Athletes of the Week: Sawyer Rhodes, Natalie McClure

Sawyer Rhodes tore it up in the pool for the Santa Barbara High water polo team, while Natalie McClure enjoyed a triumphant cross country debut for San Marcos.

Sawyer Rhodes, SBHS water polo.
Sawyer Rhodes, Santa Barbara High  water polo.
Natalie McClure, SMHS cross country.
Natalie McClure, San Marcos cross country.

Their performances earned them Athlete of the Week honors on Monday at the Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table press luncheon at Harry’s Plaza Cafe.

Rhodes had a big week for the Dons, leading them to four straight wins. He scored 15 goals, including four against Martin Luther King High and four against league rival Dos Pueblos. He also drew seven ejections in a win over Servite.

McClure, a transfer from Dos Pueblos, became eligible for the second Channel League cross country meet at Ventura’s hilly and dusty Arroyo Verde Park. She went out and won the 3-mile race in 19:03, leading the Royals to their first meet victory in several years.

The athletes selected as honorable mention for the awards were Shiloe Parsons (SBCC women’s volleyball), Gabi Peoples (San Marcos volleyball), Hunter Clark (Dos Pueblos cross country), Kyril Van Schendel (Cate cross country), Nick DePuy (UCSB soccer) and Rudy Beltran (Carpinteria football).