Santa Barbara High linebacker Johnny Valencia and SBCC women’s soccer goalkeeper Elizabeth Estrada have been named the Athletes of the Week.
The pair will be honored on Monday, Dec. 2 at the Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table press luncheon. There was no luncheon held Monday due to the Thanksgiving break at local high schools.
In the CIF-SS Division 8 football semifinals, Valencia spearheaded a tough Santa Barbara High defense that stymied a Palmdale offensive that was loaded with speed in the skill positions. Valencia made several big hits and tackles for loss in the Golden Tornado’s 37-15 victory.
Second-seeded Santa Barbara advances to its first CIF football final since 1989. It plays top-seeded Sunny Hills of Fullerton on Saturday night at San Marcos High.
Estrada, a sophomore goalkeeper out of Carpinteria High, kicked the winning penalty kick and then saved the last attempt by Ventura in a shootout to secure a 4-3 SBCC victory in the first round of the So Cal Regionals.
Estrada made seven saves during regulation time and 30 minutes of overtime. The teams were deadlocked at 1-1 when they went to the penalty-kick shootout.
SBCC hosts Saddleback in a second-round match on Tuesday night at 7 p.m.
The honorable mention choices for the female award include Ila Lane (UCSB basketball), Ashley Gerken (Dos Pueblos basketball) and Cassidy Rea (Westmont volleyball).
The male athletes considered for the award include Deacon Hill (Santa Barbara High football), Joseph Pearlman (Dos Pueblos cross country) and Jordan Short (Providence basketball).
— Noozhawk Sports Editor Barry Punzal can be reached at bpunzal@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.
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