Athletes of the Week: JD Yonke and Shelby Wisdom

Bishop Diego's JD Yonke

Pitchers took center stage at Monday’s Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table press luncheon as Bishop Diego ace J.D. Yonke and UCSB softball hurler Shelby Wisdom were named the Athletes of the Week. Yonke pitched his third straight complete game last week, firing a three-hit, 8-0 shutout against Fillmore in Frontier League baseball action. The victory improved his record to 4-0, 2-0 in league with an 0.75 ERA. "J.D. Yonke, on the field, is a quiet leader who leads by example and, in the … [Read more...]

Special Olympics Athlete of the Month: Abraham Moreno

Abraham_SBART

Abraham Moreno was honored as the Special Olympics Athlete of the Month at Monday's Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table press luncheon. Moreno helped his basketball team, the Santa Barbara All-Stars, earn a silver medal at Sunday's Special Olympics Tournament at UCSB. "He plays with great enthusiasm and is a workhorse on the boards," said his coach, Aaron Brown. "He rebounds like no other and scores a little bit. I love coaching him." Moreno, 16, attends Dos Pueblos High and runs on the … [Read more...]

Athletes of the Week: Kenny Crawford and Alyse Harris

SBCC Elyse Harris

Kenny Crawford and Alyse Harris got it done on the mound for their respective teams last week. Crawford threw a two-hitter, leading Santa Barbara High’s baseball team to 2-1 Channel League win over San Marcos. Harris fired a three-hitter and struck out 12 in the Vaqueros’ 7-1 softball victory over Cuesta in a Western State Conference game. The two hurlers were honored Monday as the Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table Athletes of the Week. Crawford prevailed Jimmy Brakka of San Marcos … [Read more...]

Kuntz makes it clear: he wears green and gold for Baylor

SBART-tabber

San Marcos boys volleyball coach Roger Kuntz proudly wore a little green and gold on Monday at the Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table press luncheon. Green and gold happen to be the school colors of crosstown rival Santa Barbara, but Kuntz was quick to point out they're also the colors of his alma mater, Baylor University, where he played football. He wore his Baylor polo shirt on Monday to express his excitement over the success of the men’s and women’s basketball teams in the NCAA … [Read more...]

SBAA repays prep, college track programs for volunteer work

SBART_Tabber

The scheduling was perfect for Monday’s Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table press luncheon. Track and field was one of the featured sports, and Jim Sloan of the Santa Barbara Athletic Association was at Harry's Plaza Cafe to hand out checks to the track programs at the local schools. The SBAA is the longtime local running club that puts on several big races in the community. One of those races is the Santa Barbara Half Marathon, which last year ran in concert with the Santa Barbara … [Read more...]

Scholar-Athlete of the Year: JP Dodson

SBCC Scholar-Athlete of the Year JP Dodson

Basketball wasn’t the only thing JP Dodson took to the next level after graduating from San Marcos High. He also raised his game in academics. Dodson was honored as the Scholar-Athlete of the Year for Santa Barbara City College on Monday at the Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table press luncheon. The 6-1 sophomore led the Vaqueros in scoring while carrying an impressive 3.71 GPA majoring in physics. He’s completed 65 college credits. “As you know, being great at any two areas of … [Read more...]

ATHLETES OF THE WEEK: Kirsten Tilleman and Tim Leary

UCSB's Kirsten Tilleman

Kirsten Tilleman’s workmanlike performance in the paint during UCSB’s run to the Big West Tournament title for a berth in the NCAA Tournament earned her female Athlete of the Week honors at Monday’s Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table press luncheon. Westmont College’s versatile baseball player Tim Leary was honored as the male Athlete of the Week for his play in a series win over Point Loma. Leary went 2-for-5, drove in five runs and scored two more in a 14-9 win in the first game … [Read more...]

Gauchos at their peak going into Big West Tournament

Blake Wands, a senior captain for Cate's boys soccer team,  is introduced at Monday's luncheon.

Dave Campbell likes what sees in the UCSB men’s basketball team as it heads into this week’s Big West Tournament. The two-time defending champion Gauchos open against Pacific on Thursday. “If there’s ever time to be playing your best basketball, it’s right now, Campbell, a Gaucho assistant, said at Monday’s Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table press luncheon at Harry’s Plaza Cafe. “And, I can honestly say that the Gauchos are playing well right now.” He recognized the … [Read more...]

Womble Ethics Award: Troy Skinner

Bishop Diego's Troy Skinner

Troy Skinner is the embodiment of a leader on the athletic field. The Bishop Diego junior is a three-sport standout. He is a wide receiver and defensive back on the football team, plays goalkeeper on the soccer team and is the setter for the volleyball team. “If you look at the positions he plays, the proverbial coach-on-the-field saying applies to Troy and his athletic talent,” said Bishop football coach Tom Crawford. Skinner on Monday was honored as this month’s winner of the … [Read more...]

Athletes of the Week: Tugce Canitez and James Nunnally

James Nunnally

In keeping with the spirit of March Madness, the Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table Athletes of the Week come from college basketball. UCSB senior James Nunnally was named the male winner for his performances in wins over Pacific and UC Davis. He poured in a season-high 28 points, had career-high eight assists with no turnovers in the Pacific game. In a Senior Night game against Davis, he scored a team-high 21 points. Nunnally and the Gauchos are playing in the Big West Tournament this … [Read more...]