The best of the best local student-athletes, coaches and teams were celebrated at Monday’s Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table Evening with the Athletes at Marjorie Luke Theater.

High school and college Athletes of the Year were named and two coaches were named Coaches of the Year, as selected by the local sports media.

SBART also honored this school year’s Scholar-Athletes of the Year, Phil Womble Ethics in Sports Award Winners, Special Award Winners and scholarship recipients.

Greg Zuffelato of Santa Barbara High boys basketball was named the 2024-25 High School Coach of the Year.

The Santa Barbara High boys basketball team had one of its most successful seasons in program history this year, led by coach Zuffelato. The Dons put together an overall record of 27-7 and a 13-1 league record to capture the Channel League championship. 

In the regular season, the team earned a marquee win over Sierra Canyon to put the program on the map as one of the best in the state. They also reached the CIF Southern Section Division 1 Semifinals in a bracket full of powerhouse programs.

Meanwhile, Jo Evans of UCSB Softball was named the 2024-25 College Coach of the Year.

Evans was at the helm as the Gaucho softball program made history this spring, winning the Big West Tournament Championship for the first time ever. They followed that up by winning a pair of NCAA Regional games and reaching the Regional championship, also for the first time in program history. 

When all was said and done, the Gauchos went 36-26 and set new single-season program records for home runs, runs, runs batted in, doubles and hits.

The special award and scholarship winners included Arlette Godges (Master Athlete), Gabriela Gomez (Russ Morrison Memorial Golf Scholarship), Gianna Mandarino (SBART Founders Scholarship), Francesca Court (James Ranta Memorial Scholarship) and Adair Rosas (Larry Crandell Memorial Scholarship).

Fall High School Athletes of the Year

Boys Water Polo – Sam Rich – San Marcos

Rich, the starting goalie, led the Royals to a Channel League championship and a spot in the CIF Open Division playoffs. He racked up 300 saves, was named the Channel League MVP and to the All-CIF Open Division Third Team.

Girls Volleyball – Eliana Urzua – Bishop Diego

Urzua put together a Tri-Valley League MVP season, leading to a Tri-Valley League championship and a CIF Division 3 Runner-Up finish. She averaged 18.5 kills per match, tallying 554 kills, 80 aces and 37 blocks in 30 matches played. 

Girls Golf – Sagarika Manian – Dos Pueblos

Manian won her fourth straight Channel League individual championship in dominant fashion, finishing three strokes ahead of the rest of the field. She ended her year with a 25th-place out of 114 golfers at the CIF Northern Regional Individuals.

Girls Tennis – Nicole Buist – Santa Barbara

Buist won the Singles MVP with an individual record of 48-10. She was also the League Doubles Champion and reached the Round of 16 in the CIF Championship Tournament alongside her sister, Caitlyn.

Boys Cross Country – Cullen Gully – Dos Pueblos

Gully placed 1st in the CIF Prelim race, 9th at the CIF Finals and was the team’s top finisher with an 18th-place finish at the State Championship Race. He also came in second in the Channel League race.

Girls Cross Country – Cate Bishop – Dos Pueblos

Bishop helped her team to a first-place finish at the Santa Barbara County Championship with a third place individual showing. She took third in the Channel League championship and 43rd at the CIF Finals race.

Girls Flag Football – Rio Chesluk – San Marcos

Chesluk won the Channel League Two Way Player of the Year Award. On offense, she ended with 96 catches for 1,104 yards and 24 touchdowns, while also passing for seven touchdowns. She was also a ballhawk defensively, recording 14 interceptions.

Football – Kai Mault – Santa Barbara

Mault did it all to lead the Dons to the Division 4 playoffs. As a receiver, he caught 28 passes for 601 yards, while as a quarterback, he threw for 302 yards and rushed for 652. He ended with 18 total touchdowns and was named the Conejo Coast League Receiver of the Year.

Fall College Athletes of the Year

Men’s Soccer – Alexis Ledoux – UCSB

Ledoux was the Big West Offensive Player of the Year Award and a member of the All-Big West First Team. He ended the season with 14 goals and 33 points, both of which were good for second in the nation.

