Sea Kings transition to pads

Barry Faulkner

CORONA DEL MAR - The gray area between depth chart and field

performance begins to clear considerably when high school football teams

don full gear for the first time.

Those questions loomed particularly large at Corona del Mar High, where

fifth-year coach Dick Freeman and his players officially made the

transition from the three-day conditioning period Thursday.

In addition to the perennial curiosity about how much up-and-comers have

progressed, Freeman was anxious to determine how a crop of newcomers

would fare in their first full-contact activity. The Sea Kings will

continue to provide Freeman and his staff with those answers as they work

toward the Sept. 9 opener against Marina at Newport Harbor High.

“Since we don’t have a whole lot of experience, we’ll be finding out some

things about our kids,” Freeman said. “There could be quite a few changes

in our depth chart.”

Among the newcomers is transfer Peter Skoutelas, a 6-foot-1, 230-pound

lineman, who came in from Pennsylvania late last week.

Freeman initially projected Skoutelas would help at defensive end, but,

after a firsthand look in Thursday’s first practice, believes he could

be more effective at offensive guard.

Senior Chuck Shurtloff, a 5-9, 180-pounder who transferred from San Diego

during spring practice, also showed well as a potential safety, Freeman

said.

Freeman also singled out an impressive morning showing by senior returner

Tom Shochat, whom he hopes will take over for former three-year starter

Alex Bottom at center,

“Tom did real well getting out and blocking our linebackers,” Freeman

said.

Specifics aside, Freeman acknowledged the first day in pads always

revitalizes things for the players and coaches alike.

“By the third day, that no-pads stuff really starts to get old. We can do

things with the backs and receivers, but we have to start making things

up to keep the linemen focused.

“There was a lot of hustle out there today and I liked what I saw.”