For the first time in more than five years, the Santa Ynez Valley is on track to bring back year-round public swim access, thanks in large part to a major financial commitment from the City of Solvang.

Earlier this month, Solvang approved a $450,000 grant to support the construction of the Santa Ynez Valley Community Aquatics Complex, a proposed two-pool facility designed to serve students, seniors, families, and athletes across the Valley.

The funding will be disbursed once the project breaks ground and is expected to act as a springboard for additional regional support.

“The city’s committed to our parks and recreation and our community as a whole,” said Solvang Mayor David Brown. “No child should grow up afraid of the water because they didn’t have the opportunity to learn how to swim. That’s a basic skill everyone should have access to.”

Since the start of the pandemic in 2020, the existing pool at Santa Ynez Valley Union High School, originally built in the 1960s, has remained closed to the public.

Beyond lost recreation time, the outdated facility has made it impossible for the school’s water polo and swim teams to host CIF-sanctioned home competitions.

“We don’t even have home games because our pool doesn’t meet regulation size,” Brown said. “This project is about more than sports. It’s about health, community, and legacy. It’s something that will serve generations to come.”

The new complex will be built on the high school campus in Santa Ynez and will feature two pools:

• A 33-meter competition pool for student athletics, club use, lap swim, and tournaments.
• A 25-yard warm-water recreation pool for swim lessons, senior aqua fitness, rehabilitation, and affordable public swim sessions.

SYV Community Aquatics Foundation Architect 19six

The Santa Ynez Valley Community Aquatics Foundation (SYVCAF) is leading the capital campaign.

According to board president and campaign chair Lisa Palmer, the total project cost is $13.7 million. So far, the foundation has raised nearly $4 million, including the new commitment from Solvang. Their goal is to raise the remaining $9.7 million by December 2026.

“This is a valley-wide effort, with support coming from local cities, the county, the Chumash tribes, and community members,” Palmer said. “We’re seeing incredible momentum, but we still have a long way to go.”

Palmer says the facility will address a critical gap in public aquatics access. Currently, the Santa Ynez Valley has the lowest aquatics access in Santa Barbara County. The new recreation pool will be especially valuable for young children, seniors, and even life-guard training.

“The original pool was built 60 years ago by volunteers who saw the value in giving kids a place to swim,” Palmer said. “We’re honoring that legacy and reimagining it for today’s needs.”

Local coaches say the upgrade can’t come soon enough. Jake Kalkowski, head water polo coach and science teacher at the high school, says the current pool’s shallow design and lack of regulation dimensions hold students back from reaching their full potential.

“It puts us at a disadvantage right away,” Kalkowski said. “When we make playoffs, we can’t host. We have to rent pools in Santa Barbara or Santa Maria.”

Kalkowski also sees the broader need for aquatics access beyond school sports. His youth water polo program is already drawing 40 kids to evening practices, and he hopes to eventually expand offerings to adults and seniors.

“Right now, public access is almost nonexistent,” he said. “We want to see the whole community benefit.”
Once groundbreaking begins, construction is expected to take approximately one year. In the meantime, SYVCAF is actively working to reach their fundraising goal.

Palmer says she’s optimistic that with continued outreach, major gifts, and community engagement, the $13.7 million goal is within reach.

“This project is about equity, safety, health, and joy,” she said. “It’s about building a future where every resident in the Santa Ynez Valley can get in the water.”

To learn more, get involved, or make a donation, click the link here.

NEW ORLEANS – Ethan Strand’s historic track season continues to bring home more awards as he was named a semifinalist for The Bowerman Award by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association on Thursday, June 26.

This is the second straight season in which a Tar Heel has been named a semifinalist, following Parker Wolfe’s selection last season. The Bowerman, which debuted in 2009, is named after former Oregon Head Coach Bill Bowerman and is presented annually to the most outstanding male and female NCAA track and field athletes in the nation.

Strand’s historic track season kicked off by setting two NCAA records in his first two races of the year. He is the only student-athlete to set the NCAA record in the mile (3:48.32) and the 3000m (7:30.15) in the same year. Strand won the Atlantic Coast Conference title in the men’s 5000m, setting the meet record (13:26.60). Strand was also part of the national runner-up DMR squad that set an unratified American Indoor Record (9:17.17), earning First Team All-American honors. He followed that up by winning the national championship in the men’s 3000m (7:52.03).

 

After the indoor season, the national champion received numerous awards, including the ACC Indoor Men’s Track Athlete of the Year and the USTFCCCA Southeast Region Men’s Indoor Track Athlete of the Year. Strand also became the first Tar Heel to win USTFCCCA National Men’s Indoor Track Athlete of the Year. Shalane Flanagan won the award for the Tar Heels in cross country in 2002 and 2003.

 

The historic success continued into the outdoor season as he ran the second-fastest 1,500m time in NCAA history (3:33.22) at the Duke Twilight. Strand entered the postseason on a high note. The senior became the first Tar Heel and only the fourth in ACC history to win the 1,500 three times at the ACC Outdoor Championships. Strand was also the ACC runner-up behind his teammate Wolfe in the 5,000m. Strand earned a spot at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the 5,000m and 1,500m. Strand finished as the national runner-up in the 1,500m, earning his third First Team All-America honors of the year.

For all the latest UNC track and field news, photos, and videos, follow on X, Instagram, and Facebook

BGSU volleyball has unveiled its non-conference schedule for the 2025 season, which includes several home matches and a handful of invitationals and tournaments.

