The Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table Press Luncheon returned to Harry’s Plaza Cafe on Monday after taking two weeks off due to spring break and the re-scheduled Women in Sports Luncheon.
At Monday’s luncheon, spring sports provided updates on their seasons as most teams are turning the page into the second half of league play and Cate’s Daisy Gemberling was honored.
Daisy Gemberling Named Cate’s Phil Womble Award Recipient
Gemberling’s commitment to Cate School both academically and athletically earned her the honor of being the school’s Phil Womble Ethics in Sports Award honoree.
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.”
The junior competes on the girls water polo team and the baseball team and was named to the All-Tri-Valley League First Team and All-CIF Second Team for Water Polo.
“Rarely do we see a student with this level of drive to be successful combined with a kindness that lifts everyone around them,” Cate athletic director Wade Ransom said. “If you spend any amount of time at all with Daisy, you want to be a better person.
“She truly wants to make the most of every single day, strives to use her strengths to help others and does so with pure joy in her heart.”
In the classroom, Gemberling boasts a 4.49 GPA and has been awarded the Cate Humanities Award, the Joseph Knowles Foundation Art Award, the Mark Metherell Service Grant Award and the Rotary Youth Leadership Award.
“It’s humbling to be recognized alongside so many student athletes who embody Phil Womble’s legacy on and off the court, in the pool and in their dedication to our shared community,” Gemberling said.
She also keeps busy with her extracurricular activities as head of the Cate Women’s Forum and the Active Minds Club. She is also a science peer tutor, the head student librarian and is part of the school’s orchestra.
“I’m immensely grateful to coach Jesse Morrison, whose guidance and leadership have been instrumental since my introduction to water polo. His patience, compassion and determination have shaped not only my skills as an athlete but my character as well,” Gemberling said.
“My final thanks is extended to my mom. Without her I wouldn’t be the person or athlete I am today. She gave me my first workout playlist and I’m forever in awe of the life she leads in service to others and the way and integrity with which she carries herself.”
Gemberling joins Santa Barbara’s Carter Battle, Bishop Diego’s Harry Hayman, San Marcos’ David Ramirez, Carpinteria’s Penny Wrought and Providence’s Sabine Zermeno as this year’s recipients. Dave Pintard of the Pintard Group sponsors the award.
This Week in Local Sports
With most teams coming back from spring break, it is a packed schedule of local high school rivalry matchups.
Here are the crosstown games to look out for.
Tuesday, April 2
- San Marcos @ Cate Boys Tennis, 3:30 p.m.
- San Marcos @ Santa Barbara Girls Lacrosse, 6 p.m.
- Santa Barbara @ San Marcos Boys Lacrosse, 6 p.m.
Wednesday, April 3
- San Marcos, Santa Barbara, Dos Pueblos Track & Field Meet @ San Marcos, 3 p.m.
- San Marcos @ Dos Pueblos Boys Golf (Glen Annie Golf Course), 1 p.m.
- Santa Barbara @ San Marcos Girls Beach Volleyball, 3 p.m.
Thursday, April 4
- San Marcos @ Dos Pueblos Girls Lacrosse, 6 p.m.
- Dos Pueblos @ San Marcos Boys Lacrosse, 6 p.m.
- Dos Pueblos @ San Marcos Swim & Dive, 2 p.m.
Friday, April 5
- Dos Pueblos @ Santa Barbara Girls Beach Volleyball, 3 p.m.
- San Marcos @ Dos Pueblos Boys Tennis, 3 p.m.
- Carpinteria @ Cate Swim & Dive, 4 p.m.
Student-athletes in attendance, by order of presentation
Cate Water Polo, Baseball: Daisy Gemberling
SBCC Men’s Tennis: Mauritz Seitz, Daniel Truong
San Marcos Baseball: Miles Herbert, Dayne Dreste
San Marcos Boys Volleyball: Cameron Earls, Jack Wilson, Mason Rice
San Marcos Girls Lacrosse: Mia Martinez-Tomatis, Megan Taylor, Jaymi Springer
Santa Barbara High Softball: Daylon Donati, Kelly Meeder
San Marcos Boys Tennis: Matthew Chung, Jed Greenwald, Shea Suzuki
Santa Barbara High Girls Lacrosse: Aria Abraham, Kata Olvera
Santa Barbara High Boys Lacrosse: Joe Hoegh, Maxim Buymov
San Marcos Softball: Solana Sandoval, Charlotte Hastings
Carpinteria High Tennis: Nolan Martin, Lucas Martin
Carpinteria High Swim: Giulia Piccoletti, Eli Sheaffer, Matthew Endo
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