Eagles trying to regroup

Steve Virgen

Something is different about the Estancia High boys cross country

team this season.

For one, the program has fewer participants. Also, standout runner

Humberto Rojas, who was Estancia’s strongest runner in the past 20

years, has moved on to Orange Coast College.

Estancia Coach Charlie Appell said his boys and girls programs

went from 41 runners to 26 and the Eagles have lost 13 of 19 athletes

from last year’s boys team. The scenario could result in a long

season, Appell said, but he is more than willing to take on the

challenge.

While the Eagles will be short on depth, they can rely on three

capable returners who will try to maintain good health throughout the

season.

Junior Alex Cahuantzi will lead Estancia this season. He earned

All-Golden West League honors last year, as he finished sixth at

league finals. But he suffered leg injuries during the track and

field season last spring.

Cahuantzi qualified for the CIF Southern Section Division III

preliminaries in the 3,200 meters, making a name for himself as a

freshman in the spring of 2002. He showed remarkable improvement that

spring when he shaved nine seconds from his previous best and

finished third in the 3,200 at Pacific Coast League finals, edging

Brendan Bowler of Laguna Beach. Cahuantzi finished in 10:13.15,

one-hundredth of a second ahead of Bowler.

Now, Cahuantzi is being asked to take the reins and direct the

Eagles, without Rojas, through their second season in the Golden West

League.

Seniors Matt Zich and Panfilo Elias will also be along for the

ride. The senior duo and Cahuantzi competed in the state meet last

year.

Zich also suffered leg injuries last spring. Toward the end of the

season, he began to rehabilitate and Appell said he completed, “a

great summer.”

Appell also said there are a few newcomers who can add much-needed

strength to the team. They include seniors Martin Diaz and Geovani

Rodea, as well as sophomores C.J. Buchman and Eric Palafox.

.

Estancia finished second in their first year in the Golden West

League last fall. The Eagles also finished fourth in CIF Southern

Section Division II and made their sixth straight appearance in the

state meet.