Athletes of the Week: Derek Shoemaker, Tara Yekrang, Nicci Yvanovich

UCSB’s Derek Shoemaker

UCSB’s Derek Shoemaker and the Westmont doubles team of Tara Yekrang and Nicci Yvanovich were named Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table Athletes of the Week on Monday.

Shoemaker led UCSB’s water polo team to a pair of wins over the No. 2 and No. 3 teams in the country over the weekend. In an 11-10 upset of No. 2 UCLA, a team the Gauchos hadn’t beaten since 1992, Shoemaker scored a team-high four goals including the game-winner late in the fourth quarter. The UCSB sophomore finished with eight goals in the weekend’s SoCal Tournament, leading UCSB to a runner-up finish.

Yekrang and Yvanovich won the ITA Regional championship on Saturday, qualifying for the USTA/ITA Small Colleges Championships in Mobile, Alabama. The doubles partners are also roommates at Westmont, forging a strong bond that has served the duo well on the court.

Honorable mentions were: Charlie Miller, UCSB Soccer; Morgan Nevin, SBCC Football; Blake Parrish, Dos Pueblos water polo; Tim Goranson & John Bertram, Westmont tennis; Anthony Carter, Bishop Diego Football; Marcus Hutchinson, Carpinteria Football; Cecilia Instebo, SBCC Cross Country; Melissa Jewkes, San Marcos Golf; Elaine McClure, Dos Pueblos Cross Country.