Spartans’ Stewart More Focused on Winning Than Image

Steve Stewart doesn’t care what people think of his coaching style.

He doesn’t care if he’s known as a hard-driving coach who expects 110% from his wrestlers during practices and competitions. And he certainly doesn’t care if people get warm, fuzzy feelings from him.

What Stewart does care about is leading his Villa Park team to the Century League title, qualifying as many wrestlers as possible for the state tournament and finishing among the top 10 at the state finals.

“Wrestling is a tough, demanding sport. It requires a tremendous amount of effort from an athlete,” Stewart said. “Yeah, I can be intense. But my role as coach is to make sure my kids are ready. And if that means working out hard to attain our goals, then that’s what we’re going to do.”

Stewart’s philosophy has paid off.

Since taking over three years ago, Stewart has developed Villa Park into a county power. The Spartans are ranked fourth in the county coaches’ preseason poll and finished fifth in last season’s final Southern Section Division I coaches’ poll.

“I’ve gotten a lot of support from the school administration and parents,” Stewart said. “I believe our goals are realistic. But we all know it will require a lot from everybody, including the coaches.”

Last year, Villa Park finished 28-7, was second in league and second at the Division I finals.

But this year, Stewart said the Spartans are ready for El Modena, which has won the league title the past seven years.

“The last time Villa Park won the Century League was in 1981,” Stewart said. “I guess you could call that a dry spell.”

Alan Clinton is beginning his 14th year as wrestling coach at El Modena and has a 170-60 record. But Clinton said El Modena’s dominance of the league might be over--at least this season.

“[Steve’s] done a good job at Villa Park,” Clinton said. “And if he doesn’t kick our butt this year, then they should take all of his pay.”

Stewart said he always puts the welfare of his athletes first, but he said he has been known to get in a wrestler’s face after a match.

‘You have two guys on the mat. Both are trying to beat each other up. There’s nobody there to help them,” he said. “I’m sorry, but this isn’t a sport you sugarcoat.”

Tommy Peralta, a senior who competes in the 112-pound weight class, has wrestled for Stewart since his sophomore year. Peralta took fourth at the section Division I finals last year.

“Coach is hard and can be very intense,” Peralta said. “He motivates me to do my best and that’s the kind of person I need as a coach.”

Stewart insists his wrestlers compete in freestyle wrestling during the off-season. He also convinced a dozen of his wrestlers to spend two weeks last summer at the Iowa State wrestling camp, which is run by former Olympian Dan Gable.

“You wouldn’t believe how hot and humid Iowa can get in the summer,” Peralta said. “But this, along with the freestyle wrestling, has made me into a much better wrestler.”

Junior Willie Parks, who wrestles at 152 pounds, also plays strong safety for the Spartans’ football team.

“Wrestling isn’t football, it’s an individual sport,” Parks said. “It’s only you and the other guy. But that’s what I like about it, and Coach Stewart brings it out of me. He’s tough, but that’s what you need in a sport like this.”

Stewart, 34, wrestled for Cal State Fullerton. He became interested in coaching while assisting his former high school coach, Chuck Bishop, at Esperanza. Since then, Stewart has coached at University, Esperanza, Indio and Villa Park.

“I almost had a job at Esperanza, but I needed a full-time teaching job, and Indio was the only place,” Stewart said. “I was there for two years, and all I knew was that I had to get back to Orange County.”

Villa Park’s first big test of the season will come Dec. 8, when the Spartans face defending Division I champion Temecula Valley.

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Other top teams: Calvary Chapel should be dominant at the local and state level. The Eagles once again are ranked first in the Southern Section and county polls. With wrestlers occupying the top spots in five of the 14 weight classes, including Loara High transfer Tony Aparicio (140 pounds), the Eagles hope to improve upon seventh-place finish at state last year. They are seeking their sixth state title . . . . Although Santa Ana lost some of its top wrestlers to graduation, Coach Scott Glabb said he still expects a good year as the Saints remain one of the top teams in the state and the county. Look for the Saints, who finished fourth at state last year, to defend their Southern Section Division II titles in individuals and dual-meet competition. . . . The Sea View League became instantly more competitive with the addition of Laguna Hills over the summer. The Hawks are 12-time Pacific Coast League champions. However, Irvine, which will be led by heavyweight Josh Worthington, should dominate the league once again, leaving the Hawks to battle for second place with Woodbridge. . . . Despite losing its top wrestler to Calvary Chapel, Loara still looks to defend its Division III title as brothers Josh (103) and Orlando Galvan (112), who are both ranked first in the county’s preseason polls, anchor the Saxons’ lineup.