From tragedy to triumph

Roger Carlson

There was a heart in Costa Mesa that was claimed by both Eagles and

Mustangs, and to start with the amazing exploits of the Pegasus

requires that one must first look toward the late baseball coach Paul

Troxel, whose sheer dedication toward competing at the highest level,

getting the most from what he had and loving every minute of the

hunt, to bring these two high schools into focus.

Troxel, one of the most likable guys you’d ever meet, coached

baseball at both schools, for the most part at Estancia and in the

end at Costa Mesa.

When he died in 1999, tears flowed on Fairview Road and Placentia

Avenue. For probably the only time, ever, at a little church on Baker

and Fairview, green-clad and red-clad athletes would grieve

arm-in-arm.

If you want a four-letter summation of the life and times of the

Costa Mesa Mustangs and Estancia Eagles, it would be “Trox.”

There have been some ups and downs, and a touch of Hatfields and

McCoys.

So I’m not going to talk of Eagles and Mustangs, of who was No. 1,

or of a Top 10, or of sheer results, for the most part.

Better that you close your eyes and remember a basketball coach in

a wheelchair. Costa Mesa’s Jason Ferguson in those tragic days as

cancer claimed his 23-year-old body in 1996.

Or recall the exploits of baseball stars such as Dan Quisenberry,

Rich Amaral, Jeff Gardner, Kyle Wilson and Brent Mayne.

Or of such basketball stars as Steve Van Horn, Ken Bardsley, Chris

Beasley, Bruce Chapman, Matt Fuerbringer, Tom Read, Paul McDaniels,

Sam Nelson, the Orgills [Gary and Ray], Pete Neumann, Craig Falconer,

Jim Faulkner and Jim McCloskey.

Or of such football stars as Benny Ricardo, Pat Sweetland, Jeff

Graham, Larry Hall, the Ferrymans [Jim and Dick], Matt Johner, Lee

Joyce, Vince Klees, Jim McCahill, Steve Kraiss, the Camps [Mike and

Tony], Bryan Luxembourger, Dave Gleason, Binh Tran, Charles Chatman,

Dan Princeotto, DeWayne Crenshaw, Dan Bauer and Bill Lux.

Or of such track and field standouts as Bruce Hancock, Alberto

Munoz, Eric Dorn, Eric Berge and Jim Walters.

The girls, you know, didn’t really start until the ‘70s. But did

they ever make an impact.

How about Olivia DiCamilli, Bonnie Dasse, Koo Kim, Heather

Robinson, Jill Black, Julie Collett, Leah Braatz, Shannon Suzuki,

Katie Grogan and Kathy Mollica for starters?

And, of course, the capper, Sharon Day.

How about the best principal, ever? Robert Francy.

Among the many coaches whom I cherished were Larry Sunderman, Ken

Millard, Tim O’Brien, Joe Reid, Bill Wetzel, Kirk Bauermeister, Bob

Serven, John Carney and Tom Baldwin. Also, from way back, Jules Gage

and Emil Neeme.

About one-third of the personalities who were named to the Daily

Pilot Sports Hall of Fame on New Year’s Day of 2000 are mentioned in

this article, which shows just how deep the talent and

accomplishments go. So I’m leaving myself wide open.

And, of course, there is the matter of major successes in cross

country, water polo, soccer, wrestling, volleyball, tennis, golf,

swimming, even gymnastics and badminton, which must be considered.

But I’ve done my best to rekindle some memories, which began at

Estancia when the Eagles opened their first-ever season with a 45-7

loss to Troy at Fullerton High in 1965 with a quarterback named Chuck

Perry.

And when Costa Mesa, coached by Tom French in 1976, staggered

heralded Foothill with a 14-14 tie in a nonleague football game.

There was that great 1970 Estancia football team under coach Phil

Brown (9-2), which nearly pulled off the upset of the season before

falling to the Allen Carter-led Bonita juggernaut in the CIF 3-A

Playoffs opener, 15-14, in a muddy quagmire at Orange Coast College.

Estancia’s only other loss was to eventual undefeated CIF champion

Edison, 14-12.

And, of course, Mesa’s surge in football, ignited by Myron Miller

in 1993 (9-3-2). Estancia’s great state championship team of 1991

under O’Brien in boys’ basketball and Costa Mesa’s state finalists in

‘93 under the hands of girls’ basketball coach Lisa McNamara, are

probably the two highlights of team play, which come to mind.

It all began in 1960 for Costa Mesa [the principal was Les Miller]

and 1965 for Estancia [the principal was Floyd Harryman.] Before

that, Newport Harbor High accommodated Costa Mesa’s best. And, to

this day, Costa Mesa athletes in the neighborhood of 17th Street and

Irvine Avenue attend Harbor.

Costa Mesa and Estancia. Each has plenty to brag about.

What lies ahead? Without a doubt, more of the same.

* ROGER CARLSON is the Daily Pilot Sports Editor Emeritus. He

writes a column on Sundays.