Lundstrom to head GHS boys soccer

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  • Charles Lundstrom
    Charles Lundstrom
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New coach at the pirate helm for GHS boys’ soccer program, Charles Lundstrom, brings AYSO experience to the soccer field this upcoming season.

“I really enjoy soccer, coaching and developing student athletes,” said Lundstrom when asked about why he applied for the position. Lundstrom later added, “This is a personal challenge for me to take on a high school program - I want to personally and professionally grow along with the program.”

Lundstrom brings multiple years’ of experience coaching youth soccer to the table, “I plan on building a well-rounded athletic program,” stated Lundstrom.

“I coached many of these players when they were younger, and we are getting ready for the next level.” Lundstrom’s coaching philosophy will be to model by example and will be “hands on” as well as “old school.”

He plans to coach by teaching skills person to person. In addition, Lundstrom believes wellconditioned students are essential for his program. Lundstrom plans on having clear and concise practices where everyone “is doing something all the time.”

Also, part of his in-game coaching philosophy will be, “aggressive offensive and defensive play with relentless pursuit of scoring.”

Lundstrom understands the student-athlete model and is setting a 3.5 GPA goal and wants his players to be students of the game. He has created a Google Classroom page to supplement his coaching where players can access soccer knowledge, history, and skill sets. While his philosophy may be “old school” he feels that the Google Classroom will help him stay in touch with his players and educate them better about the sport.

Lundstrom, who was a college athlete himself, understands the rigors of playing at the next level and has arranged for players from the New Mexico United Soccer Club to provide drills and player instruction on December 17 to his team to educate them on what is needed of themselves to grow and develop as players.

Currently, there are over 10 players coming to the conditioning and he plans on having over 25 when the season is underway.

He acknowledges that COVID-19 and the subsequent restrictions are factors he and other programs must contend with. Along those lines, recruiting players to come out for soccer and participate fully is a top priority and the “biggest challenge”. Even if they don’t have club or playing experience Lundstrom believes that he has a role for players willing to work hard on his team.”

The season is currently slated to begin March 1 and run through April 6. Lundstrom will also rely on upperclassmen Douglas Scott and Ernesto Fernandez to help lead the program once the season is underway.

Lundstrom has currently been a health instructor at GHS for the past four years and prior to that he was in senior management at the New Mexico Environment Department where he served a total of 27 years.

Lundstrom holds a BA in Biology and a MA in Industrial Safety Management. A 1982 graduate of GHS, Lundstrom was a multisport athlete who excelled in football, baseball and wrestling.

Lundstrom was GHS Athlete of the Year and first team all-district linebacker his senior year as well as 4A district wrestling champion in 1980 and 1981.

Lundstrom also played at the collegiate level having played football for one year at New Mexico Highlands University (1982) and later played baseball for the New Mexico State Aggies for a season and a half (1983-84) at the catcher position.