Girls Soccer – Devin Greer – UCSB

Greer helped her team win the Big West Championship Tournament in her freshman year. She scored 10 goals and totaled 24 points to earn the Big West Freshman of the Year honor and spots on the All-Big West First Team and All-Big West Freshman Team.

Women’s Golf – Annie Betts – SBCC

Betts won the 3C2A SoCal Regional Championship for the Vaqueros with an impressive two-day score of 4-under-par. She followed that performance up with a strong eighth-place showing at the 3C2A State Championship.

Football – Jack Myers – SBCC

Myers anchored an SBCC defense that faced some of the toughest competition in the nation last fall, earning him a spot on the All-Conference Second Team. He finished the season with 55 tackles and 6 ½ tackles for a loss.

Men’s Cross Country – Zola Sokhela – Westmont

Sokhela raced his way onto the All-PacWest First Team. He took fifth place individually at the PacWest Championships where Westmont came in fourth and followed that up with a 29th place individually at the NCAA D2 West Regionals.

Women’s Cross Country – Ava Maier – UCSB

Maier led her team to a spot in the NCAA Division 1 West Regionals. In the Big West Championship meet where UCSB finished in eighth place as a team, Ava came in 26th place individually.

Women’s Water Polo – Addie Lane – SBCC

Lane was a key member of the WSC Champion and State Runner-Up Vaqueros in the fall, leading the team in goals with 99, finishing second in assists with 41 and third in steals with 84. She was named to the WSC 1st Team, the SoCal All-American 1st Team, and the All-State 1st Team.

Men’s Water Polo – Levi Lentin – UCSB

Lentin was in the middle of the Gauchos’ defensive success in the pool all season as one of the top goalies in the conference. He was named to the All-Big West Second Team after leading the conference in saves with 196 and steals per game with 1.4.

Winter High School Athletes of the Year

Boys Basketball – Luke Zuffelato – Santa Barbara

Zuffelato averaged 24.9 points, 10.8 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game to win Channel League MVP and lead his team to a league title and a CIF Division 1 Semifinal appearance. He leaves as the program’s all-time leader in points, rebounds, and three-pointers made.

Girls Basketball – Taylor Grant – Dos Pueblos

Grant averaged 10.5 points and 4.9 rebounds per game while guarding the other team’s top options. She led her team to a playoff win in Division 2AA and was named to both the All Channel League First team and the All Ventura County Second Team. 

Boys Soccer – George Marin – Cate

Marin scored 30 goals in 13 regular season games and scored all four of his team’s goals in their two Division 1 playoff wins. He was named the Tri-Valley League Offensive Player of the Year and led his team to an undefeated regular season and league title.

Girls Soccer – Natalie Gonzalez – Carpinteria

Gonzalez gave up just 11 goals in 19 games played while recording 10 shutouts. She was named the Citrus Coast League Goalie of the Year for the third straight season and led her team to a 2nd place finish in league and a playoff win.

Girls Water Polo – Charlotte Raisin – San Marcos

Raisin helped lead the Royals to a Channel League Championship and a spot in the CIF Open Division Playoffs. She scored 68 goals, dished out 42 assists and had 38 earned exclusions. She was the Channel League Co-MVP.

Girls Water Polo – Lucy Haaland-Ford – San Marcos

Haaland-Ford was the other Channel League Co-MVP, after playing a key role in the team’s success throughout the league schedule. She scored 60 goals of her own and racked up 67 steals while also tallying 30 earned exclusions.

Boys Wrestling – Jonathan Corona – Santa Barbara

Corona captured a Channel League Championship for the 190 pound division. He also came in 4th place at the CIF-SS Masters Meet and was the first ever Santa Barbara High male wrestler to reach the State Meet.

Girls Wrestling – Sierrah Kendig – Dos Pueblos

Kendig was the only local girls wrestler to reach the CIF playoffs this winter after winning the Channel League Championship in the 135-pound division. She came in 8th place at the CIF-SS Eastern Division Meet.

