Marina football team looking to build on successful season in new OC league

Marina coach Charlie TeGantvoort talks to his team after a game last season. (Photo courtesy Mark Bausman).

Marina High School’s football team, under Coach Charlie TeGantvoort, made big strides last year, capturing the Big Four League title with a 3-0 record and advancing into the CIF playoffs. Marina was 6-5 overall.

TeGantvoort said Friday he is excited about his second season leading the Vikings. He was a long-time coach at Santa Ana before taking the Marina job.

“The Viking football program is working hard to continue to improve everyday to help ensure that we pass the bar that last year’s team set by winning the league championship,” TeGantvoort said.

“We have developed a great Viking culture focused on being tough and having high character which is being driven by our amazing players and coaching staff including the addition for this fall season of highly successful defensive coordinator Eric Johnson to our Marina Viking coaching staff who just won the state championship as Mater Dei’s defensive coordinator this last season.

“We are looking forward to continuing to show why Marina High School’s Viking football program is a program that will continue to be successful on the field, in the classroom and in our amazing local communities.”

The Vikings are expected to be led in 2024 by returning players Jake Russell, Shayden Sorochman, Garrett Hunnicutt, Emitt Been, Shane Cassidy, Angel Garcia, Jackson Farmer, Duk Caldwell, Logan Fulford, Troy Atkins, Brayden O’Rourke and Will Kirchwehm, the coach said.

Marina will be competing in the Lambda League this season as part of a major Orange County re-leaguing plan for most programs.

Other teams in the league are Beckman, Fullerton, Marina, Sunny Hills, Valencia and Kennedy.

“The league will have some good long-time coaches such as Coach (Jason) Gray over at Valencia High School, so we know we will have to be ready to play teams that are well coached and disciplined,” TeGantvoort said.  “We are excited to compete and push towards winning another league championship and set ourselves up to head into CIF playoffs to compete for a CIF championship as well.”

2024 Schedule

Home games at Westminster

Friday, Aug., 23, (H) Westminster

Friday, Aug. 30, at LB Wilson

Friday, Sept. 6, (H) Fountain Valley

Thursday, Sept. 12 (H) Pacifica

Friday, Sept. 20 (H) Esperanza

League games

Friday, Oct. 4, Sunny Hills at Fullerton

Thursday, Oct. 10, at Valencia

Thursday, Oct. 17, (H) Fullerton

Friday, Oct. 24, Kennedy at Western

Friday. Nov. 1, (H) Beckman

(Second in a summer series)

—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com