Carpinteria’s girls tennis players Erin Saito, left, Merissa Souza?and Natalie Saito, right.
Monday’s Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table press luncheon featured Carpinteria High School’s girls tennis team as special guests.
The Warriors, female Athletes of the Week Lesly Zapata and Erin Saito among them, had just won the first CIF Championship for tennis in school history.
Saito, Carpinteria’s SBART Scholar-Athlete of the Year, reported at the podium for the Warriors.
“We’ve had an extremely successful season. I think the most in Carpinteria High School history,” Saito said before introducing each of her 11 teammates sitting in the room.
“I would just like to thank all the coaches for helping us and supporting us, and also the parents and everybody else who came out and supported us along the way.”
Several others shared the spotlight at Harry’s Cafe, as the Round Table gave out a Womble Award, a Special Olympics Athlete of the Month award and a Coach of the Year award.
Santa Barbara High’s Gio Goggia was the male Athlete of the Week. Find more about the Athletes of the Week HERE
Two awardees came from Dos Pueblos, as three-sport athlete Derek Abbott is the Womble recipient and Leslie Wiggins Roth was recognized as the Chargers’ Coach of the Year.
The last coach to speak, DP cross country coach Len Miller, voiced his support of the decision to recognize Roth.
Phil Womble Awardee Derek Abbott
“Coach Wiggins treats me better than my wife,” Miller said.
Abbott is Dos Pueblos’ Womble winner for the 2012-13 school year, given to student-athletes who demonstrate the highest standards of ethics and sportsmanship. The junior plays football, basketball and track & field.
Presenter Bob Archer shared comments from football coach Nate Mendoza.
“Incredible work ethic, always puts his teammates first. Huge role on the team next year as a player and importantly as a leader.”
Ben Medina was named the Special Olympics Athlete of the Month at Monday’s Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table press luncheon at Harry’s Plaza Cafe.
Ben attends Carpinteria Middle School and excels at bowling and golf. Medina is a big sports fan in general, especially of NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson.
Ben’s coach Aaron Brown has seen him improve his bowling lately, noticing that Ben has “turned his spares into strikes.”
Parents Jennifer and David were in attendance to see Ben receive his award at the podium from Brown at Round Table President Rich Hanna.
Monday’s luncheon caught the fall and winter seasons in flux, resulting in only a handful of coaches delivering reports on their seasons.
Laguna Blanca’s girls volleyball coach Jim Alzina has his team still alive and in the hunt for its own CIF Championship, as the Owls are one step away from the Division 4-A title match. Laguna won three CIF matches last week with Athlete of the Week honorable mention Grace Woolf leading the way.
“She’s got a little attitude now which is great,” Alzina said.
Woolf and setter Clare Madsen were with Alzina at Harry’s.
Another group still in the hunt for a CIF championship, Bishop Diego’s 11-0 football team, was represented by players Troy Skinner and Anthony Carter.
The first of the winter high school coaches made appearances, including Carpinteria’s new boys soccer coach Leonardo Quintero.
Quintero stressed grades and education were key to his team’s success. The Warriors’ prospects are bright, bringing back “a strong defense, reliable mids, and good forwards.”
STUDENT-ATHLETES PRESENT
Erin Saito, Carpinteria Tennis
Lesly Zapata, Carpinteria Tennis
Emily Saito, Carpinteria Tennis
Catalina Maldonado, Carpinteria Tennis
Kelsie Bryant, Carpinteria Tennis
Grecia Beltran, Carpinteria Tennis
Tes Pitzer, Carpinteria Tennis
Natalie Saito, Carpinteria Tennis
Merissa Souza, Carpinteria Tennis
Kassandra Ni, Carpinteria Tennis
Makenna Pike, Carpinteria Tennis
Gabi Montes de Oca, Carpinteria Tennis
Gio Goggia, Santa Barbara High water polo
Derek Abbott, Dos Pueblos football
Troy Skinner, Bishop Diego Football
Anthony Carter, Bishop Diego Football
Grace Woolf, Laguna Blanca VOlleyball
Claire Madsen, Laguna Blanca Volleyball
Monica Garcia, Carpinteria Soccer
Erin Durflinger, Carpinteria Soccer
Jasmine Montes de Oca, Carpinteria Soccer
Tyler Bradford, Dos Pueblos Cross Country
