Justin Tam, Senior, Football

Justin is a senior in high school, and has played football for all four years during his time here at CdM. Unfortunately, the football was unable to make the CIF playoffs after last years great run to the semifinals. Tam plans to play football in college, most likely in a division three school. During his years here, he played as a wide receiver, outside linebacker, and a defensive back.

Sebastien Welch, Senior, Cross Country

Sebastien has been running for four years. This year Sebastien and his team are back in CIF finals, with the meet to take plce on Saturday. His running career started Freshman year in high school. He plans to continue his running in college. When asked where he would go to college, he stated, “probably somewhere on the east coast.”

Michael Liao, Senior, Water Polo

Michael is currently helping his team to the CIF title, with Newport Harbor in the way of the final game. Michael has played water polo since he was 11, and plans to continue to play water polo in college, most likely on the east coast. Michael’s position in water polo is driver, and he plays on the ½ side.

Our junior varsity football team was unstoppable against San Juan Hills on Thursday, November 5. About halfway through the first quarter, San Juan Hills got their first—and only—touchdown. Throughout the rest of the quarter, CdM inched their way towards the end zone, finally claiming a prized touchdown with 45 seconds left. With a good field goal, the score became 7-6, CdM.

The second quarter held many great plays. In the very beginning, Erik Fisher ran 20 yards, tackled right in front of the end zone. After, Mitch Gardner dodged several players before throwing a long, but incomplete, pass to Cole Cottrell. Finally, CdM scored yet again. The quarter ended at 14-6.

The third quarter was not as excitingly eventful, until we scored with just 42 seconds left. CdM did not stop in the fourth quarter, getting yet another incredible seven points. With another last field goal, the game ended with a victorious score of 31-6. If they win their last game on November 12, the junior varsity team will have achieved a perfect season. Go and support our Sea Kings!

“I can’t believe we’re still undefeated,” said Prestan Risser, who recently suffered a torn NCL ligament. “Even though I couldn’t play this game,” he added with a smile.

CdM’s very own junior varsity football team took on University last Friday in their third league game. CdM started out slow, only scoring two points in the first half against University High school. But, the score quickly changed as CdM put up another 28 points to beat the Trojans 30-0.

Corona del Mar’s defense was once again shutdown against University, allowing only a few first downs and only a few good runs. As for the offense, once the ball was put into the red zone, it would stop and University would quickly gain possession.

“It was really frustrating. We would drive it all the way down the field, but we could never score,” stated junior Brian Smith. This would all change for CdM as they entered the second half with the ball. On their second possession, Corona drove the ball 65 yards down the field, with the drive resulting in a touchdown pass to sophomore Matt English. With another quick stop for the CdM defense, the offense got the ball back on University’s 30 yard line. In two plays, both being the same, Erik Fisher ran the ball for another CdM touchdown.

Kevin Kitzens would quickly add to the CdM score as he also ran the ball into the endzone against the dwindling University defense. CdM’s offense had finally found its groove, scoring 21 points in the third and fourth quarter. As the final minutes on the clock counted down, the CdM defense took the field against University on the 40 yard line. As soon as University got the ball, they gave it up. A pass over the middle was intercepted by linebacker Jack Kanen who ran it back for thirty yards before fumbling. Luckily, the ball was recovered by corner Kyle Sherburne who ran the ball for another six points. Kicker Grant Garret put up the kick to make the final score of the game 30-0.

Friday night at Newport Harbor our varsity football team took on University. University gained the first touchdown of the game in the first quarter. CdM held them there until the very end of the second quarter when University scored once more.

At half time, Orchesis performed a dance in the spirit of Halloween. The girls captured the audience with their wild hair, torn clothing, and dramatic moves.

“My favorite part of performing at half time was getting to support the varsity football team with our Halloween dance,” said freshmen dancer Kristen Risser, “It was fun getting really into it with the costumes, music, and crowd. I can’t wait until next time!”