Winter College Athletes of the Year

Men’s Basketball – Adrian McIntyre – Westmont

McIntyre finished the year first in the nation at the Division 2 level with 27.9 points per game. He set the single-season scoring record with 723 points and single-game record with 51. He was the PacWest Player of the Year and a Division 2 First-Team All-American.

Women’s Basketball – Alyssa Marin – UCSB

Marin averaged 14.3 points per game along with two assists and two rebounds per contest on her way to being named to the All-Big West Second Team.

Men’s Swimming – Kyle Brill – UCSB

Brill was the Big West Swimmer of the Year Award. He set or had a hand in setting new program records in the 200 breaststroke, 200 IM, 400 IM, 400 freestyle relay and 400 medley relay. He won Big West titles in the 200 medley and 400 medley to help his team to a conference championship.

Women’s Swimming – Samantha Banos – UCSB

Banos played a key role in her team capturing the Big West Championships this season. As an individual, she took home first place in the 200 butterfly, the 200 freestyle, and the 500 freestyle as the team’s leading point getter in the Big West Championship meet.

Spring High School Athletes of the Year

Girls Beach Volleyball – Josie Gamberdella/Cora Loomer – San Marcos

Gamberdella and Loomer went undefeated against league opponents to win league MVP awards and lead their team to a Channel League Championship. They reached the CIF-SS Individual Tournament Quarterfinals and took home 5th place.

Baseball – Eric Anthony – Santa Barbara

Anthony was the ace of a Santa Barbara High team that won its second straight Channel League title. He ended the year with a 6-3 record, a 1.41 ERA, a 1.09 WHIP, 61 strikeouts and a .183 batting average against in 64 ⅔ innings.

Softball – Anastasia Brunner – Dos Pueblos

Brunner was a hitting machine for the Chargers, hitting .490 with an on base percentage of .592. She ended the year with 47 hits, including seven homers, while driving in 22 runs and scoring 38 of her own. She was named to the All-Channel League First Team.

Boys Lacrosse – Jack Finneran – Dos Pueblos

Finneran scored 78 goals, good for 8th in California, and had 54 assists to finish 5th in the state. His 127 total points is the All-Time Channel League Record and is 4th in California. He led his team to an undefeated regular season and a league title.

Girls Lacrosse – Livanna Plourde – San Marcos

Plourde was the Channel League Midfielder of the Year on a San Marcos squad that went 10-0 in league play on the way to a Channel League title. She ended the season with 78 goals, 51 ground balls, 114 draw controls and 21 assists for the Royals.

Boys Volleyball – Matteo Burdick – San Marcos

Burdick was a dynamic outside hitter for the Royals all season, racking up kills for a team that put together a 23-10 record. He led the way on the offensive end as San Marcos went 9-1 against league opponents and captured the Channel League championship.

Boys Tennis – Carter Cotich – San Marcos

Cotich was dominant on the singles courts, helping his team on its way to a CIF-SS Division 3 Runner-Up finish. As an individual, Carter went undefeated in Channel League play and never lost a set, finishing it off with a Channel League Singles Title.

Boys Swimming – Bennett Sullivan – Laguna Blanca

Sullivan was a critical member of the CIF Division 3 champion 200 freestyle and 400 freestyle relay Laguna Blanca teams. Individually, he came in 4th in the 100 breaststroke and 5th in the 200 IM at the CIF Championship meet.

Girls Swimming – Sierra Tallman – San Marcos

Tallman set the school record in the 100 butterfly and 100 breaststroke and set the Channel League record with an All-American time in the 200 IM. She helped lead the Royals to a league title and a 4th-place finish at the CIF-SS Finals Meet.

Girls Swimming – Taylor Steelman – San Marcos

Steelman’s year was headlined by a second-place finish in the 500 freestyle at the State Meet to earn All-American status. She placed 1st in both the 500 freestyle and 100 backstroke at the league finals, and followed that up with 5th in the 500 freestyle and 7th in the 200 freestyle at the CIF Finals.

Boys Track & Field – Carter Battle – Santa Barbara

Battle won the County and Channel League championship in the high jump. He set the school record in the event with a mark of 6 feet, 8.75 inches. He ended his season in sixth place in the CIF Finals and 10th place at the Masters Meet.

