DENNIS ALSHULER

Steve Virgen

To get an indication of what type of athlete Dennis Alshuler was,

maybe his football career at Princeton University would provide a

glimpse.

Even though he did not receive as much playing time as he did at

Corona del Mar High, Alshuler still displayed his passion for the

game by never quitting.

“Over four years, I didn’t play much,” said Alshuler, who was a

walk-on receiver for the Tigers. “But it was still all about the love

of competing and being a part of the team. That’s what sports is all

about.”

Alshuler had the same attitude while starring in three sports

throughout his four years at Corona del Mar, from which he graduated

in 1999.

Alshuler said he enjoyed many aspects about each sport. He took

pleasure, playing in front of enthusiastic crowds and he seemed to

seize the moment in big games. While he found great success in

volleyball, Alshuler said he did not love that sport more than the

others.

If it wasn’t volleyball, just which sport was his favorite?

“It would have to depend on the season,” Alshuler said. “I just

loved, really loved to play sports.”

In the fall, Alshuler played receiver, safety and quarterback for

the football team. Alshuler said he loved football because of the

competitiveness and, “getting to hit people. That was always fun.” He

was a two-way varsity starter for three years. As for his highlights,

Alshuler remains fond of a huge victory that came in his senior year,

the fall of 1998.

“The biggest thing was beating Newport Harbor our senior year,”

Alshuler said. “They were heavily favored and we beat them. We

shocked the world. They were No. 1 in our division. We just came in

and we knew we could compete with them. That was a great experience.”

In basketball, Alshuler played three years on the varsity as a

forward. His best memory for that sport was reaching the CIF Southern

Section Division III-A final at the Arrowhead Pond. The Sea Kings

lost to Chaminade, 45-40.

“We played some pretty good teams to get there,” Alshuler said.

“It was a good way to go out for my senior year.”

Alshuler also experienced playing against a future NBA player when

the Sea Kings took on DeShawn Stevenson of Washington Union in Fresno

in the CIF state playoffs. Stevenson is now a member of the Orlando

Magic.

“I had the pleasure of playing defense on him,” Alshuler said. “He

dunked on me. It was fun.”

In volleyball, Alshuler was a four-year varsity middle blocker. He

enjoyed many highlights, the best being a CIF Division III

championship in 1998, when the Sea Kings defeated Santa Ynez. Corona

del Mar lost to Santa Ynez in the title match the previous year,

which made the win in 1998 all the sweeter, Alshuler said.

Alshuler, who was a member of the All-Newport-Mesa Dream Team in

football, basketball and volleyball and was Newport-Mesa Boys Athlete

of the Year as a senior, had other memories, as well.

“I’ll always remember my senior year, playing against Newport

Harbor in the CIF [Division I] final,” Alshuler said. “It was great.

It went four games and we lost. It was just great playing against

Newport Harbor. We would play three-hour matches in front of a packed

house. That’s the epitome of what high school sports are all about.”

At Princeton, Alshuler excelled in volleyball. He was a four-year

starter and a team captain in his senior year. He said he received a

great learning experience at Princeton.

Alshuler, 23, graduated from Princeton with a bachelor of science

degree in psychology in 1999. The latest Daily Pilot Sports Hall of

Fame honoree works as an investment banker in Irvine and lives in

Newport Beach.

He continues to compete in basketball, playing in an adult league

in Newport Beach.

“I just like to go out and compete, try my best and win,” Alshuler

said.