The Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table is all about recognizing the local athletic community and Monday’s press luncheon was a great example of that.
Rob Thayer was given the Sportsperson of the Month Award, John Kolberg was named the Special Olympics Athlete of the Month, and Anika Wilson and Kyle Mayfield were honored as Athletes of the Week. Two dozen other student-athletes were introduced by their coaches to the crowd in the Ranchero Room of Harry’s Plaza Cafe.
Among them were players from San Marcos and Santa Barbara High’s girls volleyball teams. The two rivals are teaming up to put on a Breast Cancer Awareness match on Thursday at San Marcos.
The joint girls volleyball fundraiser was created last season by Dons alum Kira Schleich.
“I think it’s going to be a great tradition,” said Santa Barbara High volleyball coach John Gannon.
Speaking of tradition, this is the week of The Big Game. The annual clash between the San Marcos and Santa Barbara High football teams is Friday at 7 p.m. Dons head coach Doug Caines and San Marcos head coach Anthony Linebaugh both spoke on Monday, as did SBCC football head coach Craig Moropoulos, who was unable to withhold a plug for his alma mater Santa Barbara High.
UCSB men’s soccer coach Tom Vom Steeg attended his first luncheon of the year after his team lost its first two games of the season.
“I’ve been sending my assistant coach but after two losses he didn’t want to come,” Vom Steeg joked.
The Gauchos are on TV this Friday night in a rivalry game with Cal Poly. UCSB’s first crack at shaking the losing streak is Tuesday’s match with Big West-leading Sacramento State.
Junior Olympic athlete Amber Belletti introduced Thayer, a volunteer coach with Club West Youth Track Club.
“He can make you smile and laugh even if you don’t feel like it,” Belletti said.
Thayer thanked Club West, Beverly Lewis, Katy McDonald and San Marcos High School.
“When you get a great bunch of kids like this, it makes it easy to show up and they inspire us to keep working so they can improve,” Thayer said.
John Kolberg was named Special Olympics Athlete of the Month for his exploits on the basketball court and golf course.
Kolberg, capable of scoring in the mid 90s, is playing in the Special Olympics’ golf tournament fundraiser this Friday at Glen Annie Golf Club.
“Johnny, thanks for being a great athlete but you’re also a great human being,” said presenter Aaron Brown.
STUDENT-ATHLETES PRESENT
Eduardo Aguilar, San Marcos Football
Jonathan Wilson, San Marcos Football
Carly Yarnell, San Marcos Volleyball
Anastasia Kunz, San Marcos Volleyball
Clara Madsen, Laguna Blanca Volleyball
Grace Woolf, Laguna Blanca Volleyball
Sarah Scarminach, Santa Barbara Volleyball
Sydney Reigert, Santa Barbara High Volleyball
Talia Van Wingerdon, Bishop Diego Volleyball
Jade Perkins, Bishop Diego Volleyball
Kyle Mayfield, Cate Football
Michael Martinez, Cate Football
Jesus Zapata, Carpinteria Football
Joel Montes, Carpinteria Football
Connor Kelsey, Carpinteria Football
Gerrardo Banueles, Santa Barbara High Football
Zach Feld, Santa Barbara High Football
Jake Uyesaka, Dos Pueblos Football
Jared Starr, Dos Pueblos Football
Justin Brosnan, Bishop Diego Football
Nolan Tooley, Bishop Diego Football
Delencey Parham, SBCC Football
Aaron Thomas, SBCC Football
Christian Fowler, Laguna Blanca Football
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