Jae Wykoff received the SBART Scholar-Athlete of the Year award and local public schools made their returns from Spring Break to the weekly SB Athletic Round Table Press Luncheon at Harry’s Plaza Cafe on Monday.
Wykoff was honored at the top of the luncheon, while high school sports teams previewed the week ahead and the upcoming second half of the regular season for most spring sports.
The weekly SBART luncheon is presented by Maho Prentice LLP, Investec and Fidelity National Title Group Santa Barbara.
Jae Wykoff Wins Cate Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award
Wykoff has been at the center of much of Cate’s aquatic success in recent years, and he’s done it while balancing rigorous academics and shining in the classroom at the same time.
“When I think of the Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards in my time at Cate over the last 20 years or so, you think of some of the most extraordinary student-athletes that have come through our high schools,” Cate athletic director Wade Ransom said.
“Jae’s hard work, his dedication, his ability to bring other people along (is impressive)… Your best leaders make everybody else in the pool better. Jae does all that and checks all those boxes.”
In the pool, he is the reigning Tri-Valley League Boys Water Polo MVP after being named to the All-League First Team and All-CIF-SS D4 Second Team in 2024. He has also made the All-League First and Second Teams for the swim team.
Wykoff also holds the school’s program record in the 200 freestyle relay race, which he set at the 2025 CIF-SS Div. 2 championship.
“We are so proud to have him represent us for this award,” Ransom said. “We’re so excited to see where all of this takes them, and he still has a senior swimming season to get through, to break some more records and to leave a forever legacy in our pool.”
In the classroom, he boasts an impressive 4.58 GPA while taking courses such as Advanced Multivariable Calculus and Linear Algebra, Advanced Physics, Advanced Biology, Advanced History and Advanced English.
His excellence as both a student and an athlete have given him the opportunity to play NCAA Div. III water polo and study at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
“I want to thank [SBART] and everyone involved in selecting me for this recognition. It means a lot to be included along with the student-athletes who have received this award before me,” Wykoff said. “I’m where I am because of all the coaches who stayed late to help me with my shooting form, spent their Saturday morning swimming with me, and took the time out of their day to advocate on my behalf.
“I’ve been incredibly lucky to be surrounded by people like this: coaches, teachers, teammates, friends and especially my family.”
Wykoff is the eighth of 11 Scholar-Athletes of the Year for this school year, joining Dos Pueblos’ Elliot McGuire, Laguna Blanca’s Bennett Sullivan, Providence’s Annika Haugen, Bishop Diego’s Jaymi Coronado, Carpinteria High’s Vivian Huskins, San Marcos’ Rio Chesluk and Santa Barbara High’s Dane Polchin.
The award is sponsored by Marc Gamberdella of the Gamberdella-Spruill Group of Merrill Lynch.
“While I’m deeply appreciative of this award, I also see it as a reflection of all the people who have helped me get there. I’m honored by this recognition from the Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table and I’m proud to represent Cate School,” Wykoff said.
Rivalry Action Ahead this Week
There are several critical crosstown rivalry showdowns this week that could have an impact on league races and CIF-SS postseason standing.
On Tuesday, Dos Pueblos and San Marcos will clash in both boys and girls lacrosse. The boys matchup will be at Warkentin Stadium at 6 p.m., while the girls will be at Scott O’Leary Stadium at 6 p.m.
The girls matchup will be for first place in the Channel League standings, as both teams are undefeated against league opponents with the Chargers at 4-0 and the Royals at 3-0. Meanwhile, the Charger boys are 3-1 for second in league play and the Royal boys remain winless in league action at 0-3.
Santa Barbara High and Cate will also meet for rivalry lacrosse matchups on Tuesday, with the boys playing in Carpinteria at 5 p.m. and the girls facing off at Peabody Stadium at 6 p.m.
While the Channel League boys volleyball teams have a week off from league play, Cate boys volleyball has crosstown rivalry matchups with Laguna Blanca and Bishop Diego on Tuesday and Friday, respectively.
On Wednesday, San Marcos track & field will roll out the welcome mats for a Channel League rivalry meet against Santa Barbara High and Dos Pueblos at Warkentin Stadium.
The lacrosse action will continue on Thursday when Santa Barbara High and Dos Pueblos meet. The boys game will take place at Scott O’Leary Stadium at 6 p.m., and the girls will play at Peabody Stadium at 6 p.m.
The Dons and Chargers boys teams are the top two teams in the Channel League, and the last time they met, Santa Barbara High came out on top by a score of 8-5.
“It’s going to be a really, really fun game Thursday. We’re looking forward to it, and I know they are too,” Santa Barbara High boys lacrosse coach John Keogh said.
Student-Athletes in Attendance
Cate Aquatics: Jae Wykoff
SBCC Baseball: Wylan Nelson
San Marcos Girls Lacrosse: Victoria Aldana, Maddie Medina
San Marcos Boys Tennis: Eliot Gray, Will Schneider
San Marcos Softball: Piper Kittle, Caroline Wang
Dos Pueblos Softball: Alina Gutierrez, Kyanne Bechler
Santa Barbara High Girls Beach Volleyball: Stella Peus, Grace Costner
Santa Barbara High Track & Field: Elina Stump
San Marcos Baseball: Mason Crang, Grant Hoover, David Burkholder
Santa Barbara High Baseball: Max Weddle, Jetner Welch
Santa Barbara High Boys Lacrosse: Connor Jackson, Caden Chessmar
Santa Barbara High Girls Lacrosse: Nina Abraham, Keely McGaughey