The subject matter at Monday’s Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table press luncheon possibly covered as much ground as the many local cross country teams in the audience.
And those runners have been doing a lot of racing lately.
From cross country running to football, from heartbreak to triumph, and from Tuesday’s election to the spirit of unity, the coaches and athletic directors at the podium in the Ranchero Room of Harry’s Plaza Cafe gave reports on their teams.
Much attention was given to the football teams of Dos Pueblos and Santa Barbara High, who engaged in a hard-fought 24-17 win for the Dons on Friday night that gave Santa Barbara the Channel League championship.
Male Athlete of the Week James Hale came from that game. The junior quarterback from Santa Barbara High started his first game of the season and completed 14 of 19 passes for 223 yards and three touchdowns.
“I couldn’t be more proud of him,” said Dons head coach Doug Caines. “A very impressive performance by him.”
Hale even drew praise from Dos Pueblos head coach Nate Mendoza.
“I got a lot of respect for tough players and he’s a tough one,” Mendoza said.
Both the Dons and Chargers host CIF games on Friday night at 7:30.
The Female Athlete of the Week also led her team to a Channel League title. San Marcos’ Kristen Berlo was key in bringing home the Royals’ first league championship in girls volleyball since 2002. Berlo recorded a team-high 13 kills on 18 attempts in the Royals’ title-clinching victory over Buena last week.
Now back to the runners.
It’s been a special season for several cross country teams.
Dos Pueblos’ boys team is ranked No. 1 in its division and begins its CIF quest on Saturday. Three athletes from the team – Ben York, John Greening and Cole Smith – came to the luncheon with coach Leslie Roth.
For the first time in 30 years Santa Barbara City College’s cross country teams, both men and women, have qualified for the junior college State Championships. Athlete of the Week honorable mention Cecilia Instebo finished second on Saturday in a field of 205 at the SoCal Championships in Costa Mesa.
Other cross country coaches who spoke were San Marcos’ Lawrence Stehmeier, Westmont’s Russell Smelley and Providence Hall’s Lisa Goodin, in addition to Carpinteria High AD Pat Cooney speaking on behalf of coach Angel Silva.
The high school teams compete next at CIF Prelims this Saturday while the college programs have two weeks to prepare for their next level competition.
For some coaches it was the last visit to the luncheon this school year. For others, like Westmont men’s basketball coach John Moore, his presence represented the just-started winter basketball season.
The Warriors, featuring All-GSAC returners Preston Branson and CJ Miller, are ranked No. 7 in the NAIA going into this season.
Next week’s luncheon will host more college basketball along with CIF football teams and soccer. The public is welcome.
STUDENT-ATHLETES PRESENT
John Butler, Providence Hall Cross Country
Ryan Halsey, Providence Hall Cross Country
Olufemi Odaibo, SBCC Football
Steven Jerome, SBCC Football
Katie Kim, San Marcos Volleyball
Kristen Berlo, San Marcos Volleyball
Emily Allen, San Marcos Volleyball
Olivia Johnson, Providence Hall Volleyball
Hannah Park, Providence Hall Volleyball
Alexa Benitez, Carpinteria Cross COuntry
Lalo Garcia, Carpinteria Cross Country
Ricky Arroyo, Carpinteria Cross COuntry
Allie Nixon, Carpinteria Volleyball
Amy Davis, Carpinteria Volleyball
Adilene Aldapa, San Marcos Cross Country
Rachel Tracy, San Marcos Cross Country
Keaton Shinn, San Marcos Cross Country
Ryan Sorenson, San Marcos Cross Country
Lucie Simmons, Santa Barbara High Volleyball
Bailey Roach, Santa Barbara High Volleyball
Jesus Munoz, San Marcos Football
Juan Baretto,San Marcos Football
Nunzio Bilotti, Bishop Diego Football
Ryan Inglehart, Bishop Diego Football
Cole Smith, Dos Pueblos Cross Country
John Greening, Dos Pueblos Cross Country
Ben York, Dos Pueblos Cross Country
James Hale, Santa Barbara High Football
Emilio Gonzalez, Santa Barbara High Football
Jason Jimenez, Santa Barbara High Football
Ian Craddock, Carpinteria Football
Xavier De Alba, Carpinteria Football
Paul Cortez, Carpinteria Football
Jacob Barbieri, Carpinteria Football
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