated for several years.  In a sense, this campus was Dear-Walker’s first home.

“Since the age of five years old, I can remember her walking on the LMU campus, attending all my basketball games, staying on campus and telling us that she was going to go to LMU when she got older,” said Walker.  “For all that to come true, it’s truly a blessing.”

Dear-Walker grew up on the LMU campus during a special athletic era.  Tony Walker, who was a WCC Honorable Mention in his senior season, played point guard for the Lions from 1989 to 1992, making him part of the 1989-90 team that went to the NCAA Elite Eight.  “It was a dynamic experience not only to attend a top academic university but play for a top program with Paul Westhead and teammates such as Bo Kimble and Hank Gathers,” said Walker.  “I truly had the best experience a student- athlete could have.”

The significance of having a father who played at the collegiate level is not lost of Arin.  In fact, at times, it adds a certain level of expectation that most athletes are not subjected to.  “There is some added pressure from having a parent that has already played at the college level,” said Dear-Walker.  “Sometimes I feel that people expect so much of me, just because they know who my father is.” 

While it may not have been an expectation, Walker certainly would have liked for his daughter to play basketball.  “I would have liked her to play because she had natural talent and was very athletic,” said Walker.  “I suggested playing basketball to Arin, but she wasn’t interested.”

Instead, Dear-Walker started playing volleyball at the age of fourteen at the recommendation of her mother.  “My dad always wanted me to play basketball, but my mother thought otherwise. She always thought it wasn’t a ‘girlie sport’,” said Dear-Walker.

Dear-Walker decided not to follow her dad in playing basketball.  Instead, she decided to take another path towards collegiate athletics – volleyball.  While the path may not be the same, it has led to the same destination as her father here at LMU.  There is no denying that Walker’s time as a Lion influenced his daughter to strive for her own success.  “I’ll never forget sitting in the stands with my mom, as the fans roared in spirit,” said Dear-Walker.  “Who wouldn’t want that same experience? I know I did.”