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COSTA MESA, Calif. — Estancia Athletics would like to recognize and acknowledge the hard work put in by the Estancia Boys鈥� Varsity Basketball team this season.

For Estancia鈥檚 Varsity Basketball Team, Head Coach Xavier Castellano and Assistant Coach Chris Sorce are 鈥淐reating a culture of selfless leaders who believe in themselves and in each other.鈥� Coach Castellano said, 鈥淲e want to be the most united and hardest working team.鈥� Last year, they made it to CIF quarterfinals. This year, the team finished with a 17-11 overall record, and a 4-8 record in League play.

The coaches believe one of the things that makes Estancia so great is that all the players are neighborhood kids who go to their home high school and have heart. 鈥淐oach Sorce and I take pride in developing our community kids and coaching them up,鈥� said Coach Castellano. 鈥淎 lot of athletes in our community go to other schools where winning might come a little easier, but that鈥檚 what motivates our team.鈥� Playing against a local player who decided not to attend Estancia 鈥渃reates a fire in our boys and puts a chip on their shoulder, motivating them to prove people wrong and show that Estancia can succeed with community players.” The players understand they won鈥檛 succeed based on talent alone, and that 鈥淲e must stay committed and work harder than everyone else, so we can bring our best and win games,鈥� continued Coach Castellano.

This year鈥檚 team captains are James de la O (senior), Reef Johnson (senior), and Jaedon Hose-Shea (junior). 鈥淥ur three leaders are extremely vital to our team. They understand and represent to the rest of the team what an Estancia basketball player should play and act like,鈥� said Coach Castellano. 鈥淭hey exude leadership on and off the floor. They are great examples of what a student-athlete should be.鈥�

Coach Castellano is proud of how the Varsity team has learned the importance of embracing all members of the team, of welcoming and being friendly to new team members. 鈥淭hey understand and respect the fact that new players are just as willing to work as hard as the returners are,鈥� said Coach Castellano.

To stay close, the team celebrates by going out to dinner after games. They also do team-bonding events or simply hang out throughout the season. After each game, a team tradition is to give out a championship belt to the player who had the greatest impact on the game. Another way Coach Castellano builds teamwork is a weekly 鈥渂uy-in鈥� where players have to be themselves and present in front of the team. 鈥淲e don鈥檛 want any 鈥榗ool鈥� guys on the team or in the program,鈥� he said. 鈥淚f they learn to be comfortable with themselves and respect each other during the buy-in presentations, that sense of self-confidence and team camaraderie will help them succeed on and off the floor.鈥�

Estancia is Coach Castellano鈥檚 alma mater and he said, 鈥淚 feel lucky and blessed to be coaching at the school I attended and once played at.鈥� The coaches are looking forward to more success through the solid foundation and culture they have built. Coach Castellano concluded, 鈥淚 hope that through the hard work and commitment that our players and coaches display, we can make our community proud.鈥�

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