Chris Ringstrom

Barry Faulkner

One might suspect surprise was a factor in the reserved post-goal

behavior exhibited by Corona del Mar High boys soccer standout Chris

Ringstrom last week. But, after scoring three times and collecting

assists on two more of the Sea Kings’ six goals in two nonleague

triumphs, Ringstrom said the celebration silliness that has become

the norm for most goal scorers merely isn’t his style.

“I don’t do cartwheels down the sideline or anything like that,”

said the third-year varsity starter, converted from midfield to the

front line by Coach Pat Callaghan this, his junior season. “I just

get ready to keep playing.”

Such humility is both consistent and genuine from the Daily Pilot

Athlete of the Week, who is determined to make sure his early season

production isn’t a mirage.

“I like playing forward and getting a chance to score goals,” said

Ringstrom, who noted he scored only a handful of goals in two

previous seasons, when his midfield responsibilities made defense a

priority. “I’m just hoping I can live up to it.”

So far, so good for the 5-foot-11, 150-pounder, who relies on

sprinter speed and the deft passes of teammates, rather than any

sensational ball-handling skills, to finish scoring chances.

“I joined the team late after the cross country season and I’m

still a little rusty,” said the third-year cross country competitor

who earned his first varsity letter in the sport this season. “I

still feel like I’m a little unsure of the ball and I’m still getting

used to having to look for passes, rather than being the one who

delivers them.”

Ringstrom, a CIF Southern Section Division III finalist in the 200

meters last spring, after finishing second at Pacific Coast League

Finals in the 200 and third in the 100, said he is also getting used

to the explosiveness required by soccer.

“Cross country is a whole different type of running,” he said.

“After those first two games, my legs were really sore, because I was

working completely different muscles. And I was also a little

winded.”

Ringstrom’s scoring, which included a pair of goals in a 3-1 win

over Ocean View Dec. 2 and one goal and two assists in a 3-1 triumph

over Santa Ana Valley two days later, has been a breath of fresh air

for the Sea Kings, who are intent on making a run at the playoffs in

the PCL this season.

“ I had heard rumors that I was being moved to forward and, it

turns out, they were true,” said Ringstrom, who related there was no

discussion with Callaghan about the shift.

“(Callaghan) just told me I was playing forward and that was it.”

Though he enjoys his diverse running experience in the fall and

the spring, Ringstrom said soccer has been it with him since he began

playing at age 5.

“I love everything about the game,” he said. “There are no

negative points to the sport.”