Santa Barbara High had five student-athletes sign their letters of intent to compete at the collegiate level in their respective sports on Wednesday at Peabody Stadium.
The five-person spring signing group joins the six Dons that committed to their universities in the fall.
Liam Keithley – Cal Lutheran Baseball
Keithley will head down the 101 and take his talents to Cal Lutheran, where he will continue his academic and baseball career.
“I’m super happy to finally sign and be done with the recruitment process,” Keithley said. “I’m super excited for the next steps, to play and to be a Kingsman.”
He is in the midst of a stellar senior season with the Dons, who currently sit in first place in the Channel League with a chance to win the league title if the cards fall in their favor on Thursday.
Keithley will join former Santa Barbara Don Luke Wechsler at Cal Lutheran, a team that is currently enjoying a 24-9 season after reaching an NCAA Div. 3 Regional Tournament in 2023.
“I really like the way they treat their guys down there, the coaches were super nice and inviting,” Keithley said. “I hung out with the team and it was a super welcoming environment that I really enjoyed.”
Sierra Gronquist – Westmont Track & Field
Gronquist will be staying close to home and will compete on the Westmont Warriors track & field squad beginning next season.
“It was very relieving to sign,” Gronquist said. “It was a last-minute decision but at the same time, I feel like I was always going to eventually choose Westmont.
“I actually wanted to go away from home at first but honestly something was just calling me to Westmont.”
Gronquist has been a standout for the Dons throughout her entire high school career, finding success in both running events and field events.
“They have a really good coach and everyone is super nice,” Gronquist said about what drew her to Westmont. “When I visited, they all really welcomed me.”
Olivia Battles – Occidental Lacrosse
Battles will also head down south to Occidental College to further her lacrosse career and her academic endeavors.
“I’m so excited, this has been nine years in the making and I’m just excited for another four years,” Battle said. “I like to think it was meant to be, it was very much fate.”
She has played a huge role on this year’s Dons girls lacrosse team and has been named to an All-CIF-SS team during her high school career.
“I stepped on the campus and I knew it was perfect,” Battle said. “I just so happened to meet a lacrosse girl and the coach saw something in me and I really appreciated that.
“I got to spend some time with the team and I could see their energy, and they are so kind and good people that I can see myself being friends with.”
Estella Gray – Occidental Water Polo
Gray will be joining Battles at Occidental, but she will be competing in the pool on the school’s water polo squad.
“I’m super happy, I feel like all the hard work has paid off,” Gray said.
Along with her competing in the pool for the Tigers during her collegiate years, Gray, who earned All-Channel League Second Team this season, will also join the school’s pre-health program.
“I love the student body, everyone seems so kind, and in athletics, everyone seems so hardworking and eager to progress in their sport and their academics,” Gray said.
“They have a wonderful pre-health program as well and I’m really looking forward to participating in that.”
Layla Szymczak – Pomona Water Polo
Rounding out the Dons’ signees is Szymczak, who will be taking her water polo talents to Pomona College in Claremont.
“I am excited and it makes me feel reassured that I’m all set for the future,” Szymczak said. “My sister went to Scripps, which is just right around the corner and I loved going there as a child while my sister went there.”
Szymczak, an All-Channel League First Team member from this season, will join a strong Pomona-Pitzer water polo squad that wrapped up the 2024 regular season with a perfect conference record of 12-0.
“I love the campus, it gives Santa Barbara and Montecito vibes,” Szymczak said. “It will challenge me academically and I’m going to be with a team that I definitely see myself with.”