Castellano Brothers united for Estancia

As brothers, Robert and Xavier Castellano know each other extremely well.

For instance, they know one important fact about each other and it’s very crucial at this time of the year.

They know to steer clear of each other because their teams are competing in their respective seasons at their alma mater, Estancia High.

Robert is busy in his sixth season as boys’ soccer head coach. Xavier is totally focused on his dream job, his first season as the boys’ basketball coach.

They are Eagles, through and through. Robert is part of the Aguilas, another nickname for the boys’ soccer team at Estancia.

The brothers are best friends, especially when it isn’t the winter high school sports season.

But when it’s time for a basketball game or a soccer match, all things are better left unsaid.

“During the season, he’s just zoned in on the season,” Robert said of his half-brother Xavier. “It’s very hard to get a hold of him. It’s very hard to talk to him. I just try to stay out of his way. He reminds me of myself. When it’s time to go, he’s zoned into the game. You can’t really say, ‘Hi,’ to him. You can’t make him smile. You can’t joke with him. I leave him alone and try to stay away.”

Xavier knows he’s doing his thing and Robert has plenty on his plate as well. They are passionate about their job as coaches at Estancia. It shows in each practice, each game. Also the players reflect that passion, as they also work hard and show respect for the men in charge.

The Castellano brothers display a strong love for their respective programs and the game.

Robert, 34, began coaching soon after graduating from Estancia in 1999. Back then, Steve Crenshaw asked Robert to coach and the young Eagle began what would be 10 seasons as an assistant, learning from Crenshaw and later, Gannon Burks.

Xavier, 34, coached at Estancia, first under Chris Sorce, shortly after graduating from Estancia in 1998. But Xavier then went away for college, at UC Santa Barbara. Upon returning, he got back into coaching through his friends, Jason Simco (now an assistant at Corona del Mar) and Tommy Rausch, who were both coaches at Estancia.

Xavier had been the girls’ basketball coach before taking the reins for the boys this season.

The Castellano brothers believe they learned hard work and the importance of loyalty from their father, Miguel, who has put in 40-plus years as an employee at Big Canyon Country Club, where he is near retirement.

Taking pride in your work has also been a standard for the Castellano family.

With that comes happiness. Because they are friends, they share plenty of laughs, even though game time is serious for both.

They were friends while growing up in Costa Mesa, living near each other. They also played sports together, soccer, football, basketball and baseball. Baseball was the only sport they played together at Estancia, where Robert was mostly involved with soccer and Xavier with basketball.

After high school, they remained active and competitive, playing in adult leagues.

“It was great growing up with him,” Xavier said of Robert. “He always put the pedestal so high. He was very responsible. I liked to mess around as a kid. I was the one who always got caught. Not him. But he’s my best friend. He’s there to support me and I’m there to support him. He’s a great role model. I’m lucky.”

The brothers push each other. If one’s team is performing well, the other wants to do the same, or better.

Both have big games on Friday, taking on the Orange Coast League leader in Godinez.

The Estancia boys’ soccer and boys’ basketball teams posted huge wins last Friday, taking down crosstown rival Costa Mesa.

Robert’s team is 11-2-2, 2-0-1 in league as it enters its matchup with Godinez.

Xavier’s team will be challenged and needing a spark to keep its playoff hopes alive, as the Eagles are 7-11, 1-2.

The brothers came together on Monday for their interview, which was also on camera for the Newport-Mesa Sports Scene TV show. They said they were nervous, but it didn’t seem that way once they started talking about each other and their love for Estancia.

They also talked about the importance of values learned from team sports such as soccer and basketball.

Their top goal is for their players to buy into teamwork, to be selfless. Their teams are like family, the players are like brothers, just like their coaches, Robert and Xavier.