Santa Barbara High celebrated nine of its student-athletes who signed to compete at the collegiate level on Wednesday at Peabody Stadium.
From basketball star Luke Zuffelato signing with UCSB to four signees from the baseball team, this year’s crop of Dons heading to the next level is a strong one.
Zeke Adderley – University of Maryland Eastern Shore Baseball
Adderley will make his way across the country in the fall to further his academic and baseball career at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, a Division I program competing in the Northeast Conference.
“The campus is super nice and the baseball is decent, but I want to be there as the leading person who gets the school higher,” Adderley said. “They also have a good media arts program that got me really interested.”
The right-hander has contributed throughout his Santa Barbara High career both at the plate as a power bat and on the mound as a hard-throwing starter and closer.
Eric Anthony – University of Puget Sound Baseball
Anthony will head up to the Pacific Northwest for his college years, where he will be competing at the Division III level for the University of Puget Sound Loggers.
“This was a goal the second I stepped on a mound when I was 5 years old… I love this game and I want to play for as long as I can,” Anthony said. “The head coach was awesome up there, he really welcomed me.
“I thought the campus was just beautiful and it just felt like the place I wanted to go the second I stepped on that campus and on that baseball field.”
While he has been a big bat in the Dons’ lineup at times, the right-hander has perhaps made his biggest impact as a dominant starting pitcher throughout his high school career.
Belen Catalan Jaimes – Cal Lutheran Track & Field/Cross Country
Catalan Jaimes will head just down the 101 for her collegiate years, as she will run both track and cross country at Cal Lutheran.
“I’ve been running since third grade… I’m just so excited to see what’s next,” Catalan Jaimes said. “I loved the students, I loved the professors. They were all so sweet, encouraging, lovely and welcoming people… I just think it’s the perfect fit.”
She has been a key member of Santa Barbara High’s success in recent years, running the long-distance races of the 3,200-meter race and the mile.
Keenan Engebretson – University of North Carolina Wilmington Beach Volleyball
Engebretson has been a standout player for both the beach and indoor teams as a Don, but she will be focusing on the beach courts when she heads across the country to play at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, a Division I program.
“It’s amazing. I’m super excited and I can’t wait to be there and continue the sport that I love,” Engebretson said. “I really loved the coaches and the whole culture as a team, it really seemed like the right place for me.”
She still has some volleyball left to play for Santa Barbara High, as she and teammate Lola Heckman will represent their team in the CIF-SS Individual Pairs Playoffs.
Matthias Everest – Wheaton College Track & Field/Cross Country
Everest will make the move to the Midwest to compete on both the track & field and cross country squads for Wheaton College, a Division-III program.
“I loved how it was far away from home and the community out there was amazing,” Everest said. “The whole team there, as soon as I got there, was so welcoming and wanted me to feel like I belonged.”
He has been a standout on both the track & field and cross country squads for the Dons throughout his career, including playing a key role in last year’s cross country CIF State Championship.
Jasper Larsson – Dominican University Lacrosse
Larsson will remain in California and further his academic and lacrosse career at the Division-II level for Dominican University in San Rafael, one of the first signings in program history.
“I’ve got to set the standard and get some lacrosse going in Santa Barbara, it’s important,” Larsson said. “It’s rewarding, it’s nice and it feels good.”
He has been one of the top players in town throughout his high school career, capped off by a strong senior season where he is leading his team on the offensive end.
Kai Mault – UC Davis Baseball
Mault, a multi-sport star at Santa Barbara High, will remain on the diamond for his collegiate years as he will play Division I baseball as a UC Davis Aggie.
“It was really the community up at Davis and the coaching staff that really sold me,” Mault said. “It’s a great place to be… the people up there are so amazing so I felt honored to be able to commit there.”
The senior has been a solid bat at the top of the lineup for the Dons during his high school career, using his game-breaking speed to wreak havoc on the basepaths for opposing defenses.
“Our program does stuff right. Our coaches raise not only good ballplayers but were also really good kids,” Mault said of signing alongside his teammates. “Anybody would be lucky to play under these guys. It’s been such a privilege to grow and have these guys be there to support all four of us.”
Luca Villano – North Central University Baseball
Villano will go north for his college years, playing baseball in Minnesota at the Division III level for North Central University.
“It’s a big moment to me and I want to thank God for that,” Villano said of signing. “It’s a Christian school, so that drew me closer there because I want to grow my relationship with God.”
“I also really wanted to get out of state and experience something different in college.”
He is the fourth Santa Barbara High baseball player to sign to play in college, continuing to build on a program that already holds a strong legacy.
Luke Zuffelato – UC Santa Barbara Basketball
Last but not least, Zuffelato will remain in town to continue his basketball and academic career in Isla Vista as a UC Santa Barbara Gaucho. In fact, he already has one practice under his belt with the Gauchos.
“It was amazing, I felt like I fit in perfectly,” Zuffelato said of his practice with the team. “I felt like I belonged there and I’m just trusting my skills and my hard work to continue to grow as a player.
The 6-foot-6 sharpshooter rewrote the record books during his time as a Don, setting new program marks in career points, career rebounds and career three-pointers made. He averaged 24.9 points, 10.8 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game in his senior season.
“The coaching staff and players were what drew me,” Zuffelato said. “Santa Barbara’s obviously a beautiful place, but the place didn’t matter as much as the coaching staff and the team.”