The Mustangs’ season ended last week in the same way it has the previous two years. Costa Mesa lost in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Southern Division playoffs.
Waldron has now joined a new team, the boys’ basketball squad. Adjusting to the new sport has been a challenge.
Football is still on his mind.
“It’s not exactly how we wanted it to end,” Waldron said of the season. “We were hoping for a lot more.”
With Waldron around, hope turned into reality most of the time at Costa Mesa. Whether he lined up at wide receiver, quarterback, linebacker or safety, the 5-foot-9, 160-pounder gave the Mustangs a fighting chance.
Waldron played a vital role to Costa Mesa (6-5) posting its first overall winning season in seven years. The program the last three years achieved a level of success it never reached until Waldron arrived on the varsity team in 2007.
The Mustangs claimed back-to-back Orange Coast League championships in Waldron’s first two years. During one stretch, they reeled off eight straight league victories.
Waldron’s final season had to wrap up at some point. Coach Jeremy Osso wished it didn’t have to end on the road last week.
When Osso called a timeout with 75 seconds left in the fourth quarter, he pulled Waldron out of the game. The game was over, Santiago was on its way to a 24-6 victory, and Osso was about to lose Waldron.
“I gave him a hug,” Osso said after seeing Waldron put up impressive numbers, 10 catches for 135 yards, in his last game as a Mustang. “I told him how much I loved him, how much he has meant to this program, and how thankful I am for everything he has done for the program.
“He started crying and I have to admit a tear fell from my eye, too.”
In many ways, Osso said goodbye to a family member.
