Ringstrom had need for speed

Steve Virgen

Much of the awards and honors collected by Chris Ringstrom could be

traced to his athleticism, but the foundation of his ability was

speed.

His quick feet led to many highlight plays, as well as victories

for the Corona del Mar High boys soccer and track and field teams.

Ringstrom’s speed was, for the most part, natural -- something he

just acquired while maturing.

However, Ringstrom said another reason for his speed was his

competition in three sports at Corona del Mar, where he was named the

Sea Kings’ Boys Athlete of the Year. Ringstrom, bound for Stanford,

excelled in soccer and track and field, yet he also built strength

while competing for the Corona del Mar boys cross country team.

“I would build base for my speed with cross country,” Ringstrom

said. “Then, I would use soccer to get my speed back and refine [my

speed] during the track season. I had a good set-up going.”

When it was time for soccer, Ringstrom seemed to be at his best,

especially in his senior year. He scored 23 goals and helped lead the

Sea Kings to an appearance in the CIF Southern Section Division II

semifinals.

Ringstrom earned first-team All-CIF Division II honors, as well as

first team All-Pacific Coast League laurels. He scored three goals

and provided two assists, leading the Sea Kings to a 5-2 victory over

Northwood Feb. 11, when Corona del Mar clinched the league

championship.

Ringstrom also had success against Northwood in his junior year.

He scored an unassisted goal in the final minute to lead the Sea

Kings to a 2-1 win over the Timberwolves. The win ended Northwood’s

14-game winning streak and gave Corona del Mar a share of the league

title.

A four-year varsity player, Ringstrom said he loved soccer,

especially when he scored. His motivation was drawn from his desire

to score and to win.

“Once you start winning, you get addicted to it,” Ringstrom said.

“The same with soccer. I would love nothing more than to score a

goal. If I scored, it was like I was in love. Looking for more

success is what motivated me.”

Ringstrom also found success in track and field, but it wasn’t

until his second year that he found his niche. During his freshman

season, he competed only in field events. It wasn’t until his

sophomore year when he took off as a sprinter.

As a sophomore, he finished eighth in the 200 meters in the CIF

Southern Section Division III finals, after competing in that event

for just two months prior to his season-ending performance. In his

junior year, Ringstrom was the league champion in the 200 and 400, as

he helped lead the Sea Kings to a league title. He finished ninth in

the CIF Division III finals in the 200.

Ringstrom also led the Sea Kings to a Pacific Coast title in his

senior year.

“When track would come along I would be the big dog,” Ringstrom

said. “[Speed] that’s what I was blessed with.”

As a senior, he won league titles in the 100 in 11.30 seconds, the

200 in 22.22 and 400 in 50.16. Winning the 400 and 100, competed

back-to-back, impressed his opponents, as well as CdM Coach Bill

Sumner.

“A true sprinter can’t do what he did,” Sumner said. “But a rough

sprinter like Chris can do it. It’s like the second half of a soccer

game and he needs to give it his all. That’s one of the toughest

doubles around.”

Ringstrom injured his hamstring during the league finals and was

not in CIF. He competed on the varsity cross country team during his

final two years at CdM. He plans to compete in track and field at

Stanford.