Sea Kings molding into shape

Steve Virgen

At this time last year, Corona del Mar High football coach Dick

Freeman was anticipating a season led by several seniors. The

contrary can be expected for this season. Freeman also wants the

Class of 2005 to step up and become leaders.

“We’re trying to get leadership which is tough with only seven

seniors,” Freeman said. “So the juniors will have to step up a little

bit.”

Tom Welch, who will be a junior in the fall, will assuredly be one

who is expected to intensify his leadership qualities. He will be one

of a few players training at quarterback for the Sea Kings. Shaun

Mohler, who was the quarterback for the CdM freshman team last year,

will also be vying to be the team’s starting signal-caller in the

fall.

“There is a real good intensity level,” Freeman said of the spring

practices, which have been going for three weeks and will end today.

“We told them that we’re stepping stuff up. The offense is going to

be a faster pace. We want to dictate the game more.”

The Sea Kings’ running backs will include no seniors, Freeman

said. Wess Presson, who will be a junior in the fall, will see more

time at tailback, while Austin Brawner, who is coming off a leg

injury, and John Shanahan will also be in the backfield. Shanahan is

also training as a fullback. However, with the graduation of Matt

Cooper, Freeman is already planning to include offensive plays that

feature two tailbacks. Zach Wishengrad, who will also be a junior in

the fall, is the team’s lone true fullback, Freeman said.

“We’re mostly trying to get everybody experience and get them

comfortable playing,” Freeman said. “We have a lot to learn rather

than open competition with people. We’re not working on game-type

situations really. We’re working more on the fundamentals.”

Freeman and his coaching staff has also been stressing

weightlifting. The Sea Kings don’t have much size, Freeman said, but

they do have speed, which will be displayed on defense. Freeman

expects the defense to be, “more pressure oriented,” than it has been

in the past.

Troy Harrison, a new assistant for Freeman, will help in that

department as he is training and developing the Sea King defensive

backs. Harrison will also coach the receivers.

Freeman said approximately 60 players have been involved with

practices this spring.