SBCC football players have been getting a lot of playing time football season. as the Vaqueros are rolling to early leads and routing their opponents.
In their last four games, they’ve outscored the opponents 231-14 and 201-0 in the last three at La Playa Stadium.
“It’s a testament to these guys ran than the opponents,” said coach Craig Moropoulos at Monday’s Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table Press Luncheon. “My biggest philosophy as a coach is to have (the players) ready to play hard for four quarters.
“Our first team didn’t play in the second half (of last Saturday’s 52-0 rout of L.A. Valley). Second-, third- and maybe fourth-team guys, you get them playing hard and the score gets to be like that.”
He is expecting a stiff challenge this weekend when they travel to Antelope Valley.
“They are the top dog of the conference. Antelope Valley has won the conference two years in a row. In order to be the top dog, we have to knock off the top dog. We have to rise up this week.”
Moropoulos introduced two of his standout defensive players, linebacker Carson Jo of Medford, Ore. and lineman Grant Hessler out of Serra High in Orange County. Jo had a 31-yard interception return for a touchdown in the win over L.A. Valley. Hessler leads the conference in sacks.
SBCC WATER POLO
The Vaqueros will play a rare home game on Friday against top-ranked West Valley at the Santa Barbara High pool at 5:10 p.m.
“We don’t have a pool, we’re kind of fish out of water, so to speak,” said coach Chucky Roth. “Whenever we can play in town it’s a big deal.”
The Vaqueros will play five more games on Saturday in their Halloween Tournament against UCSB club teams, the Santa Barbara Masters, Cerritos College and L.A. Valley
Roth introduced Emily Lopez, a former standout at Righetti High, and Claire Daland of Agoura High.
He called Lopez “one of the best leaders I’ve coached in my entire life. A lot of the team’s success is attributed to what she does.”
Daland “is arguably the best center defender in the state at the community college level,” said Roth. “She’s a large reason why we’re able to compete against some these really big, strong teams.”
SAN MARCOS GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Coach Tina Brown introduced sophomore setter Josie Gamberdella and senior captain and outside hitter Riley Green.
She said Gamberdella “never lost sight of she wanted to do on the court and was the most supportive all all the players.”
On Green, a four-year varsity player: “She the ultimate young athlete that everyone would want on their team. I’m really sad to see her go, but it’s been an honor to coach year the last four years,” said Brown.
LAGUNA BLANCA FOOTBALL
Athletic Director Matt Steinhaus said juniors Spencer Hlavarty and James Couvillion led the way in an 8-man football win over Santa Clara last weekend that put the Owls in the Frontier League championship game at Villanova Prep on Saturday night. Both teams are 2-0.
He said the team looks up to Hlavarty and was happy to have the quarterback back in the lineup last week. He missed a couple of games with a concussion.
Steinhaus called Couvillion an ironman on the line. He made several plays on defense in the 29-21 win over Santa Clara.
WESTMONT WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL
The Warriors are 18-4 and in first place in the Golden State Athletic Conference. They can claim the title with a win against Vanguard at Murchison Gym on Friday night.
Coach Ruth McGolpin introduced captain and four-year starter Lexi Malone. The 6-foot-3 middle out of Foothill Tech in Ventura leads the team in blocks with 69 and has a hitting percentage of .322.
WESTMONT SOCCER
Reece Davidson of the women’s team became the first player in the history of the storied program to record three hat tricks during the season. She has 14 goals for the season.
The Warriors are in first place in the GSAC with a 5-0-3 record and are 10-0-3 overall.
The men’s team faces a must-win on Thursday at home against William Jessup to keep its playoff hopes alive.
CARPINTERIA FOOTBALL, WATER POLO
Judah Torres caught at TD pass in the Warriors’ 17-10 win at Nordhoff lsat Friday. Sawyer Kelly played multiple position s to help the team win its first Citrus Coast League game.
In water polo, coach Stephen Kim introduced two improving players, Aiden Alcaraz and Eli Sheaffer. He said Alcaraz, who also plays baseball, gets in 2,000-3,000 yards of swimming with the swim club before water polo practice.
Scheaffer has become a key role player for the 13-8 Warriors.
“His improvement has allowed us to get better throughout the season,” said Kim.
DOS PUEBLOS WATER POLO
Assistant coach Jordan Williams said Andrew Klein-Fernandez carries a 4.7 GPA and has become “an exceptional utility player” for the Chargers.
Freshman Ben Fuhrer is already showing potential on the varsity team. “We’re excited to see what Ben brings to the table the next three years,” said Wiliams.
The Chargers play Buena at Santa Barbara High on Wednesday in the Channel League Tournament. A possible matchup with the top-seeded Dons in the semifinals would take place that evening at 7 p.m.
SANTA BARBARA HIGH WATER POLO
Coach Mark Walsh said the Dons open the league tournament at home against Pacifica and would play again in the semifinals at 7 p.m. against the winner of the Dos Pueblos-Buena game.
The championship and other placement games will be at Oxnard High on Thursday.