First luncheon held outdoors during pandemic features sports from all three seasons
After being shut down for more than a year by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table’s signature event, the Monday press luncheon, was back this week.
“It’s now really starting to feel like a season here, the Round Table is back in form,” said Santa Barbara High boys basketball coach Corey Adam, who was one of nine coaches on hand to talk about their teams and introduce student athletes under the covered outdoor patio of The Creekside Restaurant.
Due to state and county health guidelines, the gathering of student athletes, coaches, the media, Round Table members and guests needed to be held in an outdoor venue.
The luncheon for decades has been held in the Ranchero Room at Harry’s Plaza Cafe
Santa Barbara High golf coach Ryan Throop enjoyed the change of holding the event outdoors.
“It’s so nice to be outside and to just be able to get back to somewhat of normalcy,” he said.
While going outdoors was different, the luncheon format remained the same. The Athletes of the Week were recognized, the coaches introduced the athletes they brought and talked about their teams, and a drawing for bags of cookies wrapped up the festivities.
The first luncheon held during a pandemic brought together coaches of sports that normally don’t see each other in the same season. There was football, girls golf and girls tennis, which are traditional fall sports; winter sports of boys and girls basketball, and spring sports of softball, boys golf and boys tennis.
And everyone in attendance was wearing a mask.
San Marcos Girls Tennis
Coach Jonny Sapp provided some friendly banter during the afternoon. With an upcoming match against Santa Barbara High on Friday, he told the Dons’ contingent: “We’re going to give you guys a run for your money, and we’ll see what happens.”
He then added: “Should I congratulate you guys on a winning season and use a little reverse jinx already?”
Sapp returns sophomore standout Natasha Gill, who was the Channel League singles runner-up as a freshman.
“Our team this year is super new, half of them are freshman,” he said. “We have one new transfer so no one really knew each other. My goal and my philosophy of teaching is trying to have everyone be cohesive with each other.”
He called freshman Cristina Wickline “a really bright spot on our team.”
Playing at No. 2 singles, she rallied from 3-0 down in two sets against Santa Ynez and won both 6-4.
“She has a lot of grit and mental toughness,” he said.
Dos Pueblos Softball
Coach Mike Gerken expressed his excitement about freshman Georgia Wilson, who was named the female Athlete of the Week.
“I love it when my athlete of the week is a freshman. That means I got four years of her,” he said. “She’s really dedicated to softball as all pitchers have to be. She’s a joy to see at practice every day.”
San Marcos Boys Basketball
“We have a real strong team his year,” said Athletic Director Abe Jahadhmy, speaking for coach Jelani Hicks.
The Royals have an experienced squad, led by Isaiah Hicks, John Connolly, Max Shelton and Shakir Ahmad.
“We also have a good group of young guys who add to our firepower, such as Julian Hicks and Jaden Robinson,” said Jahadhmy.
The Royals host Oxnard in the season opener at 6 p.m.
“I’d love to say that we look forward to seeing you there, but it’s only family members that can be at the game,” Jahadhmy explained.
Santa Barbara High Boys & Girls Tennis
Danny Echt, the coach of both teams, said seniors Fabian Clifford and Sophia Ostovany are the leaders.
“They have been in the program, work hard day in and day out, expect a lot of themselves and model great team behavior that stresses improvement and enjoyment of play,” he said.
A fiery-competitive player, Ostovany, the team’s No. 1 singles, has added maturity to her game, said Echt. “This season I’ve seen her mature in positive ways, which have greatly benefitted the team.”
He said Clifford, who plays at No. 1 doubles, “has developed more spin off the ground, which shows more maturity as a player because he’s able to put more balls in play. He’s up to the challenge of the No. 1 doubles matches.”
Clifford impressed his coach with a presentation he did on healthy eating.
“He has very impressive knowledge and passion for nutrition,” Echt said. “This example of leadership shows how Fabian is totally committed to helping his teammates get better.”
Echt thanked assistants Greg Tebbe and Paul Klein for their help with the teams.
“Klein is one the greatest supporters of student athletes I know,” said Echt. “He had a few weeks of battling a health scare. The players are relieved and happy to have him back in their lives again.”
San Marcos Boys & Girls Golf
The Royals’ boys team is a young and talented group, led by sophomore Leo Metzger and freshmen Shams Jahangir-Arshad and Jeffrey Forster.
“Those players are capable of going under par on any given day,” said Sarah Ashton, speaking for boys coach and her husband Jeff Ashton. Senior Cole Stevens will also be a key contributor.
Sarah Ashton said that coaching in the same season as her husband has been fun.
