Dos Pueblos track & field coach Chris Mollkoy, left, with runners Max Davis, Addi Zerrenner, and thrower Stamatia Scarvelis. (Presidio Sports Photos)
The circle of life in the local running community was on display at Monday’s Athletic Round Table press luncheon as Jim Sloan of the Santa Barbara Athletic Association distributed checks to the local high school running programs.
Much of the money taken in at the local running events organized by the SBAA throughout the year goes back into local youth running programs to attract new runners to the sport. It also supports the hundreds of student-athletes that make many of the races possible by volunteering.
“What we wanted to do is we wanted to thank the schools for sending your student-athletes out to help us at our races as volunteers,” Sloan said. “Without the volunteers out on the course, we could not put these races on and we could not generate the revenue that we in turn give back to the schools and the community.”
Male Athlete of the Week: Dos Pueblos’ James Savage
The amount grew from $17,000 last year to $20,000 this year.
“I’d like to thank the SBAA for their generous donation,” said Carpinteria High track & field coach Van Latham. “That sure helps in these tight times. It will be money well spent.”
The money from SBAA has meant everything to Bishop Diego.
“I just want to thank SBAA. This is the fifth year of their support. We’ve gone from 10 kids to 40 now with their support,” said Cardinals track coach Matt Capritto. “We probably couldn’t do it without their financial support, so I wanted to thank them publicly.”
Sloan also made an announcement that the SBAA has a new $1,000 college scholarship that the organization will bestow on a local male and female student-athlete that shows great leadership in the community.
“We’re really excited to announce this,” Sloan said.
After the check presentation, Dick Nelson of Alert Services introduced the schools’ athletic trainers. March was National Athletic Trainers Month.
The trainers in attendance were UCSB’s Justin Ericson, San Marcos’ Bryan Linden, Dos Pueblos’ Wendy Whitehead, Bishop Diego’s Margaret Rall, Carpinteria’s Bridget Thomson, and Laguna Blanca’s Jake Jaffe.
Female Athlete of the Week: UCSB’s Ruth Milne
“They do an awesome job,” Nelson said.
Monday’s gathering was one of the busier press luncheons of the year with 31 student-athletes in the Ranchero Room. There were 17 reports at the podium that covered 25 teams from local schools.
UCSB?s Ruth Milne and Dos Pueblos? James Savage were announced as Athletes of the Week.
Savage led the Chargers baseball team to three wins in four games last week. The senior came through for the Chargers? Channel League win over Santa Barbara on Friday by driving in the eventual winning run.
Earlier in the week, Savage was a combined 7-for-9 with a home run in three games.
Milne blocked 12 shots for UCSB?s water polo team in Saturday?s upset victory over No. 6 San Diego State. It was the highest-ranked team the Gauchos have beaten this season. Milne, who celebrated Senior Day on Saturday, is the all-time career blocks leader at UCSB.
STUDENT-ATHLETES PRESENT
Lauren MacDuff, San Marcos Softball
Lyanna Gonzalez, San Marcos Softball
Angel Mermis, San Marcos softball
Sean Estabrooks, San Marcos Volleyball
Cole Wenal, San Marcos Volleyball
Taylor Mann, San Marcos Volleyball
DeLaney Smith, SBHS Softball
Olivia Harris, SBHS Softball
Siena Salgado, SBHS Track & Field
Jewell Fisher, San Marcos Track & Field
Jill Fisher, San Marcos Track & Field
Kyle Tran, San Marcos Track & Field
Alex Heuchert, San Marcos Track & Field
Linda Buchmiller, Carpinteria Track & Field
Nicole Pepper, Carpinteria Track & Field
Sierra Gracia, Carpinteria Track & Field
Ashlynd Williams, Bishop Diego Softball
Lindsay Bosio, Bishop Diego Softball
Will Busch, Bishop Diego Volleyball
Grant Sexton, Bishop Diego Volleyball
Jackson Wopat, Dos Pueblos Volleyball
Drew Kenyon, Dos Pueblos Volleyball
Jason Price, Bishop Diego Golf
Austin Borgatello, Bishop Diego Golf
Keegan Araujo, Bishop Diego Track & Field
Elizabeth Verduzco, Bishop Diego Track & Field
Stamatia Scarvelis, Dos Pueblos Track & Field
Addi Zerrenner, Dos Pueblos Track & Field
Max Davis, Dos Pueblos Track & Field
Agnetta Cleland, Dos Pueblos Softball
Alyssa Lewis, Dos Pueblos Softball
