Take a look back at another amazing year of local sports in the Santa Barbara community.
Presidio Sports has chosen a handful of its favorite images from articles published in 2014, a year of sports that contained powerful, incredible, beautiful and inspirational moments. The collection includes important events, photos from popular feature stories, personal favorites, and some “outtakes.”
All photos by John Dvorak unless noted. Photos by Randy Weiss and Steve Kennedy are also included.
Happy New Year!!!
RINCON CLASSIC
A pod of dolphins caused quite a stir at the 2014 Rincon Classic, visibly sharing waves with surfers as hundreds watched from the beach. Abby Brown is pictured chasing a pair of dolphins while wearing a contest jersey. The appearance of dolphins in the lineup during the contest was picked up by national and international news outlets.
ALS ICE BUCKET CHALLENGE
Dallas Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett participates in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, a social media phenomenon in July and August of 2014, during Cowboys training camp in Oxnard. (Steve Kennedy Photo)
THE DROUGHT
Many will remember 2014 for the severe drought. Golf courses struggled in the drought-stricken conditions, with La Cumbre Country Club’s lake completely dry. Pictured is the 13th green usually surrounded by water. Greens and tee boxes remained cared for, while many course managers were forced to let fairways and rough areas go brown.
PERSONAL FAVORITES
San Marcos students have made a name for themselves with a well-organized, passionate cheering section. Parker Rozenburg, Daniela Aguirre, Ashley Carney, Jack Haley and Mathis McComb were the creative minds behind the Royals’ student-section in the winter and spring of 2014.
SBCC track & field coach Scott Fickerson photo bombs his women’s 4×400 relay team at the annual Easter Relays.
East Beach is a volleyball heaven. Locals have regularly played for decades within steps of the ocean.
The Amgen Tour of California came through Santa Barbara in May on its journey through the Golden State. Cabrillo Blvd. was closed as the cyclists raced along the waterfront during one of the longest stage-races in the world.
Santa Barbara’s Austin Coombs looking like a pro hitting out of a sand trap.
Newport Aquatics Center (NAC) brought its Superhero Team to the California State Outrigger Canoe Sprint Championships held in Santa Barbara.
MEMORABLE MOMENTS
Gaucho Legends: Carrick DeHart, Brian Shaw, and Jerry Pimm were together again in Santa Barbara. The trio were part of the original class inducted into the Santa Barbara Court of Champions, a local basketball hall-of-fame created to honor the sport’s local heritage. (Randy Weiss Photo)
Entering and exiting the ocean was an adventure for the swimmers at the final Nite Moves event of the summer in Leadbetter Cove. A huge south swell arrived that day and event director Jake Clinton said it was the biggest waves he’s seen in 25 years of running Nite Moves.
Dwight Howard made some new Santa Barbara friends in August when he unexpectedly showed up at West Beach to play in a WAKA league kickball game. The NBA superstar played a game with a team representing local company FindtheBest.com. (Photo provided by FindtheBest.com)
RANDOM EVENTS
The World Cup took America and Santa Barbara by storm in June and July. The United States made it to the Round of 16 in a tournament that saw Germany defeat Argentina 1-0 for the world title. Local businesses reported unprecedented interest in the world’s most important soccer tournament.
Community volunteers watch an enthusiastic young thrower compete in the ball throw at the Special Olympics School Games at Santa Barbara City College’s La Playa Stadium.
The USA Women’s Volleyball Team, coached by Karch Kiraly, played its first exhibition of 2014 in Santa Barbara at the SBCC Sports Pavilion. Team USA went on to win a World Championship in October.
MILESTONES & NEW BEGINNINGS
Keegan Cooke and the Santa Barbara Track Club use Westmont College’s track as its training facility. Not only has the SBTC begun developing some of the world’s top decathletes and heptathletes here in Santa Barbara, but World Champion Ashton Eaton spends time each year training at the facility with SBTC athletes. The SBTC had a breakthrough year in 2014 with several top international results.
Stamatia Scarvelis, now at UCLA, finished up her high school career with an incredible four CIF State Titles. Her specialty is the shot put, but the Dos Pueblos senior added a discus title to her trophy case in her senior year.
Presidio Sports launched a new content series in 2014. The Team of the Month Presented by Sansum Clinic recognizes great examples of teamwork in the local sports community. The CIF champion Santa Barbara High Girls Basketball Team was the first to be featured. (Team Photo by Roberts Photography; Artwork by Presidio Sports)
A new partnership between Presidio Sports and the Santa Barbara Independent launched in September.