Defying previous assumptions, about seven minutes into the third quarter, CdM’s Matt English obtained University’s fumble at the 20-yard line. With this turnover, CdM scored their first touchdown with four minutes and 30 seconds left in the quarter. With only two minutes to go, University got another touchdown. However, it was nullified by a penalty on the 35-yard line.

When asked about his favorite aspect about attending football games, senior Hugh Russel replied, “Matt English.”

The fourth quarter was a slow one, neither team making a dent in the score. The game ended with a final score of 6-17, University.

With a score of 13-6, the Corona del Mar junior varsity remain undefeated and set themselves up for a second league championship in two years. CdM has played well this year, keeping opponents to less than ten points a game this season. The highlight of the season for the JV team was beating Newport Harbor 7-0 in a close win.

Last week on Friday, CdM took on Irvine, a very well coached team with some talent. “Their running backs on both the varsity and junior varsity levels are very good and it takes about two to three people to tackle them,” said junior Aaron Vasquez.

The CdM defense has been playing very well the entire season, especially against Irvine, allowing no touchdowns, and only two field goals. Irvine struck first against CdM, kicking a 30 yard field goal to go ahead 3-0. Irvine followed in Corona’s footsteps by playing good defense while CdM had the ball. On CdM’s second possession, sophomore Grant Garret kicked a 25 yard field goal to tie up the game. Irvine would get the lead with another field goal, until CdM’s Grant Garret put away yet another 35 yard field goal to tie up the game yet again.

Entering the third quarter tied, CdM came out fired up, ready to take the lead. With the ball on the 40 yard line, CdM marched down the field to the 20 yard line. With Erik Fisher in the backfield, CdM called the same play twice, a counter to the left, to score and go ahead 13-6. The defense stayed strong as they held Irvine for yet another half, this time not allowing them to score at all.

On Thursday at the Varsity football game, two important fights took place. The first: our Sea Kings went up against Irvine in a strong effort. About one hundred CdM fans came to support our team, along with the new Cheer and Song group. The Cheer and Song group’s countless hours of practice paid off, getting all the supporting families on their feet. Unfortunately, Irvine took home the win with a score of 26-0, but we had never given up. In the third quarter, our adamant players pushed Irvine back 30 yards.

The second fight was held for a greater cause—Breast Cancer Awareness. Instead of running through the usual CdM banner at the end of half time, our players went through a sign that read “Kings for the Cure.” CdM made an impression on the entire stadium with this incredible display of leadership.

On Thursday, our freshmen Sea Kings went at it head-to-head against the Laguna Hills Hawks. The game began slowly, with no touchdowns in the first quarter. However, Laguna Hills claimed the first touchdown at the beginning of the second, intensifying the pressure on our players and, in turn, their motivation.

“I knew we would have to try even harder if we were going to win,” said player Brett Nelson. 

With this renewed incentive, CdM’s determination strengthened. Events turned around when a Laguna Hills player fumbled CdM’s kickoff at the beginning of the third quarter. Nick Hanna obtained the ball and ran our first touchdown. A tied game.

Hanna said, “I felt really good helping my team.”

From there, the Hawks scored three more touchdowns—two in the third quarter, and on at the beginning of the fourth. The score became 7-21, Hawks.

With only fifteen minutes remaining, our Sea Kings did not give up. Kai Wilson gained two more touchdowns. Now CdM was just one touchdown short of victory. With only 58 seconds on the clock, Wilson scored yet again and our players were blown away by their own comeback. Another win for our freshmen team ended with a score of 25-21.

After getting shutout the night before on the varsity level, the CdM Jv team of 24 players traveled to Laguna Hills to get revenge. When the kings left CdM, it was about 75 degrees, the ideal temperature to play in for any sport. But, when the kings arrived at Laguna Hills high school, it was a scorching 88 degrees. The game began with a kickoff return for CdM, after captains Preston Risser and Mitch Gardner won the toss.

