Dos Pueblos High is enjoying a big fall season of sports.
Dan Choi’s girls golf team returned to the top of the Channel League this season after four years.
The girls volleyball team of coach Megan O’Carroll is on the verge of winning its first outright league title since 2011 and is ranked second in the CIF-SS Division 4 poll.
The girls cross country squad appears head for a championship after dominating the first two league meets.
The three Charger coaches talked about the successful seasons their teams are having at Monday’s Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table Press Luncheon at Harry’s Plaza Cafe.
Choi pointed out that Dos Pueblos had won or shared the league title 18 straight years, from the first year CIF girls golf started in 1999 to 2017. The Chargers reclaimed the title after Santa Barbara won the last three.
“Even the great coach Doug Mitchell would probably admit that we were very lucky to have a lot of very good golfers come to us already. That definitely helped with all those titles,” said Choi. “But things have kind of changed over the years. Lately, we’ve had golfers that are pretty much brand new.”
After going through the difficulties of learning the game and then dealing with the pandemic, this group of DP golfers is now celebrating a title.
Choi is incredibly proud of their effort and perseverance.
“This latest Channel League title that we won is probably one of the most meaningful for us,” he said. “I’d like to say it’s the coaching, but really it’s just that we have such great, great athletes. They have been really hard working.”
He introduced four-year players Brynlee Grose and Camille Robinson, two outstanding students who both carry grade-point averages of 4.6.
“They’ve improved every year, they’re leaders on the team,” he said. “And though they’re very quiet, their actions speak loudly on the team.”
Choi called the seniors “truly the glue that have helped get the team together throughout the year.”
DOS PUEBLOS CROSS COUNTRY
Co-coach Jen Brown said the varsity girls have swept the two league meets with perfect scores of 15, and took the top seven places in the second meet.
“Our girls team is very deep this year and it’s also very young. We have one senior in our top 25,” she said,
The varsity boys placed second in both league meets to a strong Santa Barbara team.
Brown introduced junior Reese Wahlberg of the girls team and senior Edward Bi of the boys squad. Both runners have worked their way into the No. 3 positions on their teams.
Wahlberg is not only a good runner, she’s also an excellent equestrian.
“When we’re not running, you can find her at the stables in Santa Ynez looking for her new champion horse,” said Brown
She said Bi is a man of few words, but he speaks volumes with his running and academic record.
“Edward is a brilliant guy. He is actually a National Merit Commended Scholar as well,” she said.
Dos Pueblos will be hosting the annual Dos Pueblos Invitational on Saturday on its campus course, starting at 10 a.m.
The event is normally held at Shoreline Park and along the Santa Barbara waterfront.
The fundraising event for the cross country program will include a community race that starts at 12:35 p.m. Brown said entry into the race is $5 or just a donation.
DOS PUEBLOS GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Coach Megan O’Carroll said her players wer so focused and confident going into their showdown with San Marcos that they were ready to play the match that Thursday morning.
“They were ready to go right in the morning, and I had that sense that any team could have walked through the doors of our gym Thursday night and they were going to leave with a loss from us,” said O’Carroll. “There was no way that the girls were going to lose and that is a really, really great feeling.”
She brought potent outside hitters Portia Sherman, Chloe Hoffman and Makeila Cervantes.
On Cervantes, “We have just been itching to get her a big game all season,” said O’Carroll. “After our first match against San Marcos, we knew that was going to be a pretty critical part of our success. She was super, super impressive. She had an incredible match.”
Hoffman and Sherman led the way in kills against San Marcos and they “passed lights out,” said O’Carroll.
She also noted the intensity and focus they brought to the match, “demanding greatness from everyone on the court and really just brought our level of play up.”
The Chargers, 8-1 in league, finish the regular season Tuesday at home against Lompoc and wait for the CIF playoff pairings to come out on Saturday.
SAN MARCOS FOOTBALL
Dylan Galbraith follows a family line of football players at San Marcos as his grandfather and father both played for the Royals. His grandfather also did some coaching at the school.
Athletic Director Abe Jahadhmy, speaking for coach Ralph Molina, said Dylan Galbraith, a two-way lineman, played a solid game in the 14-0 win over Channel Islands.
Forest Johnson, playing his first year of football at San Marcos, has become one of the team’s most consistent players, said Jahadhmy. Johnson also plays baseball.
Andre McCullough, also a first-year varsity football player, has been a dynamo at running back. He’s rushed for more than 800 yards in seven games.
“He’s getting more and more comfortable at the position and he’s really doing a great job,” said Jahadhmy of the junior.
McCullough is also tearing it up in the classroom with a 4.3 GPA.
“I think he’s a legit D-1 player,” said Jahadhmy.
SAN MARCOS GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Eloise McGibben has developed into a force as a middle attacker for the Royals.
“The last few games she has been hard to stop and has been our kill leader with 15-plus kills,” said Jahadhmy, speaking for co-coach Tina Brown.
Devyn Brunet is another middle for the Royals who “has grown tremendously as a player and continues to get better,” said Jahadhmy.
He also introduced defensive specialist Mia Miller, who has a “never-say-die mentality on defense.”
The Royals (6-3 in league) host Santa Ynez in their league finale on Tuesday and play a Thursday non-league match at home against Ventura before the playoff pairings are released on Saturday.
UCSB WOMEN’S SOCCER
The Gauchos (4-1-1 in the Big West, 6-6-3 overall) haven’t allowed a goal in their last four matches.
“What’s encouraging is that we’re playing with seven to eight freshmen at a time and we’re keeping clean sheets,” said assistant coach Patrick Mahon.
He praised goalkeeper Evann Smith, who was named the Big West Defensive Player of the Week, and freshman Lauren Moss, who scored her collegiate goal in a 2-0 win over CSUN.
