High School winter sports coaches took over the Ranchero Room for Monday’s Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table Press Luncheon at Harry’s Plaza Cafe.
Most of the high school coaches were familiar faces, but there were a couple of newcomers in the basketball and soccer group.
James Kinzler made his debut as the head boys basketball coach at San Marcos and Marco Medina attended his first luncheon as the coach of the Dos Pueblos girls soccer team.
The veterans in attendance included Santa Barbara High girls’ basketball coach Andrew Butcher and boys basketball coach Corey Adam; longtime Dos Pueblos boys basketball assistant John Slavin; San Marcos girls basketball coach Tiffany Simms; Bishop Diego girls basketball coach Jeff Burich; San Marcos boys soccer coach Paul McLean and Carpinteria girls soccer assistant Lucy Carleton.
DOS PUEBLOS BOYS BASKETBALL
The Chargers open their season Friday against powerhouse Mater Dei at Sovine Gym.
Mater Dei is ranked fourth in Southern California by the L.A. Times.
“It should be interesting,” said Slavin of the matchup.
The Chargers also have games lined up against St. John Bosco and Capistrano Valley and play in two elite showcase events.
Then comes a much tougher Channel League.
“As many of you know, the Channel League is going to be a little tougher this year with all those Oxnard and Ventura schools,” said Slavin. “It’s going to be a challenging year, but we’re ready for it.”
Slavin introduced two key players from last year’s CIF finalist team, Grant Hughes and Joe Talarico.
“Grant is kind of our go-to guy,” said Slavin. “He wants to be involved on both sides of the court, which is nice. He’s a lefty and has a great skillset.”
Hughes carries a 4.36 GPA and is also a standout volleyball player.
Slavin described Talarico “as a tremendous defender, competitor and free-throw shooter. He makes everybody else better and we value his leadership.”
Talarico, who has a 4.06 GPA, is also a two-sport standout. In the spring, he plays shortstop for the baseball team.
SANTA BARBARA HIGH GIRLS BASKETBALL
Butcher said the start of the high school basketball season is the perfect time of the year.
“It’s a brand-new season, we’re all undefeated, we all think we’re gonna win it all. It’s the perfect time of the year.
“I wish we could just stick right here.”
Butcher was joined by junior Chloe Adam and sophomore Dayzia Mendoza.
Adam is returning to the court after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury last season.
“She’s just a fabulous person, probably a better person than a basketball player, and a very good basketball,” said Butcher.
Adam is the junior class vice president and carries a 4.6 GPA.
Mendoza, a 4.3 student, started as a freshman and was the team’s top rebounder.
The Dons open their season Thursday at home against Righetti.
SAN MARCOS BOYS BASKETBALL
Kinzler is no stranger to San Marcos basketball and its success. Before taking over for Jelani Hicks, he worked as a varsity assistant and coached at the lower levels under Hicks and Landon Boucher.
“I’ve been a part of the program for six years as a coach at the various levels,” he said. “And since I’ve been here, we’ve won Channel League championships and a CIF championship. We’ve turned out some amazing players and some even better people.”
Kinzler introduced his senior guard tandem of Wyatt Miller and Diego Reyes.
“Wyatt is a three-year varsity player. He is intense and passionate,” said the coach.
On Reyes, “He’s calm and steady,” said Kinzler. “Together they form quite a starting backcourt for us, so we’re really excited to see them play.
“They have great offensive punch, but what I’m most excited about is their defensive tenacity and their leadership for our team.”
SAN MARCOS GIRLS BASKETBALL
Coach Simms said the Royals went 3-1 in their fall league games in Burbank, which included a victory over Oaks Christian, the team that knocked them out of the playoffs last year.
Simms introduced her “post players,” Oceanna Bauer and Riley Welch.
“Those of you don’t know much about basketball, you’re used to seeing 6-5, 6-5, 6-6 girls playing the post, whatever, right? These are our post players, these are our bigs,” said Simms of the 5-7 Bauer and 5-10 Welch. “These are the girls who defend those girls on Oaks Christian and the other good schools who are 6-2, 6-3, 6-4, 6-5.
“These are the defenders, and that says a lot to their academic skills and IQ that they are not afraid to go against someone bigger, stronger. They give it their all.”
Bauer and Welch held Oaks Christian’s 6-3 post player under 10 points in the win at Burbank
“We’re a defensive-minded team, so that’s how we get the job done,” said Simms.
The coach noted that on Monday, Nov. 21 the girls basketball team will be at Chase Palm Park doing a Thanksgiving feed for anyone in need.
