SBART Luncheon: Selma Jensen Named SBCC Scholar-Athlete of the Year

Santa Barbara City College presented its Scholar-Athlete of the Year and spring teams previewed the final weeks of their regular seasons at Monday’s SBART Press Luncheon at Harry’s Plaza Cafe.

Track and Field standout Selma Jensen was awarded to begin the luncheon before local lacrosse, track & field and softball coaches provided updates on their teams.

Selma Jensen Named SBCC Scholar-Athlete of the Year

Jensen was selected as the Vaquero Student-Athlete of the Year after her resiliency and success as a pole vaulter for the track & field team and as a student in the classroom.

She has sustained several injuries during her collegiate career, including a broken ankle and stress fractures in both her femur and back.

“All of us as coaches and athletes have had to deal with adversity, but hers is particularly special… it seemed like every day there was something new,” SBCC Track & Field head coach Don Willis said. “She stayed persistent with it… What she’s gone through is not easy and I’m just super proud of her.

“As coaches sometimes we’re like psychiatrists… picking them up day in and day out and all that and it’s been a joy doing that for her.”

Academically, Jensen holds an impressive 3.98 GPA and has been a member of the President’s Honor Roll in all of her semesters at SBCC.

She has an interest in Psychology and Criminology, and is a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

Jensen is the ninth 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, Bishop Diego’s Sophia Regan, Cate’s Daisy Gemberling and Dos Pueblos’ Pessia Fygenson.

The award is sponsored by Marc Gamberdella of the Gamberdella-Spruill Group of Merrill Lynch.

Spring Season Rolls On

The upcoming week is a bye week for the local Channel League baseball, softball and boys volleyball teams, but that doesn’t mean the action slows down for the other teams in town.

The track & field teams are entering championship season, and while the large schools in the area will be competing in the Mt. SAC Invitational this weekend, Carpinteria High will be hosting a meet of its own.

The Warriors will welcome 44 small high schools to Carpinteria Valley Memorial Stadium for the 105th Annual Russell Cup on Saturday. Competition between student-athletes from across the state will begin at 9 a.m.

“It’s always fun seeing new faces at the Russell Cup,” Warriors head coach Van Latham said. “We’re looking forward to it and it’s a big thing down in Carpinteria.”

It’s a big week for boys lacrosse in town as Dos Pueblos looks to complete a perfect regular season. The Chargers (16-0, 6-0 Channel League) are the lone team left undefeated in California under 13th-year head coach Lucas Martinez. They are ranked No. 13 in the CIF Southern Section.

Dos Pueblos’ Mitch Maskerey, left to right, Parker Bentley sand Jack Finneran have played key roles in a dominant regular season for the Chargers. (Diego Sandoval / Noozhawk Photo)

Dos Pueblos will face off against a pair of crosstown rivals this week, heading down to Santa Barbara High (5-5, 4-1 CL) on Tuesday and San Marcos (2-11, 0-5 CL) on Thursday. The Chargers defeated both teams in their previous meetings.

Santa Barbara High head coach John Keogh praised this year’s Dos Pueblos boys lacrosse team for its impressive season.

“This is kind of a legendary team that [DP] has,” Keogh said. “I want to praise them because not only are they a really good team, but they’re a great opponent. They kind of beat us up, but they’re cool about it.”

San Marcos boys golf also has a pair of rivalry matchups awaiting them this week, beginning with a match against Santa Barbara High on Tuesday at Santa Barbara Golf Club.

The Royals will follow that up by heading out to Goleta to take on Dos Pueblos at Glen Annie Golf Course.

Despite a bye week on the diamond, San Marcos (6-10, 2-6 CL) and Dos Pueblos (9-9, 7-2 CL) will clash in Goleta for a rescheduled contest. The last time the two teams met, the Chargers came out on top, 7-3.