Daisy Gemberling accepted the Cate Scholar-Athlete of the Year award and the spring sports teams provided updates early in their league seasons at Monday’s Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table Press Luncheon.
It was a busy luncheon as local baseball, softball, track & field, lacrosse, tennis and beach volleyball teams descended upon Harry’s Plaza Cafe.
Daisy Gemberling Named Cate Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Gemberling, a multi-sport athlete for the Rams, was awarded the school’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year award for her commitment to both Cate athletics and academics.
She is the captain of the girls water polo squad, earning a Tri-Valley League First Team honor and being named the Team’s Most Valuable Player this past season.
She is also a member of the Cate cross country team, where she was a CIF finalist at Mt. SAC in the fall.
“I’d like to thank Mr. Wade Ransom at Cate for nominating me and for always cheering me on when I’m running up the Cate hill,” Gemberling said.
“To my coaches in cross country and water polo, Tim Weir and Jesse Morrison, thank you for cultivating in me an energy and a passion for your respective sports that will carry me through high school, college and beyond. I hope I make you both proud.”
Academically, Gemberling boasts an impressive 4.57 GPA and received the Questbridge National Match Recipient for a full-ride scholarship to Yale, where she will study history and chemistry.
She has racked up the awards during her time at Cate, earning the Rotary Youth Leadership Award, the Joseph Knowles Foundation Arts Award, the Gaby Edwards/David Harbison Humanities Award and the Betty Woodworth Student Librarian Award.
In the community, Gemberling is the head of the school’s public service program and a prefect of the Cook House East dorm at Cate. She has also volunteered at the Carpinteria Arts Center.
“Thank you to my mom, Linda Gemberling, and to my advisor at Cate, Sandi Pierce. You two are the people that are constantly giving and asking for nothing in return,” Daisy Gemberling said. “I hope that I can teach all whom I meet in life this kindness and generosity, which is not my own.”
Gemberling is the seventh of 11 Scholar-Athletes of the Year for the 2024-25 school year, joining Carpinteria’s Keyla Manriquez, Providence’s Sarah Monroy, Laguna Blanca’s Chloe Gidney, Santa Barbara’s Gwen Chenoweth, San Marcos’ Andres Villa and Bishop Diego’s Sophia Regan.
The award is sponsored by Marc Gamberdella of the Gamberdella-Spruill Group of Merrill Lynch.
Spring Sports Continue League, Rivalry Action
The majority of high school spring sports teams began their league schedule last week, meaning the next few weeks will be key in determining which squads will be in the playoff hunt down the stretch.
In baseball, San Marcos began its Channel League run with a sweep of Rio Mesa, Santa Barbara earned a win and a tie against Ventura and Dos Pueblos went 1-1 against Buena.
In girls beach volleyball, local teams completed the first half of their league schedule last week. San Marcos sits atop the Channel League at 6-0 after wins over Dos Pueblos and Santa Barbara.
“It’s going to be a strong second half of the season,” San Marcos beach volleyball head coach Tim Loomer. “Santa Barbara played us strong last week, they’re a strong squad, so we’re looking forward to the second half.”
It’s a busy week ahead for the local lacrosse teams, as Santa Barbara High and Dos Pueblos will square off in two matchups on Tuesday and the Dons will take on San Marcos in a pair of games on Thursday.
“We’re looking forward to the challenge,” Santa Barbara High head coach John Keogh said.
Here are some of the top games to watch in town this week:
Tuesday, Mar. 11
- Dos Pueblos @ San Marcos Boys Volleyball, 6 p.m.
- Santa Barbara @ Dos Pueblos Boys Lacrosse, 6 p.m.
- Dos Pueblos @ Santa Barbara Girls Lacrosse, 6 p.m.
Thursday, Mar. 13
- San Marcos @ Santa Barbara Boys Lacrosse, 6 p.m.
- Santa Barbara @ San Marcos Girls Lacrosse, 6 p.m.
Saturday, Mar. 15
- Dos Pueblos, San Marcos, Santa Barbara, Laguna Blanca @ Dos Pueblos Boys Volleyball Invitational @ UCSB
Student-Athletes in Attendance
Cate Water Polo: Daisy Gemberling
San Marcos Girls Lacrosse: Carly Grant, Briar Sorenson
San Marcos Baseball: Mason Crang, David Burkholder
San Marcos Boys Tennis: Spencer Bauer, Carter Cotich
Santa Barbara Track & Field: Krystal Valdez, William Covington
Santa Barbara Softball: Madison Benedict, Vienna Mochi
San Marcos Track & Field: Jeremy Strand, Colette Keller, Ethan Ball
Santa Barbara High Boys Lacrosse: Jasper Larsson, Rowen Bigby
San Marcos Girls Beach Volleyball: Sam Fallon, Evyn Miller
Santa Barbara Girls Beach Volleyball: Paylin Marcillac, Kira Elliot
Dos Pueblos Boys Lacrosse: Cal Denier, Andrew Forsland
Dos Pueblos Track & Field: Cullen Gully, Andy Brennan, Harper Wolfe-Lyons, Clehann Howard
Dos Pueblos Girls Lacrosse: Linnea Clapinski, Stella Lawler
Dos Pueblos Softball: Anna Gray, Kylie Pearce
Santa Barbara Girls Lacrosse: Sofia Lopez, Katarina Olvera
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