James Morton
Kelsie Sampson
Westmont’s Kelsie Sampson and Santa Barbara High’s James Morton were named Athletes of the Week at the Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table press luncheon held on Monday at Harry’s Cafe.
The Athlete of the Week candidates covered two weeks’ worth of action because there was no luncheon last week due to spring break.
Sampson scored 25 points in the Warriors’ national-title clinching victory at the NAIA Tournament. The big-time performance came in the Warriors’ biggest game of the season.
Teammate Tugce Canitez, who was named NAIA Player of the Year and Tournament MVP, was the previous Athlete of the Week.
Morton was voted Athlete of the Week for tying a Channel League record with a round of 63 at Buenaventura Golf Course. The senior posted eight birdies in the round and was inches from breaking the record but his second-to-last putt was barely off target.
“Congrats to James,” said San Marcos’ Aaron Solis. “With the history of Channel League golf, tying that record, it’s just amazing.”
Morton was also a piece of a four-man team that placed first out of 20 schools at the Calabasas Invitational earlier that week.
Honorable Mentions were Evan Licht, UCSB Volleyball; Jack Gregson, Bishop Diego Baseball; Max Damron, Carpinteria Baseball; Mitchell Haag, UCSB Track & Field; Stamatia Scarvelis, Dos Pueblos Track & Field; Amanda Chevalier, Westmont Track & Field; Catalina Maldonado, Carpinteria Softball; Esther Lee, Westmont Basketball.