“The Ashtons are always hanging out together,” she cracked
Senior Caya Costelo is the leader of the girls team.
“She’s been playing for me for four years,” said Sarah Ashton. “Caya is a consistent player and also a great leader.”
The coach has relied on Costelo like an assistant coach
“We have five freshman, four which are new to golf and really loving the sport. But they have so many questions, so it’s nice to have basically a third coach out there answering questions and teaching the etiquette of golf. I’m looking forward to good things from her.”
San Marcos Football
Seniors Rhys Morgan and Jorge Medina have been difference makers for the Royals.
Morgan stepped in at quarterback after the expected starter elected to play baseball after the start of the football season was delayed.
“He didn’t miss a beat,” said coach Jason Fowle of the day Morgan was asked to play quarterback. “He said, ‘Sure coach,’ and he stepped in there and has done a really, really good job. He has over 60 percent completions in the two games we’ve played. He’s done a fine job with an even head in leading these guys.”
Medina is a three-year varsity player who has played every position on the offensive and defensive lines and linebacker.
He might be lining up as a running back this Friday
Last Friday, he tipped and intercepted a Lompoc screen pass and ran 65 yards before being tackled by one of Lompoc’s speedy players.
“We lost a couple of running backs, so you might see Jorge Medina toting the ball in the next couple of games,” said Fowle.
The coach said he was grateful for the opportunity to have a football season and is looking forward to the upcoming games against Santa Ynez and Dos Pueblos.
“I’m excited to watch these guys play these last two games and finish their senior year.”
Santa Barbara Girls Golf
The dynamic senior duo of Melia Haller and Lizzie Goss carry the Dons.
The team has so far gone undefeated in regular-season play all four years they’ve played.
“We’re off to a good start to the season and a lot has to do with these gals,” said Throop.
He said Haller averages 270 yards off the tee and “makes the game look a lot easier than it’s supposed to be.”
She works with the other girls on the team, which Throops appreciates.
“She’s a great leader, more than a coach can ever ask for,” said Throop.
Haller, who carries a 4.97 grade-point average, plans to attend Chapman College and enter the film school.
“She will probably be making moves we’ll be watching on Netflix,” cracked Throop.
Goss, who is an all-Channel League golfer and soccer player, plans to attend San Diego State.
Throop said Goss and Haller push each other to get better.
“Lizzie and Melia have been competitive with each other all four years,” he said. “On any given day, Lizzie often beats Melia and vice versa. It’s so nice they have each other. Marc Minier at Glen Annie has been great working with both these gals.”
Santa Barbara High Boys Basketball
Coach Corey Adam introduced his team captains, seniors Dylan Borgeson and Erik Strandberg.
He said the two are such close friends it’s rare to see them apart from each other.
“When I call one of them, there’s a 95 percent chance the other is with him,” said Adam.
The coach appreciates their positivity.
“They’re consistently encouraging teammates to do better,” he said.
Adam said Borgeson is the ultimate competitor. “He’s the guy who’s going to run through a brick wall.”
He’s impressed how Borgeson kept himself prepared to play during in the pandemic.
“Both of them have done a great job keeping everything in perspective,” said Adam. “A month ago, we didn’t know if it was going to happen and they never had any self pity. They kept positive and recognized the life lessons they are learning through this whole ordeal.
“I don’t know if I could have been that strong at their age.”
He said Standberg is working his way back from a knee injury that kept him doing anything for four to five months.
“He’s working his way back into game shape,” said Adam.
The Dons open their season Tuesday at Channel Islands and play at home Saturday against St. Bonaventure.
“We have a solid group of seniors sprinkled in with other guys. We’re looking for a successful season,” said Adam.
San Marcos Girls Basketball
First-year coach Tiffany Sims said the future looks bright in her program.
“We have a young team, but we’re a young, talented team,” she said. “I look forward to the next three, four, five, six years because we’re going to be a threat.”
After all the uncertainty, doing conditioning workouts and running practices without basketballs, she is happy there will finally be a basketball season.
“I’m glad we’re going to have a season this year, so the girls can show their work. The girls showed up to practice every day, all the time and put in the work. I’m just glad they’re able to have a season.”
The coach introduced sophomore Oceanna Bauer, whom she calls “my quiet assassin. She’s quiet but very deadly.”
Bauer and junior Ariel Plourde were chosen the team captains.
The Royals open at Oxnard on Friday.
— Noozhawk sports editor Barry Punzal can be reached at bpunzal@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk Sports on Twitter: @NoozhawkSports. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.
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