Santa Barbara's Sports News and Information
They flew in from near and far …From perches Newport Beach … Westwood … Seattle … Phoenix … Hawaii … China … and everywhere else.Now fully-fledged, they all flocked home in near-formation to the Mother Nest for a blast of nourishment.They came in droves!“This thing just snowballed,” offered The Organizer & Legend of the Dome, Barb Beainy, the one with the shortest flight from, well, right here in SB.‘This thing’ she is referring to is aka: Gaucho … [Read more...]
Presidio Sports is proud to announce Ryan Fitch as our Local Sports Figure of the Month for February, 2012. Not only is Ryan an active participant in local athletics, but he and his family have directly been involved in expanding support services for local families with Down Syndrome.Presidio Sports recognizes a local sports figure every month for their extraordinary contribution to the Santa Barbara athletic community. It is our way to recognize those who have made a positive impact on … [Read more...]
It was a chance meeting that would forever change his life …Had he left minutes earlier on that hot August afternoon, he would have missed that golden lead of a ‘temporary’ sports reporting gig for a local paper.Now almost 44 years later we celebrate ‘The Dean’ of local sports writers –- award-winning and much-beloved John Zant, as our first 2012 Presidio Sports 'Sports Figure of the Month' in recognition of a near-lifetime of outstanding local sports reporting and feature … [Read more...]
OK, the truth is…I suck at golf.Total hacker!!But, that doesn’t stop me from playing every chance I get.In fact, it’s so bad … I don’t keep score … liberally use mulligans (free do-overs) … move my ball for a better lie in the ruff, much to the horror of real golfers around me… take provisionals (hit a second ball) in the likely case my first is lost anywhere near trees or out-of-bounds (often) …So on the recent MLK holiday, it’s La Cumbre Country Club … [Read more...]
Fresh off of finishing her fabulous Dos Pueblos High School tennis career -- one punctuated with an unprecedented 135-0 league record and a ‘4-peat’ as Channel League singles champion -- Lauren Stratman has been named Presidio Sports Sports Figure of the Month for November 2011.Equally amazing, perhaps, with this Columbia University-bound senior is her 4.8 scholastic GPA that underscores the same grit, determination and total commitment in her classes … as on the courts.It’s all … [Read more...]
“I’m a lucky guy,” he says. “I could have easily died or been paralyzed forever.” ---Andre BarbieriThe Grand Finale of our inaugural 2011 Presidio Sports Sports Figure of the Month series celebrates the indomitable positive power of the human spirit -- especially following one of life’s darkest moments.Nine months after a horrific Mammoth snowboarding accident damn near killed him and claimed most of his left leg, Andre Barbieri -- our December Sports Figure of the Month … [Read more...]
New Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table president Rich Hanna has been awarded the Presidio Sports Sports Figure of the Month for October, 2011 for his stewardship of and commitment to the community’s expansive sports activities and programs.On the heels of again leading Semana Nautica – SB’s ever-growing, premier summer beach festival and athletic competitions over a two-week period, Hanna just dove headfirst into his new two-year SBART leadership post.It follows five years of … [Read more...]
Under clear, sunny and cool skies, 'Ster Nation came together at the Montecito Country Club on Wednesday, about three months after winning their third National Baseball Congress (NBC) Championship in five years.The 12th Annual Santa Barbara Foresters/Hugs for Cubs Turkey Day Shootout was again sold-out with a full field of 144 golfers.Included in the 36 foursomes playing a scramble format were former Forester players including some still playing in both the minor and major leagues … [Read more...]
It came early this year …September, actually.And it was a gift many years in the making – 36 by last count.Three-missed calls one night in rapid-fire succession on my cell phone nearly a year before that, unknowingly, set things in motion.All three calls from same number. Area code 9-1-9.No clue where that was …So, immediately after next morning java – there was only one thing to do.It rang twice, then this after hello …Me: Ah, yes, hi, er …I had … [Read more...]
She’s a Midwest girl at heart.Mt. Prospect, where she grew up, is a 40-minute northwest ride from Chicago.Her dad, Bob was an electrician and mom, Donna, a waitress.Adrienne Hengels is the last of four kids – there’s Steve, Jeff and Denise before her.“We were, and still are, a very close knit family,” she said.This Hengels played basketball, volleyball and track.She gave 110% in practice.Got A’s in her classes.And dreamed like all kids do … [Read more...]
It’s been a year in the making …Every painstaking detail.Changes. Enhancements. Some surprises. Even a little pizazz.Entertainment, too!And for Rusty Snow, Santa Barbara International (SBI) Marathon & Half Marathon race director, along with his wife, June, who serves as the expo and finish-line coordinator and Dan Campbell, uber-experienced logistics coordinator, the moment has arrived.“We’re ready!” Snow stated.Saturday is their third year orchestrating the … [Read more...]
Friends for 15 years, Naomi Reeves and Jenny Klein started running on a lark four years ago …While together pushing their second kids in strollers around their San Roque neighborhood, Reeves asked Klein, both 38, if she wanted to run the Santa Barbara Half-Marathon four months out.“Sure,” said Klein. “But we’re NOT runners.”But, sharp and resourceful they are!So, they downloaded a training schedule from cyberspace and with surgical-like precision, they sliced precious … [Read more...]
