SBCC held its Vaquero Achievement Celebration for the 2019-20 athletic season in a virtual online format on Friday, hosted by Director of Athletics Rocco Constantino.
Normally, there are two Coach of the Year honors (men’s and women’s) and two Athletes of the Year but that changed this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic which cut the spring sports early on March 12. Four athletes were named (two men’s for Fall/Winter semester and two women’s for Spring semester) and four coaches (two per semester).
“Our students, coaches and staff have it bad enough with their seasons being cancelled and having to deal with the difficulties of the situation we are all in,” said Constantino. “The last thing we wanted to do was cancel the ceremony at which we honor all of their great accomplishments from this past year, and there were many.”
In the fall, women’s soccer and women’s water polo captured WSC titles with soccer (13-7-4) winning its third straight conference crown and water polo (30-5) claiming its sixth in a row. Women’s golf finished second in the WSC and seventh in the state.
Women’s Basketball started out 12-3 and went on to earn its first Southern Cal Regional berth in seven years. The Vaqueros (15-9) hosted L.A. Valley in their first home playoff appearance in nine years.
In the spring semester, women’s tennis (12-1, 8-0 WSC) was closing in on its second straight WSC championship when the season was cut short on March 12 by the coronavirus pandemic. Men’s volleyball (8-2) was one of the best in the state with eight straight wins, including upsets of the No. 1 and 2 ranked teams in the state. Baseball, men’s golf and women’s swimming were among the elite teams in Southern California.
The women’s swimming & diving and men’s golf teams were named as the top CCCAA Scholar Teams in the state in 2018-19. It was the fourth straight year that SBCC has had multiple Scholar Team winners.
Here are the 2019-20 Vaquero Achievement winners:
Men’s Athlete of the Year (Fall/Winter)
Jacob Shultz (Football) — The 6-5, 225-pound sophomore from Eugene, Ore., was the Defensive Player of the Year in the American Pacific League. He was an All-State Region IV selection and an SFCA Scholar-Athlete with a 3.35 GPA. Shultz led the league in tackles (71) and tackles for loss (20.5) and was third in sacks (8.5). He was ninth in the state in tackles for loss and 21st in overall tackles. He was selected as the Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table’s College Football Player of the Year.
Men’s Athlete of the Year (Spring)
Ryan Guardino (Baseball) — He hit safely in all 18 games he played and led the squad with a .415 batting average. The former San Marcos High star topped the WSC North in hitting, doubles (8) and stolen bases (14 in 15 tries). He had 10 multi-hit games and the last hit of his career was his first college homer against Hancock on March 9.
Women’s Athlete of the Year (Fall/Winter)
Alondra Jimenez (Basketball) — The former Santa Barbara High standout was named MVP of the women’s basketball team. She averaged 16.7, 5.2 assists and 4.5 rebounds to guide the Vaqueros to a 15-9 record and their first playoff appearance since 2013. The 5-foot-5 left-handed point guard was first-team All-WSC North and a Scholar-Athlete. She scored 20 or more points nine times with a career high of 27 points in a 65-60 win over Santa Ana on Dec. 17.
Women’s Athlete of the Year (Spring)
Hana Wigzell (Swimming) — She’ll graduate this spring with a 3.57 GPA. She’s been a leader on the water polo and swimming teams the last two seasons, serving as a captain on three WSC championship teams. Her combined record in 3 1/2 seasons of water polo and swimming is a sparkling 134-15 (.899). She scored 77 goals in her two-year water polo career and was a seven-time All-American in swimming in 2019.
Bob Dinaberg Men’s Coach of the Year (Fall/Winter)
John Sisterson (Soccer) — He led the Vaqueros to a 10-4-6 record and their third straight Regional playoff appearance. He has a 160-70-45 record in 13 seasons with four WSC championships. His men’s team won the State Scholar Team award in 2017-18.
Bob Dinaberg Men’s Coach of the Year (Spring)
Jon Newton (Volleyball) — The Vaqueros were one of the hottest teams in the state at the time the COVID-19 pandemic ended the season. After losing their first two games, the Vaqueros reeled off eight straight wins, including knocking off No. 1 Orange Coast 3-1 and No. 2 El Camino 3-2. The Vaqueros were leading the state with 86 aces in 10 matches and had two No. 1 individual state leaders — Aaron Letvin with 26 aces (1.13 per set) and Luke Hetherington in blocks per set (1.14).
Pat Moorhouse Women’s Coach of the Year (Fall/Winter)
Sandrine Krul (Basketball) — Sandrine led the Vaqueros to a 15-9 record and their first playoff appearance in seven years. They had to overcome a 36-day layoff from Dec. 21 to Jan. 25 after two schools dropped their programs for the year and the WSC had to scramble to adjust its schedule. Constantino said: “Sandrine creates a positive, competitive environment on her team and in our department. Her support of students and colleagues is unmatched as is her enthusiasm for the Vaqueros.”
Pat Moorhouse Women’s Coach of the Year (Spring)
Christina Klein (Tennis) — Last year, she led the Vaqueros to a perfect 14-0 record for their first WSC title in 18 years. They dropped their first match this year to state powerhouse Riverside, then won 12 straight matches and were on their way to a second straight WSC crown with an 8-0 record when the season was cut short on March 12. Klein’s three-year record is 43-10 and her team has a 23-match WSC winning streak.
SBART Scholar Athlete
Emily Reilly (Women’s Water Polo/Swimming) — The sophomore from Seattle has a 3.88 GPA in 2019-20 and is currently taking Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science and Honors Ethics. Her academic honors are long and impressive: National Science Foundation STEM Scholar, Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society, SBCC President’s Honor Roll, SBCC Honors Program and David W. Doner Jr., M.D., Biological and Life Sciences Scholar. She played water polo for the first time in the fall when the Vaqueros needed players and is an accomplished swimmer in the 200 backstroke and 400 IM.
Louise Lowry Davis Inspirational Leadership
Lea Bueker (Beach Volleyball) — “Lea exhibits the leadership and sportsmanship that was shown by Louise Lowry Davis,” said Constantino. “She’s worked as a tutor in the Astronomy department and was an Astronomy Club officer.” She also volunteered for the Food Pantry and for the Santa Barbara Hearts Therapeutic Equestrian Center which promotes therapeutic horseback riding for those in need. She’ll graduate this spring with a 3.46 GPA.
Student Worker Award for Spring Semester
Chris Born — “Chris was a dependable, smart and self-motivated worker who also mentored other student workers,” said Constantino. “He had a positive attitude and was ready to help with any assignment at a moment’s notice. He helped create an enjoyable work experience through his positivity and was an invaluable asset to the department. He’ll be very difficult to replace but we know no matter where he goes in life, he will be successful.”