Providence Hall's JT Royston
They probably won’t build a statue of him just yet, but JT Royston made a little history for Providence Hall’s young athletic program on Monday.
The basketball star became the Lions’ first-ever Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table Athlete of the Week after putting up big numbers in a 3-0 week for Providence Hall. The first was a triple-double in a blowout win, followed by a 26-point performance in a one-point decision and 24 more points in the week’s third showdown.
Providence Hall Athletic Director and basketball coach Keith Luberto got the call from Presidio Sports informing him of the selection on Sunday night.
“It was quite the surprise. I’m trying to tell my wife, I’m tearing up and my voice is cracking,” recalled Luberto at Monday’s SBART luncheon. “I’m happy for JT and our school. It’s just an amazing thing for us.”
Royston’s teammate, Nate Dutcher, was also at the luncheon and has averaged 18 points per game over the last six contests. The Lions are 9-6 and need to finish above .500 to make the playoffs in their very first year of CIF competition.
Carpinteria High's Shelby Dunlap
DUNLAP DOES IT ALL: If you think your life is too busy, you should try being Shelby Dunlap. The Carpinteria High senior, who was honored Monday as Carpinteria High’s Scholar Athlete of the Year, does just about everything and does it well.
As the school’s president, she is at school at 7 a.m. for ASB activities before her academic day begins. Once she hits the books, it’s all AP classes until soccer practice, after which she often has to go lead the way as captain of the cheerleading team at a basketball game. She also plays volleyball in the fall and is the school record-holder on the track team in the 300- and 100-meter hurdles. She’s spent 14 years as a dancer at 14k Jules Dance Academy, and is in a handful of other clubs on campus. Her GPA is a modest 4.38, and she was recently honored at halftime of a UCLA Basketball game with the John Wooden High School Athlete Award.
As award sponsor Bob Huhn pointed out, it’s amazing she has any time at all to sleep.
Special Olympics Athlete of the Month Lauren Lee Wingate
SPECIAL OLYMPICS ATHLETE OF THE MONTH: Lauren Lee Wingate’s beaming smile lit up the room, and is one of the reasons why she’s such a respected and well-liked Special Olympian.
She participates in floor hockey, basketball, track and field, tennis and soccer, and she also works at the Ralph’s downtown. In a recent floor hockey match in San Diego, she recorded six goals.
“She was amazing on the left side and we really appreciate all of her hard work,” said her coach, Jaime.
SBART GETS A GIFT: Bishop Diego alum Peter Georgi, who co-coaches the Cardinals golf team with Marty Herrera, was at Harry’s to present a $2,500 check to the Round Table on behalf of the Lauren Ashley Herrera Memorial Foundation.
“It means so much as an athlete to come as an athlete and be recognized. There’s other communities that emulate and wish they could have the support that the community of Santa Barbara has for these young athletes,” said Georgi.
Bishop Diego's Kelsey Stimson
FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: In their first meeting of the season, Bishop Diego’s girls basketball team lost to St. Bonaventure by 31 points. Thanks to Female Athlete of the Week Kelsey Stimson, the Cardinals came back and beat the Seraphs in their second showdown. Stimson scored 26 points in the game, making eight straight free throws in the final quarter-and-a-half to seal the victory.
