Melzer Is CVCS's Man for All Seasons

In an era when an increasing number of high school student-athletes choose to focus solely on one sport, Landon Melzer made the decision to multi-task. The Capistrano Valley Christian School senior recently completed his final baseball season with the Eagles, capping off his prep career with a San Joaquin League title.

Melzer, an outfielder, helped lead CVCS to an 11-1 league record and a trip to the CIF Southern Section Division 6 quarterfinals. A successful spring completed a personal championship trifecta, as Melzer became the school's first athlete to secure three league titles in one year.

“I can’t stick with one sport,” Melzer said. “I need to stay busy and I really enjoy playing each one.”

It’s one thing to participate in three sports, but quite another to take the reigns as leader and become a crucial contributor on a championship team.

But that is exactly what Melzer accomplished during his senior season, as a member of his school's football, basketball and baseball squads. During his four years as an Eagle, the 6-foot, 160-pound Melzer earned 10 varsity letters.

Baseball coach Clemente Bonilla fondly remembers watching Melzer blossom on the field, initially as the team’s starting second baseman before moving to the outfield in 2011.

“You could immediately see his athleticism as a freshman, even if he was still small in physical stature” Bonilla recalled. “It wasn’t long before his body grew and his savvy for the game increased.”

Melzer was a consistent force in the Eagles’ lineup and enjoyed his best statistical season last spring as a junior, when he batted .424 and drove in 24 runs as CVCS won another league title.

As a member of the Eagles' basketball program, Melzer ranked among the team’s assist leaders and became known for his defensive tenacity. Led by coach Zachary Brogdon, CVCS cruised to an undefeated season in Express League play and a 19-5 record overall before bowing out in the postseason’s first round.

When you talk to Melzer, it instantly become quite clear that the young man is a quarterback, first and foremost. He loves discussing the X’s and O’s of a well-designed play and, by all accounts, he knows how to command a huddle.

The Eagles play eight-man Express League football, which commonly eliminates two offensive tackles and a wide receiver from the offense and two defensive backs and a lineman from the defense. Despite competing with a roster of only 16 players, CVCS dethroned Avalon, a seven-time league champion, at season’s end to earn the league title.

“This football season was very special,” Melzer said. “We had such a small team and had to overcome injuries. I’m proud of the way we came together and we were blessed to create such a family atmosphere as group.”

The Eagles unseated Avalon thanks to a 26-24 road victory on the Lancers’ field in late October. It snapped an Avalon league win streak at home that spanned seven seasons.

CVCS football coach Chris Fore feels it was a signature moment for his program.

“Personally, I don’t know if there will ever be a game that tops the one we played at Avalon,” Fore said. “They had owned our league for so long and it was such an amazing effort by our team.”

Leading the way, of course, was Melzer.

“We were so motivated to win that game,” Melzer said. “Even though we were beaten up, we went in with a great mindset and fought so hard to earn a victory.”

The quarterback completed a 40-yard pass to teammate Phillip Wilhelm on third-and-long with under a minute to play, preserving the Eagles' two-point advantage and keeping Avalon’s potent offense on the sideline as time expired. Did I mention Melzer was playing with an injured hip flexor the pouring rain on a muddy field?

“The ball was right where we wanted it with the league championship on the line -- in Landon’s hands,” Fore said. “Since Landon was young, he displayed an innate ability to see the field in a way that you just can’t teach. He called the game-clinching play and it was exactly what I would’ve gone with. As usual, we were on the same page and it paid off.”

Landon is the third Melzer brother to pass through CVCS in the past seven years. His older brothers, Aaron and Shane, each played football. His father, Layne, currently serves as the school’s athletic booster club president.

Perhaps then it should come as no surprise that Melzer will go down as the most successful student-athlete in school history. It seems he was raised to be an extraordinary Eagle, which is how he’ll be remembered by those who knew him well.

“I’ll always remember Landon’s unselfishness,” Bonilla said. “With his quarterback experience, he understands what it takes to lead a team during pressure scenarios. That ability translated to baseball. Beside being a fine leader for our youngsters, he’s the guy we wanted at the plate with bases loaded. Landon is the complete package that you look for as a coach.”

Melzer will begin undergraduate studies at Texas Christian University in the fall. While he remains undecided when it comes to selecting a major, he plans to pursue a career with the FBI.

Although it shouldn’t come as a shocker, Melzer expects to be actively involved in a few intramural sports at TCU. After all, why pick just one?