Westmont cross country and track & field runner Thomas Reed received the school’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year award at the Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table Press Luncheon on Monday at Harry’s Plaza Cafe.
While Reed’s honor headlined the weekly luncheon, local high school squads provided updates as their teams head into the final weeks of the regular season and the opening weeks of the CIF-SS playoffs.
The weekly SBART luncheon is presented by Maho Prentice LLP, Investec and Fidelity National Title Group Santa Barbara.
Thomas Reed Named Westmont Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Reed’s commitment to the Warrior cross country/track & field squads, coupled with his dedication in the classroom, earned him the honor of being Westmont’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
He boasts a GPA of 4.0 and was named the First Senior at Westmont, which is awarded to the graduating senior(s) with the highest GPA.
Reed does not plan for his education to end at Westmont, as he wants to apply to medical school in the summer, hoping to specialize in ophthalmology.
He has also received athletic honors as a Warrior, earning the Solid Guts Award (athlete who demonstrates the most grit, determination and work ethic) in his sophomore year and the Golden Eagle award (top student-athlete in cross country) in his senior year.
“[Reed] has made our program better by his presence,” Westmont track & field and cross country head coach Russell Smelley said.
Reed is also heavily involved on campus as a member of Potter’s Clay, a student-led ministry that aims to serve alongside the people of Ensenada, Mexico. He co-led the Medical and Dental team for the ministry.
“I want to thank my parents for their constant love and encouragement. Without them, I would have never started to run,” Reed said.
“I want to thank Coach Smelley for mentoring me these last four years. Without you, I wouldn’t be the runner I am today. You encourage me to run without fear and you never lost faith in me. I’ve learned so much under your coaching.”
Reed is the 10th 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, Santa Barbara High’s Dane Polchin, Cate’s Jae Wykoff and SBCC’s Luke Steinert.
The award is sponsored by Marc Gamberdella of the Gamberdella-Spruill Group of Merrill Lynch.
“I’m incredibly grateful for this award and I want to thank the Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table and Mr. Gamberdella for selecting me and sponsoring this award,” Reed said.
Busy Week of Action Ahead
From crosstown rivalry matchups on the diamond to big first-round CIF-SS playoff matchups, there is plenty of high school sports action in town this week. Here is a look at some big games in town.
Tuesday, April 28
- Girls Beach Volleyball (CIF-SS Playoffs)
- Long Beach Poly @ Dos Pueblos, 4 p.m. (D3 Quarterfinals)
- Oak Park @ Bishop Diego, 3 p.m. (D4 Quarterfinals)
- Boys Volleyball (CIF-SS Playoffs)
- Lynwood @ Laguna Blanca, 6 p.m. (D8 Round 1)
- Girls Lacrosse (CIF-SS Playoffs)
- Downey @ Dos Pueblos, 5 p.m. (D3 Round 1)
- Baseball
- Santa Barbara @ San Marcos, 3:30 p.m.
Wednesday, April 29
- Girls Beach Volleyball (CIF-SS Playoffs)
- Mira Costa @ San Marcos, 2 p.m. (D1 Semifinals)
- Boys Volleyball (CIF-SS Playoffs)
- Santa Margarita @ San Marcos, 6 p.m. (D1 Round 1)
- Diamond Ranch @ Santa Barbara, 6 p.m. (D3 Round 1)
- Aquinas @ Dos Pueblos, 6 p.m. (D5 Round 1)
- Rio Hondo Prep @ Bishop Diego, 6 p.m. (D5 Round 1)
Thursday, April 30
- Swim & Dive
- Channel League Finals @ Elings Aquatic Center, 2 p.m.
Friday, May 1
- Baseball
- San Marcos @ Santa Barbara, 3:30 p.m.
Student-Athletes in Attendance
Santa Barbara High Boys Lacrosse: Flynn Chenoweth, Mason Bosma
Santa Barbara High Baseball: Derek Jaye, Tyler Nomura
Bishop Diego Boys Golf: Ben Zoltoski, Will Scribner
Bishop Diego Baseball: Ricky Fisher, Sean Monaghan
Bishop Diego Girls Beach Volleyball: Elle McMahon
Bishop Diego Boys Volleyball: Luke Walters, Nico DeRosa
San Marcos Track & Field: Alex Silva, Everett Young, Logan Hale
Carpinteria High Track & Field: Izzy Scott, Ramces Romero, Edwin Nova, Marely Avalos
Carpinteria High Baseball: Gabe Martinez, Noah Morente
San Marcos Baseball: Diego Alvarez, Isaac Corvera
Dos Pueblos Track & Field: Owen Abbott, Phil Contakes, Kellan Cotter, Ian McMurtry, Ashton Smedley