When Corey Schuld took over the El Modena wrestling program, everybody had some adjusting to do.
“I was a new coach and I didn’t have a lot of experience,” Schuld said. “It took me some time to figure things out.
“It was also a matter of the kids learning a new system and (to be) willing to get to know the new coach. … I figured it would take some time to grow. It was a major learning experience for me.”
Fast forward to this season, Schuld’s fourth full season as coach. He saw all of the determination and hard work come to fruition as the Vanguards turned in a remarkable season.
El Modena captured the Century League dual title and delivered the program’s first CIF title since 2003. The Vanguards also qualified all 14 wrestlers for the CIF-SS Individual Championships.
For those accomplishments, Schuld is the Register’s Coach of the Year.
——————-
RELATED:
2013-14 All-County wrestling team
Servite’s Beltran is wrestler of the year
2013-14 All-County wrestling: Second, third teams
——————-
“We had very high expectations going into this season,” Schuld said. “We knew we had a group with a lot of seniors and we knew how hard this group worked.”
Schuld and the coaching staff fostered an atmosphere of unity from the outset, taking the team on bonding trips and outings. That camaraderie was strengthened in the summer by traveling around the county from tournament to tournament.
“We practiced year-round,” Schuld said. “Weightlifting, practice, we worked on technique …we wanted to make sure the kids got as many matches as possible in the summer.”
The perfect exclamation mark to the season came at the CIF Individual Championships when the Vanguards had six medalists and pulled clear of the field with 180.5 points to win the CIF title.
“We wanted to get back to that level that (former coach) Alan Clinton had established,” Schuld said. “We’re trying to get back to that level and create a program the entire school can be proud of.”
The Vanguards and Schuld are headed in the right direction.
Contact the writer: dcalhoun@ocregister.com
