Eagles’ Sorce resigns

Roger Carlson

Estancia High’s basketball program has a new head coach today in the

form of Russell King, who has filled the vacancy left by Chris Sorce

after the latter resigned his coaching position on Wednesday for

“personal reasons,” citing a need to spend more time with his family.

The 41-year-old Sorce, an on-campus teacher in the special

education department, said his two young sons, Nicholas and Dylan,

ages 6 and 3, were getting involved in sports and other activities

and that he felt a lot more time would be required to attend to those

responsibilities.

“I don’t see myself getting back into coaching,” said Sorce. “I

don’t see it in my immediate future.”

King was an assistant coach in the Eagles’ basketball program

under Tim Parsel, Rich Boyce and Sorce (in the first of Sorce’s

three-year tour). He played under Coach Tim O’Brien during the Matt

Fuerbringer era.

“Because of the time restrictions (practice for the season begins

Nov. 15) we’ve moved King in on an interim basis,” said Parsel, the

Eagles’ boys athletic director. “We’ll open up the position later,

after the season is over.”

Sorce stepped in and took the coaching reins at Estancia High

three years ago after the Eagles’ program appeared seemingly crippled

when a coach was hired, then quit the team after a very short summer

stint.

Parsel said he was “saddened” by Sorce’s decision, and added, “I

was sorry to see this happen. He ran a first-class program and gave a

lot. I thought he accomplished a lot.”

His teams won 40, lost 40, winning 10 games the first year, 13 the

following season and 17 this past winter when it qualified for the

CIF playoffs, advancing to the second round against the No. 1 seed

(Bishop Montgomery) after posting a first-round victory over

Gabrielino.

Sorce sees a bright future for the Eagles with five returning

lettermen and a solid sophomore in the mix for the upcoming season.

“I really think this year’s team has a reasonable goal of 21 to 22

wins and first or second in league. They, and Ocean View, would be

the obvious favorites,” said Sorce.

Among Estancia’s returnees are third-year starter Carlos Pinto, a

6-foot-4 junior, 6-5 senior Scott Sankey, 6-1 junior guard Hugo

Escobedo, 6-0 senior Jose Viramontes and Kendall Meissner. Also, up

from the freshmen team will be Michael McDaniels, a nephew of former

Estancia standout Paul McDaniels.

The Eagles will open at home against La Quinta Dec. 3 and have

added a nonleague game at Corona del Mar just after New Year’s Day.

They’ll also compete in their customary trio of tournaments, the

La Quinta tournament, Garden Grove tournament (they are back-to-back

defending champions) and the Coast Classic, which was expanded from

eight to the original 16-team format under Sorce’s direction.

“I’ve enjoyed working with the kids,” continued Sorce. “They were

good kids to work with, they were fun to be around and I’m proud of

the things we have done the last three years.”

The past season’s success also included the presence of former

Estancia head coach Larry Sunderman

“I really felt Chris saved the basketball program,” said Sunderman

earlier this month. “That guy bailed out after one or two summer

league games. I admired the good decision Chris made in taking over

the program, and it’s one of the reasons why I stepped in (as an

assistant last season).”