A pair of individual awards headlined the Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table Press Luncheon on Monday at Harry’s Plaza Cafe to begin a busy week of local sports action.
While Dos Pueblos’ Logan Pearce and Laguna Blanca’s Bennett Sullivan were honored for their efforts in both academics and athletics, local high school football teams took center stage heading into their final games of the regular season.
Logan Pearce Earns DPHS Phil Womble Award Winner
Pearce’s ability on the basketball court and the baseball diamond, combined with his efforts outside of sports on campus, has earned him the school’s Phil Womble Ethics in Sports Award.
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.”
Pearce has been a key member of the Dos Pueblos basketball program, including playing a part in the Chargers earning an All-Academic Championship for the 2024 season.
“He’s so well deserving of this award, the way that he stands out in regard to everyone on campus. He’s involved in all aspects, he’s a great student athlete,” Dos Pueblos basketball coach Joe Zamora said. “He shows us as a competitor in the classroom that he’ll be a competitor on the court and on the baseball field.
“He’s the type of person where I view him as my son. He does a lot for the program. He definitely is (an ambassador) because the young kids, when they come to our games, they want to be like Logan… He’s a great ambassador and a great role model for the kids, not only in Goleta Valley, but all of Santa Barbara.”
Academically, Pearce boasts an impressive 4.58 GPA and was a member of the National Honor Society in 2024 and 2025.
“I’d like to thank all my teammates and all my coaches for helping me along this way, and especially to my mom for being here,” Pearce said.
Pearce is the second of eight Phil Womble Ethics in Sports Award winners for this school year, joining Santa Barbara High’s Elina Stump. The award is sponsored by Dave Pintard of the Pintard Group.
Bennett Sullivan Named Laguna Blanca Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Sullivan’s excellence in the pool and in the classroom as a Laguna Blanca Owl has led to him being named the school’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year award winner.
The senior is one of the best swimmers in school history, including a trio of CIF-SS titles and top-three finishes at the CIF-SS meet every year of his high school career. He is also a Tri-Valley League champion.
He has swam competitively since he was 5 years old, and holds two team records at Santa Barbara Swim Club. He will be attending and swimming for Pomona College beginning next year, where he will be double-majoring in math and economics.
“I’d like to thank all the teachers and my coaches at Laguna Blanca for giving me the opportunity to further my academics and athletics there,” Sullivan said. “I’d also like to thank Santa Barbara Swim Club and all my coaches and teammates there. I wouldn’t be the swimmer I am today without them.”
Sullivan holds a 4.75 GPA and has been honored at Laguna Blanca as a Top Scholar, a member of the Cum Laude Society, an Honor Roll member and an AP Scholar with Distinction.
In the community, Sullivan has been a member of the volunteer organization Boys Team Charity for years and is a tech tutor at the Goleta Valley Library.
“I’d also like to thank my parents. All of your support over the years has really been amazing,” Sullivan said. “Thank you to the Round Table for hosting this event and this award.”
Sullivan is the second of 11 Scholar-Athletes of the Year for this school year, joining Dos Pueblos’ Elliot McGuire. The award is sponsored by Marc Gamberdella of the Gamberdella-Spruill Group of Merrill Lynch.
Crucial Regular-Season Football Finales
The local high school football season is nearing its end, and local teams have plenty to play for in their respective regular-season finales this week.
In the Tri-County League, crosstown rivals Dos Pueblos and San Marcos are set to clash at Warkentin Stadium on Thursday at 7 p.m. with a trip to the CIF-SS playoffs at stake. The winner of the game will finish in third place in the league, earning the final automatic bid into the postseason.
The Chargers and Royals have had virtually identical league seasons up to this point, going 2-2 with wins over Santa Paula and Hueneme and losses to Agoura and Fillmore.
“It’s a great rivalry, a lot of respect between both staffs, all the players and families know each other, and it’s a rivalry that’s gone quite a ways back,” San Marcos head coach Ralph Molina said.
“It’s going to be an exciting time Thursday. I know Coach Pateras will have his guys ready and we’ll be ready.”
Carpinteria High will also be in action on Thursday night this week, playing host to Channel Islands at 7 p.m. at Carpinteria Valley Memorial Stadium.
The winner of this matchup will also earn a CIF-SS playoff berth, as either the Warriors or the Raiders will claim a third-place finish in the Citrus Coast League.
On Halloween night this Friday at La Playa Stadium, Bishop Diego will roll out the welcome mats for an undefeated Pacifica squad, in which the winner will be crowned Marmonte League champion.
The Tritons have not lost a league matchup yet, while the Cardinals’ lone loss came on a 14-13 defeat to Oaks Christian after a failed extra-point attempt by Bishop Diego.
Finally, Santa Barbara High’s playoff hopes will be on the line on Friday when it hosts Thousand Oaks at Peabody Stadium at 7 p.m. If the Dons win, they move to .500 and will have a chance at an at-large bid.
Full previews and predictions for each game will be available in Wednesday’s Friday Night Lights story.
Student-Athletes in Attendance
Dos Pueblos Baseball, Basketball: Logan Pearce
Laguna Blanca Swim: Bennett Sullivan
SBCC Football: Alejandro Garcia
San Marcos Football: Cyrus Reid, Tommy Diaz, TJ Deakyne
Santa Barbara High Football: Nate Meister, Cade Mault, Henry Crafton
Dos Pueblos Football: Micah Barnhart, Kaarlo Malik-Anderson
Carpinteria High Girls Tennis: Abby Gobbell, Karissa Cavier
Carpinteria High Boys Water Polo: Taison Lee, Massimo Bonilla-Zakosek
Carpinteria High Football: Mason Brainerd, Brayden Real
Santa Barbara High Girls Volleyball: Aeryn Alexander, Addy Deux
Bishop Diego Football: Oscar Mauia, Mason Bidlow
Santa Barbara High Girls Tennis: Nicole Buist, Lucy Kronberg, Kate Hashbarger, Makena Taylor
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