Honors: Russell crowned by CdM

Steve Virgen

CORONA DEL MAR - Corona del Mar High has given its annual Boys

Athlete of the Year award to an athlete behind the scenes, a big body in

the trenches.

Recent CdM graduate Steven Russell, a three-sport athlete who won the

CIF Southern Section Division III heavyweight wrestling title and an

Orange County All-Star in football, is this year’s honoree.

Russell also displayed his mastery at the line of scrimmage for the

Sea Kings. CdM Coach Dick Freeman said the 6-foot-3, 265-pound left

tackle was, “dominant,” in his senior season, a result that certainly

came from his offseason training.

Russell, who will represent the South in the Orange County All-Star

football game July 12 at OCC, set a school record in combined weight in

the bench press (325 pounds), squat (485) and power clean (285).

He then went on to earn first-team All-Pacific Coast League laurels,

as he paved the way for running back Mark Cianciulli. Russell’s season

also included Newport-Mesa Dream Team honors.

Then came Russell’s championship season in wrestling. He obtained his

23rd pin of the season to win the PCL title in the heavyweight division

Feb. 2 at Costa Mesa High. His individual championship helped the Sea

Kings win the PCL Finals, though league dual-meet champion University

claimed the PCL team title.

Russell, who compiled a 31-7 record, captured the CIF Division III

heavyweight title Feb. 16 at Ayala High. He won his first three matches

by pin, major decision, and pin, before battling to an 8-6 victory over

his final opponent from Diamond Bar.

In track and field, Russell helped the Sea Kings finish second in the

PCL. He finished fifth in the shot put (44-9 1/2) at the PCL Finals. But

he put the shot 46-0 in the preliminaries, which was the third-best throw

of the PCL meet.

As a junior, Russell was a second-team All-PCL offensive lineman.