The Corona del Mar boys lacrosse team is back atop Orange County lacrosse.
The journey back to the top required some extra work and determination by the Sea Kings, and for that, Coach G.W. Mix is the Register’s Orange County boys lacrosse coach of the year.
This is his second time he has received the award. The first time came in 2012, when he led CdM to the Orange Count and Southern Section titles.
“I think they exceeded everyone’s expectations, except their own,” Mix said of this year’s team. “We just had a tremendous group of upperclassmen, especially the senior group that made a decision at end of last season that they were going to do everything they possibly could to get back to that game and win it.”
Last year, CdM lost to St. Margaret’s in the O.C. semifinals.
This year, the Sea Kings successfully advanced beyond the county semifinals and eventually captured the Orange County, title defeating St. Margaret’s. CdM fell short of the coveted double-championship season, losing to Loyola of Los Angeles in the Southern Section final.
CdM quickly became the team to beat in the county after early victories over Foothill and St. Margaret’s. The Sea Kings won their first seven games before losing an overtime game to Torrey Pines. After that, they won 13 consecutive games before facing Loyola.
As the season progressed, it was apparent the early victories had given CdM the confidence needed to succeed in tight spots.
In the county semifinals, CdM had to rely on all aspects of its game for an 8-6 victory over Santa Margarita in the county semifinals. In the final, it took contributions from everybody to hold off playoff nemesis St. Margaret’s, 11-9.
“We were able to secure those wins early in the season and then stay focused on getting better and getting ourselves as prepared as we possibly could for the playoffs,” Mix said. “There were high expectations last year that didn’t quite work out. All credit to St. Margaret’s for that. But at the same time, our kids wanted to make their own mark. This senior group was determined to win and they did just that.”
Some key pieces on this year’s team will move on due to graduation, but this season showed that CdM shouldn’t be counted out.
“We won’t put too much effort into revenging the Loyola loss (in the Southern Section finals),” Mix said. “We’re just going to try to get better and try put ourselves in a position to where we could avenge that loss, should we get there. I don’t know how much of a motivating factor that will be. Our kids tend to motivate themselves.”
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ALL-COUNTY BOYS LACROSSE
- Boys lacrosse coach of the year: Corona del Mar’s G. W. Mix
- Boys lacrosse player of the year: Corona del Mar’s Jason Simaan
- All-County boys lacrosse: First team
- All-County boys lacrosse: Second and Third Teams
Contact the writer: dcalhoun@ocregister.com
