Three-sport standout Josh Butler earned the Phil Womble Ethics in Sports Award for Cate School to headline a busy Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table Press Luncheon on Monday at Harry’s Plaza Cafe.
The local fall sports season is slowly coming to a close, and all of the high school football squads are entering the final week of the regular season with plenty of marquee matchups to watch.
Josh Butler Named Cate’s Phil Womble Winner
Butler’s stellar play on the field and court alongside his leadership on Cate’s campus led to him being named the school’s Phil Womble Ethics in Sports Award winner.
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.”
Butler is a standout on the varsity football, basketball and baseball teams for the Rams. He was an All-League Honorable mention in basketball and a Second Team All-League member in baseball.
He is also an active member of the Cate community, participating in Cate’s Public Service Night program and serving as the head of the Cate Jewish Student Union.
“Josh is one of those kids that everybody wants and that every successful team needs,” Cate athletic director Wade Ransom said. “I get to see Josh just as much off the field as I see him on the field and without a doubt Josh is one of those kids that makes our community work.
“In our small bubble, Josh really stands out amongst a really strong student body… I think he’s a perfect representation of Phil, his spirit and his inspirational nature.”
Butler is the second of eight Phil Womble Ethics in Sports award winners for this school year, joining Dos Pueblos’ Anastasia Brunner. The award is sponsored by Dave Pintard of the Pintard Group.
“I want to thank my coaches and my parents… I get nowhere close to this without having them,” Butler said. “I try to hold myself to really high standards and sometimes I get caught up in what I’m trying to accomplish and kind of forget to take a look back at what I achieved.
“This definitely helps me take a step back and give me some time to think about it all.”
Final Week of Prep Football Regular Season
The local teams have reached the end of the regular season of the 2024 football season, but there is still plenty to be decided on Friday night.
The biggest game of the week will come from the Goodland as San Marcos will take a short trip up the 101 to clash with crosstown rival Dos Pueblos in a Tri-County League showdown at Scott O’Leary Stadium.
Both the Royals and the Chargers come into the matchup at 3-1 in league play with playoff spots already clinched. However, the winner of the game will have sole possession of second place in the standings with a potential for a higher seed in the playoffs.
San Marcos’ stout defense will look to keep in check a Dos Pueblos offense that has found its groove with Simon Alexander under center.
“Both teams don’t have to worry about a playoff berth or anything like that, [the game] gets to be exactly what it needs to be: a good community game against two programs that have great respect for each other,” Chargers coach AJ Pateras said.
Meanwhile, Santa Barbara High will hit the road for its regular season finale against Thousand Oaks for a matchup of teams tied for third place in the standings.
With both teams at 2-2, whichever team wins the matchup will clinch an automatic berth into the playoffs. The loser, meanwhile, will await a potential at-large bid into the postseason.
The Dons have some reinforcements for the crucial matchup, as quarterback Laird Finkel made his return from injury last week and should be in line for plenty of action this Friday.
Carpinteria High has a chance at a co-Citrus Coast League title in a matchup against Grace Brethren on Friday at Carpinteria Valley Memorial Stadium.
The Warriors have split their opening two matchups of league play while Grace sits at 2-0.
Bishop Diego football is on the outside looking in when it comes to the playoff picture, taking a 1-3 Marmonte League record into a road matchup with Pacifica on Friday. The Cardinals will need a win and an at-large bid to reach the postseason.
In 8-man football, the Cate Rams are undefeated with one game left to play. If the Rams can take down rival Thacher on Saturday at home, they will clinch a Tri-Valley League championship.
Student-Athletes in Attendance
Cate Football: Josh Butler
San Marcos Football: Giancarlo Vargas, Daniel Soto
San Marcos Girls Tennis: Kate Selby, Stella Mast, Marta Delavallina
Carpinteria High Cross Country: Max Soto, Mila Martins
Carpinteria High Girls Tennis: Karolina Casas, Sofia Gonzales
Carpinteria High Football: Caleb Kelly, Samuel Lopez
San Marcos Cross Country: Anna Holmes, Gage Minne, Ben Callanan, Colette Keller
Santa Barbara High Football: Kai Mault, DJ Wilson, Fin Congdon
Dos Pueblos Football: Zach Gesswein, Andy Newendorp
Dos Pueblos Cross Country: Adrian Rubio, Avery Butler, Mitzi Myers, Charles Contakes
Santa Barbara High Cross Country: Nico Tassos, William Covington, Sophia Guerrero
Santa Barbara High Girls Golf: Mia Cyr, Sage Malmsten
Hop Studios