SBART Phil Womble Ethics in Sports Award: Ariana Lounsbury from Dream Cast Media Group on Vimeo.
There is no offseason for Carpinteria High’s Ariana Lounsbury.
She starts the school year playing for the tennis team. Then it’s off to the soccer pitch during the winter months. In the spring, she’s playing volleyball and competing on the track & field team.
If that’s not enough activity, she plays percussion in the school band and excels in the classroom, carrying a 4.58 grade point average.
The Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table is honoring Lounsbury as Carpinteria’s recipient of the Phil Womble Ethics in Sports Award.
The award is presented to a high school junior student-athlete who exemplifies the highest standards of ethics and sportsmanship. It acknowledges accountability, respect of teammates, opponents and officials, honesty, positive attitude, reliability and humility in their daily lives.
Lounsbury was honored by award sponsor Dave Pintard of the Pintard Group in a virtual ceremony. Carpinteria track & field coach Van Latham also participated in the video.
Carpinteria Athletic Director Pat Cooney called Lounsbury “a model Carpinteria Warrior and an exemplary Womble awardee.
“One advantage an AD has over coaches is that we get to see multi-sport student athletes in each different setting,” he said. “Ariana is a consistent positive force on the court, on the field, on the track, in the band and in her classrooms.
“Though a fierce competitor, she practically insists on a positive atmosphere for her teammates and opponents. Phil Womble would be proud of her.”
He’d be impressed with her resilience, too.
Two years ago, she bounced back after suffering a concussion while playing goalkeeper for the soccer team.
“I thought she would not be back or, if she came back, she would be tentative,” said soccer assistant coach Lucy Carleton. “Boy, was I completely off the mark. That young woman is fearless.
“I think I was more terrified that she was in our first game last spring, when she came charging out of the goal to make a stop. Few are that resilient.”
Carleton describe Ariana as “the complete package as a student athlete: intelligent, dedicated, sweet and strong.”
Latham said that during the pandemic-impacted compressed sports calendar in the spring of 2021, Ariana didn’t hesitate in coming out for the team once soccer finished playing.
“She was a great contributor to our team in our final stretch run to the league championship,” he said.
The daughter of Michelle and Duke Lounsbury, also serves her community. She officiates youth soccer games and volunteers for the Carpinteria Avocado Festival.
“She’s an all-around person and giving in everything she does,” said Latham.