Van Wagner honored; Women’s final has local flavor

There are no tickets sold or bleachers set up for the U.S. Open of Beach Volleyball.

It harkens back to tournaments of old, so it was appropriate that there was a tribute to a guy who’s, well, old.

Bob Van Wagner, 82, has been on East Beach serving the sport as a player, tournament director, referee and historian since the 1950s. He was surprised Sunday afternoon when Karch Kiraly presented him with a lifetime achievement award.

The ever-humble Van Wagner, a World War II veteran with a carpal-crunching handshake, is arguably the most important link to the sport’s early days thanks to his volumes of photos and footage.

“What Karch is trying to do with the U.S. Open is to bring back the old school, and I thought it was a perfect time to honor Bobby,” said George “Jorge” Richardson, who initially thought of the award. Richardson is a local teacher and historian of the sport.

“I wouldn’t be who I am without Bob Van Wagner,” he said.

Van Wagner, whose pictures were up on display near the stage in front of East Beach Grill, provided his well-known tag-line when aksed by someone in the crowd what time it was.

“It’s point time, baby!” he said.

On the court, Mike Morrison and Aaron Wachtfogel won the Men’s Open division while the women’s final had a local flavor, as ex-UCSB Gaucho Olivia Waldowski and partner Kathryn Winkler defeated Santa Barbara’s Daven Allison and Courtney Guerra 21-16, 21-19.

Guerra also played for the Gauchos, and Allison was a standout in track and volleyball at SBCC.

“The atmosphere at this event is great. I’m just so happy to be back and Santa Barbara and win this here,” said the 6-foot-2 Waldowski, a 2006 NCAA All-American.

Dos Pueblos High’s Dillan Bennett and Jordon Dyer took second in the men’s A bracket, falling to John Caroompas and Taylor Sander 28-24. Marcos Plovarocsik of San Luis Obispo and Scott Saley of Santa Barbara won the men’s BB division, while local Tigre Vega and partner Billy Ames won the men’s B.

The women’s B bracket was won by Santa Barbara’s Maren Mochizuki and Thoi Vo.

Locals took both Master’s (37 and over) divisions, with Adam Phillips joining Marc Rodriguez in the men’s division and Jackie Campbell taking the women’s competition with partner Ilga Celmins.

(Picture of Bob Van Wagner as well as picture of Karch Kiraly with winners Kathryn Winkler and Olivia Waldowski by Blake Dorfman)