Mike Sciacca, IndependentMark Rehling’s loss became Gary...

Mike Sciacca, Independent

Mark Rehling’s loss became Gary Nord’s gain late Wednesday

afternoon, but in both instances, both head coaches were extremely happy

with the transaction.

It was on that day that Marina fullback Ray Mietkiewicz, the Player of

the Year in Sunset League football during the 1999 season, signed with

the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). Rehling, who coached

Mietkiewicz at Marina the past three years, was elated with his prize

offensive player’s decision. Nord, the head coach at UTEP, was equally

satisfied in landing the 6-foot, 235 senior, who set 11 school records during his 28-game varsity career at Marina.

Mietkiewicz was one of three Californians among UTEP’s recruiting class

of 2000, which featured 21 players overall.

Joe Young, a running back/linebacker from Santa Monica, and Chris Lewis,

a wide receiver out of Ganesha, are the other two.

“We landed a big one in Ray,” Nord said Friday. “We think he can fit in

right away with our plans.

“We’re very excited about this class. This is a group of guys with

outstanding character and talent. We concentrated on size and speed with

this class, and we feel we’ve addressed both areas. We think we have some

skill players who have the capability to be game breakers.”

Mietkiewicz certainly has the potential to be included among that group.

During the ’99 season, he established new Marina records for most career

yardage (4,180), most yards in a single season (1,626), most yards in a

single game (308), best average per carry (7.9), total offensive yards,

career (4,226), most touchdowns in a single season (21), most touchdowns

in a game (5), most points scored in a career (286), most points scored

in a season (128), and most points scored in a single game (32).

The Miners won out over Fresno State, another school that was in pursuit

of Mietkiewicz.

Oregon State, UNLV, and Texas A & M also had expressed interest in

landing him.

Rehling says that Mietkiewicz’s decision had to do with Nord’s projection

for his new recruit.

“They (UTEP) told Ray that they think he’s a player who could come right

in and have an impact as a freshman,” Rehling said. “Ray really liked

that, which means he wouldn’t have to redshirt his first year.

“I think he has great potential and really can make an impact at UTEP.

Their coaching staff feels that his talents fit nicely with their

offensive scheme. That was a big part of Ray’s decision to go there.”

Had Mietkiewicz instead signed with Fresno State, he would be in the same

Bulldog backfield next year with former Edison standout Jeff Grady, a

backup quarterback this past year for the Bulldogs.

“That would have been interesting, seeing two local Sunset League guys

playing on the same offensive at the major college division,” Rehling

said.

Mietkiewicz is the most prolific running back to emerge from Marina since

Mike Williams, whograduated from the school in 1997 and went on to play

at Long Beach City College.

It was Williams who had owned most of the school records that Mietkiewicz

went on to break this year.

Mietkiewicz was one of two Marina seniors to sign letters of intent this

past week. The other, M.J. Ansel, committed to play at Boise State

University.

Ansel was the Lineman of the Year in the Sunset League in ’99.

Ansel also had fielded offers from West Point and the Naval Academy,

among others.

“He had a lot of choices,” Rehling said. “It’s great to see a kid like

M.J., who does all the right things in all the right places, get the

right deal. He’s a very bright young man and a great player.

“These signings are big for Marina. Two is not too bad.”