WESTMONT WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL
Setter Sydney Dunn is not a team captain, but coach Ruth McGolpin said she plays and leads like on one.
Dunn is extremely athletic, plays excellent defense and has a great serve, said McGolpin.
The Warriors are in second place as they begin the second round of play in the Golden State Athletic Conference.
“We obviously need to win every single match out there and then beat the No. 1 team,” said McGolpin. “There’s a shot if we beat the No. 1 team in three or four sets then we can go on to be the GSAC champion.”
SANTA BARBARA HIGH FOOTBALL
Coming off a tough 24-21 loss against Pacifica, the Dons (1-1, 5-2) now get Oxnard at home in a Channel League game on Friday night.
“We have another Channel League heavyweight bout, we have Oxnard,” said Dons coach JT Stone. “It’s another good game, but we feel if we have a good, good week of practice and we clean up our mistakes, we’re going to be fine.
“We’re going to try to finish this thing 8-2 and put our best foot forward and try to get into the playoffs.”
SBCC WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL
Coach Kat Niksto’s team is 14-2 and ranked seventh in the state.
“We have a really big team and a really deep team,” she said. “I attribute that to why we’re being so successful. We have depth at every position.”
She introduced setter Brenna Valenzuela and middle Paige Rudi. Valenzuela is one of four talented setters on the team.
“All four setters could be starters on pretty much most teams we play,” said Niksto.
Valenzuela played in the Vaqueros’ five-set win over Rio Hondo and had 24 assists, three aces, two kills and five digs.
“She was really the heart and soul and just worked her butt off and ran the offense,” said Niksto.
Rudi was named the state’s player of the week for the south division after her performance against Rio Hondo. On her 19th birthday, she served eight aces, scored a bunch more points on her serve and had several kills, Niksto said
“She’s been on the cusp of being that huge impact player for us that we really know she can be,” said the coach.
The Vaqueros host Moorpark on Wednesday and L.A. Pierce on Friday.
UCSB WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL
The Gauchos are tied for first place in the Big West with Hawaii at 6-0.
After matches on the road this week at UC San Diego and UC Davis and a home match with CSUN on Oct. 19, UCSB will host Hawaii on Friday, Oct. 22.
“Hopefully, if everyone is playing good volleyball, it will be two 9-0 teams playing against each other,” said assistant coach Matt Jones. “We’d like to see a lot of people at that game.”
SANTA BARBARA HIGH CROSS COUNTRY
Assistant coach Moki Nacario introduced Oliver Levine and Bode Andrulaitis of the boys team and Ridley DeSoto and Belen Catalan Jaimes from the girls squad.
The Dons are preparing to face some challenging competition at the Mt. San Antonio College Invitational in two weeks.
Nacario said he’s looking forward to seeing Levine and Andrulaitis keeping moving up.
DeSoto is the No. 1 runner for the girls team.
“I’d say she’s the bulldog of the group,” said Nacario.
Jaimes was brought up to the varsity a couple of meets ago and has responded well.
“This one was a surprise for us,” said Nacario.
SANTA BARBARA GIRLS GOLF
Senior Riley Malmsten played on three Channel League championship teams for the Dons.
“She’s probably the first player on the team that everybody wants to play with,” said coach Ryan Throop. “Just a lot of fun to be around.”
Malmsten is also a competitive surfer.
Natasha Torres consistently drives the ball beyond 200 yards, said Throop. “She plays the game with a lot of passion. When the ball doesn’t go straight, which sometimes it doesn’t, she talks to the golf ball. She tells the ball to go down the fairway straight, and shouts with passion.”
Torres holds brown a belt in kung fu.
DOS PUEBLOS FOOTBALL
Coach AJ Pateras brought a couple of his big linemen, Merrick Foster and Ivan Medina.
Foster is a senior two-way lineman and plays a little fullback. He recovered a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown in last week’s 21-14 loss at Oxnard,
“Merrick is doing great for us and we look forward to continuing to see him develop as he pursues his goals into the future,” said Pateras.
Junior center Ivan Medina has taken to the role of leading the offensive line,” said Pateras.
He took on the challenge of battling against Foster in practice and it’s paid off. He responded with a “fantastic football game against Pacifica and then again this week, a tough challenge against Oxnard with how aggressive they blitzed us.
“Ivan again was good with the snaps and continues to do the things we’re asking him to do as a leader on the offensive line,” said the DP coach.
The Chargers (2-5, 0-2) are back home on Friday night, taking on a Rio Mesa team that has won five straight games, including victories over Lompoc and Oxnard.
WESTMONT CROSS COUNTRY
Coach Russell Smelley said Anneline Breytenbach and Garrett Miller have been exceptional for the Warriors.
Breytenbach, a sophomore transfer from UCLA in 2020, walked on to the women’s team, became the No. 1 runner and a team leader. She qualified for the delayed 2020 cross country nationals in the spring.
Garrett has overcome illnesses (including COVID-19) to take over the No. 1 spot on the men’s team.
“He has a good chance to qualify as an individual for nationals if the team doesn’t make it,” said Smelley.
CARPINTERIA CROSS COUNTRY
Assistant coach Noe Gomez sees junior Belen Herrera of the girls team developing into a standout on the track.
“I’m going to ask her to please consider running the 400 and 800 with me during track because I’ve noticed that she has some incredible endurance and she’s become one of our top girls in cross country,” said Gomez.
Hugo Alvarado has impressed his coach with his work ethic.
“Hugo is one of those athletes we can count on every single practice to always be there, push himself and also push others, especially in the intervals and hills,” said Gomez. “Hugo’s an exemplary example of being a top person on the course and in academics.”
The Warriors run in Citrus Coast League No. 2 meet on Wednesday in Santa Paula.
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