Virgen: CdM football players achieve great academic success
Mark Sanchez, who just a few days earlier signed a contract to play quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles, did his best to keep his message short as the featured speaker Monday night at the Anaheim Convention Center.
He offered advice to the honorees of the 45th annual National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Scholar-Athlete Awards.
Nine Corona del Mar High seniors have yet to experience what Sanchez has on the next level, but they could relate and draw a strong connection to his words.
“You go on to the next level, in college and pro,” said Sanchez, who just the next day learned he would compete against Sam Bradford to be the Eagles’ starter. “But there’s nothing like high school football.”
The Sea Kings at the awards dinner will be hard-pressed to surpass or even match the success they enjoyed while at CdM. During the event, they did their best to cherish a special evening. They all dressed up in tuxedos, as did the rest of the honorees, which also included Newport Harbor’s Brett Beaudette and Trevor Shaw.
There were rumblings that nine student-athletes honored at the 45th annual event is a record for most honorees from one school.
The Sea Kings’ special evening also included the players’ parents and families, and the football coaching staff. They were all their to celebrate the student-athletes: Hoyt Crance (4.4 grade-point average), Harrison Carter (4.3), Hugh Crance (4.3), Parker Chase (3.9), Brett Greenlee (3.9), Justin Hess (3.9), Cole Collins (3.8), Barrett Barbato (3.8) and Bo St. Geme (4.0).
The Sea Kings also helped CdM win on the field, as they went 52-4 on the teams they played for at CdM.
In 2013, they were a big part of CdM’s unprecedented success: an undefeated season, a third-straight CIF Southern Section Southern Division title and a CIF State Division III championship.
“It was an amazing crew,” said Scott Meyer, the former CdM coach who is now the head man for Servite. “This was our first freshman class and to have nine guys here, I think they said it was a record, it shows the reason why we were so successful the last three years. Great group of players, great group of students and great kids all around.”
Meyer said the players’ families and the players’ ability to be self-motivated were the main reasons for their academic prowess.
The group of seniors also proved to be meaningful for Meyer, who leaves CdM after four years.
“It’s a super special group for us to come in with,” Meyer said. “I never really expected to be going out but for them to be my last group of seniors at CdM it’s probably the way I wanted it to happen if I had to go. To come in with those guys and to leave with those guys is pretty special. The memories I have with them are forever.”
The players also have great memories with each other. They grew up together in the same community and achieved great success based on individual strength and phenomenal teamwork.
“Most of us live in the Port Streets so we are a tight-knit group,” said Carter, who is bound for Georgetown. “I think we’ll stay in touch and I think we’ll all be best friends for life. It’s a great group of guys and I love all of them. This was a special night, a last time to come together for high school awards. We were all happy to see the group of coaches together again.”
The CdM honorees and coaches posed for photos and shared hugs to put an end to this final chapter of high school football awards.
The awards on Monday night typified the grand accomplishments the Sea Kings achieved throughout the past four years.
“This shows just what type of guys we have in the program,” said St. Geme, who is headed to USC, where he plans to play football. “We’re dedicated on the field and in the classroom and we know that both are just as important.”