Sage Creek’s rapid rise to track success – Coast News

CARLSBAD —
A deep, internal assessment drove Danny Kung to Sage Creek High School.

The
physical education chair of the newest school to the city had a great coaching
career in his hands. However, there was a new challenge gnawing at him to see
how good of a coach he really was.

At first,
Sage Creek’s track and field program only consisted on middle distance and
distance runners, with Jacob Feiring taking on the role of first head coach in
school history.

By year two, however, Kung had left his post at La Jolla High School, and two CIF San Diego Section titles, to start fresh at Sage Creek.

“It was
either here or Vista (High School) and I said ‘how good of a coach am I?” Kung
said. “Can I go to a program that is literally in its infancy and develop
something? It was a huge challenge. La Jolla has a legacy.”

Since Kung and Feiring hooked up, the Bobcats have steadily risen through the Division 2 ranks becoming a force. Over the past two years, the program has sent four athletes to run in college, including Beau Prince (Northern Arizona), Jacob Uhl (Butler), John Walther (Cal Poly San Luis Obispo) and Megan Mattson (University of California, San Diego).

Kung said
those athletes, along with Feiring, set the tone for the program’s success. And
what started with less than 50 boys and girls has exploded to 123 this season.

Admittedly, Kung said this season will be more of rebuilding year for the boys with a talent crop of freshmen, including Elizabeth Hatton, coming into the fold. The girls team, meanwhile, will be anchored by the distance runners, who are fresh off winning the cross-country state championship in the fall.

Still, the
gradual improvement and becoming one of the top track teams in the county was
instilled by personable and relatable coaching techniques paired with a drive
to see the athletes succeed, said senior sprinter Parker Blawusch.

“He’s
super good with our lifting schedule, which a lot of teams don’t do,” Blawusch
said of Kung. “I think that’s why we’ve had quick success, especially with
sprints. The workouts the coaches design are just awesome.”

And like
every other program in Southern California, rain has dampened workouts and
washed out the team’s first meet. The Bobcats’ first meet, though, was in the
rain at Mt. Carmel.

Even with
those challenges, Kung said the washed-out first meet allowed for an
intra-squad meet, which allowed him to gauge the athletes. It showed, he said,
both the boys and girls should have strong seasons.

But to get
to this point, Kung said it’s the dedication and work ethic, especially in the
offseason, and the lack of a football program has led to the program’s rise and
respect throughout the county.

“We got
great kids here. I’m lucky,” Kung said. “The parents support us and are
fantastic. I am fortunate to have been here when the school opened.”