Boys Track & Field – Malachi Johnston – Santa Barbara

Johnston was the County and League Champion in both the shot put and the discus. He also made a strong run in the CIF playoffs, placing 4th in the shot put at the CIF Finals and 11th place at the Masters Meet.

Girls Track & Field – Elina Stump – Santa Barbara

Stump won the County and League Championships in the long jump, triple jump and 100-meter hurdles. She also earned a CIF Division 2 title in the long jump. She paired that with second-place finishes in the triple jump and 100 hurdles at the CIF Finals.

Boys Golf – Teddy Vigna – Dos Pueblos

Vigna finished the Channel League Individual Tournament with a total score of one-under-par, good for 3rd place. In the postseason, he placed 9th with a 5-under-par at the State Qualifier and came in 29th in the CIF State Championship.

Spring College Athletes of the Year

Women’s Beach Volleyball – Madelynn Papia/Sage Thorne-Thomsen – SBCC

Papia and Thorne-Thomsen helped lead the team to a co-WSC Championship. As a duo, they reached the 3C2A State Pairs Championship and played a key role in SBCC coming in third place as a team in the 3C2A State Championship Tournament.

Baseball – Ryan Humphreys – Westmont

Humphreys went 11-1 with a 2.44 ERA, a 1.02 WHIP and 107 strikeouts in 81 innings pitched. He was named the PacWest Pitcher of the Year and a First Team Division 2 All-American, helping the Warriors to a PacWest Championship and hosting a Regional Tournament.

Softball – Malaya Johnson – UCSB

Johnson was the go-to arm for the Gauchos, who went on an incredible run to win the Big West Championship Tournament. She was named the Big West Pitcher of the Year after going 22-10 with 1 2/68 ERA, a 1.26 WHIP and 112 strikeouts in 198 ⅔ innings pitched.

Women’s Swimming – Lily Carrick – SBCC

In the conference meet, Carrick won the 500 freestyle and 400 IM. She followed that up by winning Swimmer of the Meet at the State Meet after winning the 500 freestyle, 400 IM and 1,650 freestyle to give her team a State Runner-Up finish.

Men’s Volleyball – George Bruening – UCSB

Bruening collected an All-Big West Honorable Mention to go along with his spot on the All-Big West Freshman team. He racked up 201 points and 178 kills on the season, while also serving as the team’s go-to hitter in conference play.

Men’s Tennis – Mauritz Seitz – SBCC

Seitz captured the WSC Singles Championship and was named the WSC Co-Most Valuable Player. To go along with his singles dominance, he was also the WSC Doubles Runner-Up with teammate Ada Guler.

Women’s Tennis – Amelia Honer – UCSB

Honer earned her third straight Big West Player of the Year award. She was ranked the #16 player in the country at the end of the regular season after going 16-2 atop the Gaucho lineup. Of her 16 victories, 13 came in straight sets as UCSB captured the Big West Championship.

Women’s Track & Field – Kennedy Johnson – UCSB

Johnson first in the triple jump at the Crimson Elite Invite, Bruce Lehane Scarlet & White Invite, Gaucho Relays and Challenge Cup. Her jump of 12.61 meters set a new UCSB program record. She won the Big West title in the event and jumped a mark of 12.46 meters at the NCAA West Regionals.

Men’s Track & Field – Brad Thomas – UCSB

Thomas took first place in the Decathlon at the Big West Championships. He accumulated 8,108 points at the championship, setting a new UCSB and Big West record in the event. He also competed in the Javelin at the conference championship meet and took home fifth place.

Women’s Water Polo – Annie Kuester – UCSB

Kuester was the spark plug for the Gaucho offense this season, leading the way with 60 goals while also chipping in 21 assists to bring her season-long point total to 81. She also collected 32 steals on her way to an All-Big West Second Team selection.

Men’s Golf – Dylan Ma – UCSB

Ma earned himself an All-Big West Honorable Mention nod. He finished in second place individually at 9-under-par at the Big West Championships. On the season, he had a 74.1 stroke average, two top 10 finishes and four top 25 finishes.