Fernando Castorena

Barry Faulkner

Middle linebackers are, most often, born, not made. But Newport

Harbor High senior Fernando Castorena showed little predisposition

for the position for much of his 17 years.

Basketball, not football, was his athletic passion before high

school and the football he did play before his freshman year was of

the flag variety. What’s more, Castorena preferred offense to defense

and acknowledged that, until last season, he experienced more big

hits with his compact disc player than he delivered on the field.

“My first two years at Newport, I couldn’t knock over a table if I

wanted to,” said the 5-foot-11, 214-pound project, who may never have

landed in the marquee defensive position had his favorite NFL team,

the Miami Dolphins, not drafted Zach Thomas in 1996.

“I love the Dolphins and I started noticing this guy out there

killing people,” Castorena said. “I guess I fell in love with defense

because of (Thomas).”

The love affair was, initially, anything but mutual.

“I went out for middle linebacker my freshman year and I won the

starting job,” Castorena, who has also played tight end, recalled.

“But I was benched after three games and had to work my way back up.”

Castorena has been working his way up ever since, toiling

anonymously as a seldom-used sophomore, then spending his junior

season starting on the junior varsity and playing on special teams in

varsity games.

He did not, in fact, earn the starting job this season until after

the preseason scrimmage and he credits linebackers coach Matt Burns

with helping him overcome some early struggles the first two weeks.

Castorena, however, appeared fully up to speed Friday night

against Back Bay rival Corona del Mar. The Daily Pilot Player of the

Week was in on seven tackles, including three for combined losses of

15 yards. He also had one quarterback pressure and one temporary sigh

of relief.

“I’ve always been a confident player and I did envision myself

eventually becoming the starter,” Castorena said. “But the speed of

the game at the varsity level is so much faster than in the freshman

or junior varsity games. The first (varsity) game I was out there, I

was like, ‘Whoa! The offense was coming at me pretty fast.’ ”

He has, however, become more comfortable in the eye of the storm

that takes place between the hash marks. And, thanks to solid

coaching, determination and the help of his defensive teammates,

Castorena believes he has finally settled into a position with a

storied past at Harbor.

Over the last 11 seasons, Sailor middle ‘backers have earned

All-CIF Southern Section recognition nine times. Cory Ray (2001) was

CIF Division VI and Newport-Mesa Defensive Player of the Year, while

Alan Saenz (1999-2000) was All-CIF and the Newport-Mesa Defensive

Player of the Year both years.

“It was a lot of fun for me to watch Alan, because he really

dominated out there,” Castorena said. “And Cory really flew around

and laid the hat last year.”

And while Castorena is proud to be a part of such a legacy, he is

also weary of its burden.

“I think I have mixed feelings about it,” he said. “It’s kind of

hard to live up to those expectations.”

If Friday’s performance -- in which the Tars held the Sea Kings to

just 107 yards of total offense, including just 13 after halftime and

minus-1 rushing the final two quarters -- is any indication, the

position would seem to be in capable hands.

“Fernando has done a nice job,” Sailors’ coach Newport Coach Jeff

Brinkley said. “He has worked hard to get quicker and the experience

he has gotten has helped him make the adjustment. You don’t really

know what it’s like until you get out there and see the speed of the

game and the way the blocking schemes come at you. It takes a while

to really understand your responsibility.”

Said Castorena, “My decision making wasn’t too great the first two

games, but I think I’ve been able to slow the game down a little and

get used to it better. But I know I have to keep working hard and

focusing on getting better. Having battled for the position, I think

it means more to me. But I know if I slow down at all, somebody can

take my spot.”