Sea Kings’ spring fling

Rick Devereux

When a football team runs an option-oriented offense, it better have

a tough quarterback who is able to take a pounding.

Corona del Mar High football Coach Dick Freeman thinks other teams

better have tough defenders when they go up against the Sea Kings’

option with Tom Welch as quarterback.

“At 6-foot-2, 210 pounds, their outside linebackers need to be

worried,” Freeman said.

Welch, who, along with the rest of the Sea Kings, is pushing

toward the end of the annual spring practice, is heading into his

second year as the starting signal caller. His experience will be

needed. Corona del Mar had only three full-time senior contributors

last year, Freeman said.

Two of those seniors were first-team All-Pacific Coast League

selections, offensive lineman Andy Lujan and defensive back Mordy

Ornguze. Also, the third senior, defensive end Brian Dunn, was a

second-team honoree.

Most of last season’s starters are returning from the 5-4-1 team

that missed the CIF Southern Section Division IX playoffs.

Welch, his twin, Kevin, a first-team all-league wide receiver, as

well as seniors Zach Wishengrad, John Shanahan, Chris Reilly and

David Del Fante, have provided the kind of leadership and work ethic

that has inspired their teammates to dedicate themselves to the

football program, Freeman said.

“We’ve got a great group of seniors who are good, athletic guys

who work hard,” the CdM coach said. “If other players see the seniors

working hard, that’s what they do -- work hard.”

Freeman, who will enter his 10th season as head coach, said this

year may be the best the Sea Kings have ever been at the skill

positions on offense.

“[Regarding wide receivers], this may be the deepest we’ve ever

been,” he said.

Kevin Welch is joined by Del Fante, senior Shane Collins, junior

Matt Loyd and sophomore Hunt Rychel at the wideout position. Freeman

said this year’s group is just as good as the receivers who helped

the Sea Kings win the CIF Southern Section Division IV championship

in 1988 and the Division VI crown in 1989.

In order to best utilize the team’s athleticism, Freeman will

continue to use five defensive backs on the field. The defense will

also have four linemen with an end that can switch to outside

linebacker in certain situations.

“Defensively, we are a lot faster than we’ve been in the past,” he

said. “I think the skill positions on both offense and defense will

be our strength this year.”

The preleague schedule starts at home against Estancia, followed

by away games at Costa Mesa, Troy and Newport Harbor, before

finishing at home against Valencia. La Habra, last year’s CIF

Southern Section Division IX champion, which has scored 86 points

combined the past two years on the Sea Kings, has been dropped from

the schedule.

The decision to remove the Highlanders was not to pad the schedule

with easier opponents or avoid tougher ones, Freeman said.

Valencia finished last year second in the Empire League and was

eliminated, 35-24, by Tustin in the first round of the CIF Division

VI playoffs.

Troy beat Rancho Alamitos, 42-16, in the first round of the

Division IX playoffs last year.

“We’re not avoiding anything or anyone,” Freeman said. “Valencia

is a very good team. Troy is a good team. The local teams are always

tough.”