Kinzie Kramer

Steve Virgen

When Kinzie Kramer was a junior at Corona del Mar High she received a

lesson in how to transition or adjust amid a tough situation.

Last year, the Sea Kings’ girls soccer team started the process of

regrouping as its former coach, Ron Evans, was dismissed after he was

arrested on suspicion of having a sexual relationship with a student.

The news shocked the community and sent the Corona del Mar squad in a

bit of a tailspin in regard to team chemistry.

“A lot of the girls when we switched coaches were very bitter,”

Kramer said. “I wasn’t bitter. A lot of the girls were really close

to Evans. I was never that close to him.

“I never thought about transferring. Sports don’t rule my life. I

don’t know if anything with Evans is true, but all I know is as far

as soccer coaching is concerned he is an awesome coach. I was really

sad when he left. It was hard to transition to a new coach.”

Kramer, a four-year varsity player, did her best to press on and

enjoy her favorite sport. Last year she adjusted. This season, the

5-foot-3 girl with a cute first name and the smile to match had to do

the same.

Kramer had never played sweeper until this season.

In addition, she has been the team captain of a young squad.

To help prepare herself for her final season, Kramer did not

compete in cross country.

She was on the Sea Kings’ cross country team for the past three

years, but she knew she would not play soccer in college so she

wanted to make the most of her final season in the sport she loves

most.

“I love sports, don’t get me wrong,” said Kramer who has a 4.2

grade point average and scored 1330 on her SAT. “But when I go to

college I just want to be in college, have fun and focus on

academics. I want to study abroad. I want to do all that stuff. And I

won’t have time to do that with sports.”

For now, Kramer has the time for sports. In the spring she plans

to compete on the Sea Kings’ track and field team.

She missed her teammates and Coach Bill Sumner of the cross

country team, but the sacrifice paid off, she said.

“It’s been awesome,” Kramer said of her final soccer season. “It

has been so much fun. I love the team. [The players] are great.

[Coach Bryan] Middleton is great. Alyson Spencer [the assistant

coach] is great.”

The season became sweeter for Kramer and the Sea Kings last week

when the senior team captain led Corona del Mar to victories over

University and Calvary Chapel.

The wins helped the Sea Kings clinch a berth into the CIF Southern

Section playoffs.

Kramer helped hold University to three shots on goal in the Sea

Kings’ 4-1 victory over the Trojans Feb. 3.

The Daily Pilot Athlete of the Week followed that up with a goal

and sound defense in Corona del Mar’s 7-0 win over Calvary Chapel

Feb. 5.

“Kinzie has been the heart and soul of our defense this year,”

Middleton said. “She has been the key to our leadership.”

Middleton added Kramer has been consistent throughout the season

and stepped up with a great defensive performance Jan. 13 when the

Sea Kings tied Tesoro, 1-1.

Kramer shut down the Titans’ best player, Courtney Lewis.

“She was huge in that game,” Middleton said. “I look for the

younger girls to look at her and follow her lead. She’s the example

for what I want my players to be.”