In the mid-1970s, Santa Barbara High boys soccer ruled the CIF-Southern Section.
Under legendary coach Manuel “Lito” Garcia, the Dons accomplished a three-peat, winning championships in 1975, ’76 and ’77. Rudy Ybarra was named the Player of the Year in ’75 and ’76 and Gus Guzman received the honor in ’77.
With the SBHS Class of ’76 celebrating its 50th reunion this weekend (Sept. 18-19), players from those great soccer teams thought it would be a perfect time to reconnect and celebrate.
A reunion party has been organized and it will take place at Coach Garcia’s home on Sunday, Sept. 20, from 12 to 3 p.m.
The Dons routed perennial power South Torrance, 4-1, for their first title. In 76, they shut out El Centro-Central, 4-0, and the next year they edged Palos Verdes, 1-0.
Ybarra, a ’76 graduate, encourages players from those championship teams to contact him (805 455-4464, rudy14ybarra@gmail.com) or Peter Guzman (360 356-2673) to confirm they will be attending the reunion party.
“This 50th reunion is a celebration of more than just trophies, it’s about the lifelong bond shared by everyone who has ever worn the olive and gold,” said Ybarra. “From the original squads who paved the way to our modern championship teams, the spirit of ‘Once a Don, Always a Don’ remains stronger than ever.”
Those early championships teams established a winning tradition at Santa Barbara —the program has won seven CIF-SS titles and a CIF State Regional crown —and fostered a deeply rooted culture famously summarized by the team’s historic motto, “Nosotros Soccer.”