For their first match of the year on Aug. 23, the Falcons will take on the squad from Youngstown State, a faceoff that hasn’t occurred since 2018 and one in which the Falcons are currently undefeated.

After that, the Orange and Brown will be traveling to North Dakota for the NDSU/UND tournament, where they will see Temple, North Dakota State, and St. Mary’s in that order. The tournament will take place from Aug. 29-30.

Bowling Green will continue to face off against big-name opponents on the road, taking on Kansas, Purdue, and Georgia Tech in that order in the Stacey Clark Invitational, hosted by the Boilermakers, from Sept. 3-5.

Then, another road trip for the Falcons, this time to Chicago, where BGSU will face off against Indiana, Stephen F. Austin, and Loyola in the Loyola Invitational, which will be from Sept. 11-13.

BG returns to the Stroh Center on Sept. 17 to host Oakland. The Falcons have historically defeated the Golden Grizzlies, including a sweep in their last meeting in 2021.

Lastly, before conference play begins, the Orange and Brown will participate in a three-team invitational hosted by Michigan State from Sept. 19-20. Bowling Green will face off with the Spartans and Binghamton, a team BG just beat in the first round of the NIVC last season.

The 2024 non-conference schedule was demanding on the Falcons, who went 5-6 against strong opponents, including number 22-ranked Dayton.

It may be a new year, but the strength of the schedule remains unchanged, with many of BGSU’s opponents in 2025 coming from major conferences.

Semifinalists are determined by members of The Bowerman Advisory Board, who have produced watch lists throughout the season and have provided a ranked-ordered list of 10 athletes who they believe had the most outstanding season. The list of semifinalists represents the group’s consensus.

Mullings is the first Sooner in men’s program history to be named a semifinalist for the prestigious award. Prior to Mullings, women’s thrower and four-time NCAA champion Tia Brooks (2010-13) was Oklahoma’s only semifinalist, having earned the selection in back-to-back years in 2012 and 2013.

Mullings, who hails from Kingston, Jamaica, claimed the NCAA Outdoor Championships discus throw title June 14. He tossed the discus for a PR of 69.31m (227’5.00″) to shatter a 33-year-old meet record and surpass world record holder Mykolas Alekna of California. Mullings’ improvement cements his status as the No. 2 performer in collegiate history, his 69.31m (227’5.00″) mark sits ninth on the all-time collegiate chart. He is the first Sooner in program history to earn a national title in the discus throw and earned Oklahoma’s first individual outdoor championship since 2009. 

On Monday, Mullings was named the NCAA Division I National Field Athlete of the Year by the USTFCCCA. He becomes the first discus thrower to win the national award since Ryan Whiting in 2010 and is the first Sooner in men’s program history to be named national athlete of the year.

The junior bolstered his impressive season with the SEC Outdoor Championships discus title and three facility records at Baylor, Kentucky and Texas. Mullings currently holds two of the top-10 farthest throws in NCAA history.

The Bowerman Advisory Board will assemble to deliberate who will be named finalists and will announce the three honorees July 8. The winners are chosen by voters and are set to be announced at the USTFCCCA Convention in Grapevine, Texas, December 18.

 

Men’s Semifinalists

Mykolas Alekna, California (Discus)

Jordan Anthony, Arkansas (Sprints)

James Corrigan, BYU (Mid-Distance/Steeple)

Nathaniel Ezekiel, Baylor (Sprints/Hurdles)

Ishmael Kipkurui, New Mexico (Distance)

Carlie Makarawu, Kentucky (Sprints)

Ralford Mullings, Oklahoma (Throws)

Brian Musau, Oklahoma State (Distance)

Ethan Strand, North Carolina (Mid-Distance/Distance)

Ja’Kobe Tharp, Auburn (Hurdles)

CONNECT WITH THE SOONERS

For more information on Oklahoma Track & Field, follow the Sooners on Twitter and Instagram (@OU_Track) and like Oklahoma Sooners Track & Field and Cross Country on Facebook.

 

...MINOR COASTAL FLOODING DURING HIGH TIDE THIS WEEK...

.Peak monthly high tides combined with water levels that are
running higher than predicted will lead to minor flooding along
the shoreline and in low-lying coastal areas. Coastal flooding is
expected around the daily peak tide this afternoon.

...COASTAL FLOOD STATEMENT REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS
AFTERNOON...

* WHAT...Isolated minor coastal flooding.

* WHERE...Portions of Kahoolawe, Kauai, Lanai, Maui, Molokai,
Niihau, Oahu and the Big Island.

* WHEN...Through this afternoon.

* IMPACTS...Flooding of beaches that are normally dry, minor
coastal erosion, and saltwater inundation.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Avoid driving through flooded roadways. If you are forced to
drive through salt water, be sure to rinse your vehicle with
fresh water. Move electronics, vehicles or other valuables to
higher ground. Monitor vessels to ensure mooring lines don't get
too tight and watch out for overwash around boat ramps. Secure
canoes or other watercraft stowed on beaches.

&&

Submit your coastal flooding photos to the University of Hawaii;
Sea Grant College Program's Hawaii and Pacific Islands King;
Tides Project at:;

PacificIslandsKingTides.org

 

Add to the list a fourth-place finish in the shot put at the NCAA Indoor Championships, a pair of First Team All-America honors, two conference shot put gold medals, and the fifth-best outdoor shot put throw in NCAA history (19.60/64-feet-3.75 on May 3) and Lesnar’s case becomes even stronger.

 

The Bowerman will announce its three finalists for the award on July 7, with the winner announced on Thursday, December 18 at the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Convention in Grapevine, Texas.