CARPINTERIA SPORTS
Carleton introduced Scarlett Torres and Amarise Carmago from the girls basketball team, and Kate Isaac and Ainsley Alexander from the girls water polo team.
For girls soccer, Carleton said Sophia Mara plays the holding midfield position and Ashley Verduzco is an attacking midfielder for the Warriors.
“I’m just so proud of the way you guys hold it together on the field,” said Carleton of the pair. “They have totally different styles. Sophia is the voice on the field and at practice leading things. Ashley is the one who’s leading by example.”
BISHOP DIEGO GIRLS BASKETBALL
Coach Burich introduced four-year varsity players Lily Simolon and Citlali Morales, saying, “With these two, in my opinion, it’s almost like the end of an era in Bishop Diego girls basketball.
“These players had huge impacts for us freshman year. Lily was a starter and Citlali came off the bench and has been a starter since her sophomore year. They had big roles getting us to a CIF championship game in their freshman year and then COVID hits, and everybody’s schedules have been hit or miss. It seems like we’re back into the routine again this year.”
Burich said Simolon and Morales are both great leaders and tremendous role models.
“How they play and how they go is how our season is going to be,” he said.
SANTA BARBARA HIGH BOYS BASKETBALL
Junior Tobin Shyrock and sophomore Luke Zuffelato are two of Adam’s team captains this season.
Adam said Shyrock is a quick learner “and makes our job as coaches a lot easier. He’s a coach on the court. He’s a great student, 4.0 GPA, and he’s really a chemistry builder.”
Shyrock has a calm demeanor but is a pit bull on defense, added Adam. “If you’ve watched him play or played against him, you know that he can be very annoying as an opponent. But as a coach and a teammate, you love him.”
Adam said Zuffelato, a 4.0-plus student, has progressed from a shooter into a scorer. “He’s really learned how to score at all levels of the game now. He’s able to hit pull-ups now and finish in the paint.”
DOS PUEBLOS GIRLS SOCCER
Medina said the team is going to be built around junior Katie Peterson and senior Riley Monroe.
“They’re athletic, they’re leaders and they play multiple positions on the field,” said the first-year coach. “They’re going to be anchoring our defense this season as our center backs. Then, if we need to score near the end of the game, they both can play center forward.”
DOS PUEBLOS BOYS SOCCER
Seniors Matteo Robledo and Fin Silver will be counted on in the back and up front for the Chargers. Robledo will play at center back while Silver will be the primary goal scorer.
On Robledo, “He’s very confident. He’s almost like a coach on the field,” said Athletic Director Dan Feldhaus, speaking for coach Matt York.
Silver was one of the top goal scorers in the Channel League last season.
“We’re really looking forward to seeing what he can produce this year as well,” said Feldhaus.
SAN MARCOS GIRLS SOCCER
Assistant coach Miguel Vences said the Royals are looking forward to the challenge of the playing in the larger Channel League.
He introduced Julia Gularte, saying she has all the tangible qualities you want in a player.
“We’re looking forward to having her lead our group,” said Vences.
He noted that this year’s team is young but has and talent.
“I think this is our most athletic and technically sound team that we’ve had, including the team that won CIF a couple of years ago.”
SAN MARCOS BOYS SOCCER
Goalkeeper Freddy Gonzalez and Justin Hess, two key players that helped San Marcos win the Channel League title last year, are back for their senior seasons.
Gonzalez, a center midfielder who stepped up to play goalkeeper, had a big year between the posts
“He obviously is good with his hands, but one of the best parts about Freddy is you can play him a ball from anywhere and he can settle it with his feet,” said coach McLean. “He’s excellent technically with his feet. We’re super excited to have him anchor our defense in goal.”
Hess has been a force on defense since breaking into the lineup as a sophomore.
“He has never left the field and has been absolutely the rock of our defense,” said McLean. “Every opposing coach was very disappointed to learn that last year Justin was a junior and he was returning. He is a special player.”
BISHOP DIEGO FOOTBALL
Assistant coach Steve Robles introduced junior running back Misa Paiau, who was named the Athlete of the Week after his performance on both sides of the ball in a 31-21 win over El Modena in the CIF-SS Division 3 quarterfinals.
“Misa is a great example of a great student athlete,” said Robles. “He’s very humble, respectful towards everybody. And he does well in the classroom “He is our starting (strong-side) linebacker and he’s a very sound tackler, and he’s always where he should be when coach calls up certain defenses.
“On offense, he’s in the rotation with Qu’Ran Gossett, and they’re like thunder and lightning. He’s just overall a very gifted athlete.”
The Cardinals will travel to Upland to play a CIF-SS Division 3 semifinal game on Friday night.
Hop Studios
You must be logged in to post a comment.