San Marcos’ David Ramirez earned the Phil Womble Ethics in Sports Award, colleges previewed the upcoming basketball season and high school teams previewed upcoming playoff matchups this week at Monday’s Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table Press Luncheon.
The luncheon was held at Harry’s Plaza Cafe, as it is every week.
Phil Womble Award
Ramirez was given the award because of his efforts and participation on the Royals’ track and field and football teams.
He joins Santa Barbara’s Carter Battle and Bishop Diego’s Harry Hayman as this year’s Phil Womble Award recipients. The award is sponsored by the Pintard Group
As it states on the SBART website, “This award acknowledges student-athletes who value and incorporate into their daily lives, the following qualities: accountability, respect of teammates, opponents, and officials, honesty, positive attitude, reliability, loyalty, sportsmanship, others above self, and team above personal interest.”
Ramirez’s track and field coach, Marilyn Hantgin, presented him with the award.
“You won’t find a nicer young man around,” Hantgin said. “I know that David embodies the Phil Womble spirit… he just makes everyone around him better.”
San Marcos athletic director Aaron Solis was also on hand to honor Ramirez.
“We all have bad days, but even when he’s having a bad day he finds a way to uplift his classmates and finds a way to uplift his teammates,” Solis said. “That’s something that I even struggle to do as an adult, and here is a young man doing this already as a junior in high school.”
Along with what he does in athletics, Ramirez holds a 4.0 GPA and is a member of AVID all while taking Honors, AP and SBCC classes.
“I’d like to thank my mom, she’s always there for me when I need her,” Ramirez said. “I’d like to thank Phil Womble, I know how important he was to this community and his story is really amazing.”
Ramirez also gave recognition to Hantgin and Ralph Molina, his football coach.
High School Playoff Runs
Santa Barbara High is the lone local 11-man football team still alive in the playoff race after winning its first-round matchup over St. Paul last week in double overtime.
The Dons, competing in Division 4, will play host to Corona Del Mar in a quarterfinal game this Friday at 7 p.m. at Peabody Stadium.
In boys water polo, both San Marcos and Dos Pueblos are in the semifinals of the CIF-SS Division 2 playoffs.
The two teams will be playing a doubleheader on Wednesday on Dos Pueblos’ campus with the Royals taking on Portola at 3:30 p.m. and the Chargers facing off against Ventura at 5 p.m.
College Hoops Tips Off
Both UC Santa Barbara and Westmont Men and Women’s Basketball begin their seasons this week.
The defending Big West Champion UCSB Men’s Basketball team will host Portland State on Thursday at 7 p.m. to kick off their season.
Meanwhile, the Gaucho women’s team, coming off a 21-12 season, will welcome the University of San Francisco to the Thunderdome at 7 p.m. on Tuesday.
For the Warriors, the men’s team is opening its first season in NCAA Division II by hosting the Conference Challenge Event on Friday.
The women’s squad will be on the road for the majority of the opening month of the season, with the home opener on Tuesday, Nov. 14.
Student-athletes in attendance, by order of appearance:
San Marcos Track & Field/Football: David Ramirez
Santa Barbara City College Football: Jake Foye, Kayden Chan
San Marcos Boys Water Polo: Nic Prentice, Sam Rich
Santa Barbara High Football: Thiago Valerio, Alex Mendibles
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