The highway to a championship normally entails loads of twists and turns and it’s as much as the top coach to straighten issues out. Man Gardner did that for Palos Verdes this season.
A yr in the past, the Sea Kings went 10-0 within the common season, obtained matched within the Southern Part Division 2 playoffs towards Mission Viejo and had been routed.
This season, Palos Verdes was a younger staff dealing with a tricky nonleague schedule. There was a three-game shedding streak, then indicators of progress. It took successful an time beyond regulation recreation simply to make the Southern Part Division 5 playoffs. Then got here a Division 5 title and a scintillating efficiency within the CIF Division 2-A state championship bowl recreation.
The Sea Kings (11-5) peaked on the proper time, which each coach seeks.
Palos Verdes coach Man Gardner accepts state Division 2-A trophy.
(Steve Galluzzo)
Gardner, in his sixteenth season at Palos Verdes, has been chosen The Instances’ soccer coach of the yr for 2024.
“He makes us want to be better,” linebacker Jace Demoss mentioned.
The Sea Kings’ last recreation, a 55-19 win over Twelve Bridges of Lincoln at Saddleback Faculty within the state bowl recreation, noticed quarterback Ryan Rakowski move for a state record-tying six touchdowns. It was as if each participant had their finest recreation within the last recreation.
“This was a cool stage,” Gardner mentioned.