The Kings opened up with a long drive, with big plays from Erik Fisher. Fisher took the ball overtime from the 25 yard line all the way down to the 5 yard line, where the kings were stopped, due to a bad snap. The defense, however, would shutdown the Laguna Hills offense for two quarters. The defense allowed only a few first downs, and stuffed the inside run, forcing Laguna Hills to try and throw the ball. Defensive backs Fraiser Anderson and Kyle Sherburne both provided lockdown protection on the wide receivers, while Aaron Vasquez, Andre Busto, and Braden Granard provided pressure on the quarterback.

CdM scored in their third possession, late in the first quarter. On the ten yard line, quarterback Mitch Gardner handed the ball off to running back Erik Fisher, who bounced it outside and past the secondary protection for a Sea Kings touchdown.

The Hawks made their score late in the third quarter, with a pass for 15 yards into the back of the end zone. The Laguna Hills had good field position against the Sea Kings, which allowed them to drive into the end zone with a quick couple of plays. Despite the score, the defense remained at the top of their game, shutting down the Hawks for the rest of the game. The offense had big mistakes to which the Hawks defense capitalized on. Snaps were off and blitzes by the defense caused sacks and rushed the quarterback.

Players of the game for CdM were Frasier Anderson and Josh Giger. CdM enters their second league game against Irvine on Friday with a 5-0-1 record. The game is on Friday, at Irvine. Go Sea Kings!

At the game against Magnolia on October 1, 2009, CdM’s freshman football team started off strong and didn’t waver through the duration of the game. Within the first three minutes, Kai Wilson claimed the first touchdown. Wilson took the ball for a 35-yard run and set up 1^st and goal at the five-yard line, then running the remaining yards to score.

He said, “When I score a touchdown, an unimaginable happiness comes over me.”

With this excitement in mind, Wilson went for another touchdown, but got tripped in the red zone. However, his teammate completed the run for the second touchdown. Only 28 seconds left on the clock, Brett Nelson scored yet another six points, ending the first quarter with a score of 20-0.

Not willing to alter the “0” in the score, CdM continued with an inflexible drive, gaining two more touchdowns in the second quarter, another one in the third, and three more in the fourth. The game ended victoriously with a score of 56-0. Way to go, Sea Kings!

It is that time of year again. No, not the holidays or spring break; however, like these celebrations, this event includes anticipation and a prize. Holiday presents and a great tan are awaiting in the future, but the prize we intended to acquire on this occasion was the bell, signifying success in a holiday unique to CdM and Newport Harbor High School—the Battle of the Bay.

Students of both schools have mentally and physically prepared for the Battle of the Bay each year since its founding in 1961. This year, an astounding 8,000 people filled the stands of the football stadium at Orange Coast College. Friends arrived to the football game in matching t-shirts to cheer on their school, radiating a tangible sense of excitement and rivalry from beginning to end.

Students like Meredith Davin even spent several minutes getting ready. She said, “It took me 45 minutes to get dressed, build up some school spirit, and put on blue glitter,” adding the last detail with a smile.

Like Davin and other CdM fans, Harbor students wanted to express their spirit, too. In the middle of the third quarter, a few Harbor spectators shot off firecrackers to support their team. This act resulted in a 15-yard penalty for the Sailors.

While the Battle of the Bay was an exciting game to all, different people took pleasure in various aspects of it. Freshman David Fludd enjoyed watching the game, while senior Sebastian Welch attended the event for “guys like him,” pointing to a blue-spray-painted friend.

On the other hand, junior Catherine Macinnes said, “My favorite part of Battle of the Bay is dressing up, meeting new people, and showing Harbor who’s boss.”

Unfortunately, we were not successful in “showing Harbor who’s boss” this year, but our players fought to the finish. Senior John Christian claimed an incredible touchdown with only 30 seconds remaining. The CdM stands came alive with a wave of blue and white Sea Kings cheering enthusiastically. Though we lost the game with a score of 7-37, our spirit prevailed.

Written By: Melissa LaBruna, Michelle Kim, and Jenna Shapiro