Athlete of the Week Articles

Success isn’t achieved overnight—it’s something that’s derived from countless hours of training. Going into his third year at Santa Ynez Valley Union High School, Blake Lockhart has already seen his share of success on and off the volleyball court. Just by the numbers, Lockhart had a standout season during his sophomore year. Making 214 total […]

Ethan Clardy goes the distance. As the Ernest Righetti High School graduate spends his summer before college in the pool, he is looking forward to what the future has in store and is grateful for the many years he has spent swimming. So many years of practice and payoff have shaped Clardy into the swimmer […]

When the Sun spoke to 25-year-old Austin Shirley, he was taking shade under a makeshift awning, somewhere outside of Palm Springs, Calif. Shirley, his Siberian husky Archer, and companion Bryan Cochran were waiting for the weather to cool before continuing on their journey. The idea for this trek struck Shirley while he was in college, […]

Ernest Righetti High School Athletic Director Eric Albright is saying goodbye to the school after 12 years in his position to become the athletic director for Westminster High School in the Huntington Beach School District. The school has about 2,600 students. “We have been looking to move to LA for a few years. I feel […]

Playing one sport requires skill and perseverance. But participating in three sports is a feat that some would consider downright impossible. For Lompoc High School senior Chrisshnay Brown, athletics are an important part of her high school experience. Performing her best during the volleyball, basketball, and track seasons isn’t only possible for Brown; it’s a […]

Guadalupe native and wrestler Josh Rodriguez is on a determined road to the Fila Junior Pan American Championship in Toronto, Canada, this summer. “I like the competitiveness, the one-on-one aspect,” Rodriguez said of his sport. “It’s all up to you and how you perform. It comes down to who works hardest.” Rodriguez began wrestling in […]

This year, the nominees chosen to represent high schools and colleges across Northern Santa Barbara County were a competitive bunch. From wrestlers to golfers, a variety of young athletes vied for the chance to be named an Athlete of the Year by the Northern Santa Barbara County Athletic Roundtable. One of the contenders who stood […]

Abu Danaldi experienced his most memorable Spanish class recently at Dunn Academy. Reading a passage out loud, Danaldi was rendered speechless when Alecko Eskandarian walked into the classroom with a large trophy. Danaldi, now a senior, was honored with the Gatorade National Boys’ Soccer Player of the Year award; Eskandarian was last year’s award recipient. […]

“First of all, I would like to thank you all for coming,” Pioneer Valley High School senior Chelsea Dionisio announced. The humble gratitude she gracefully expressed in front of friends and family on May 7 was that of a young woman who fully appreciates the unique opportunity she has to continue a career in wrestling. […]

There is a difference between merely playing a sport and being completely committed to it. For Santa Ynez Valley Union High School junior Parker Maccianti, mountain biking isn’t just a pastime; it’s his passion. Parker’s penchant for mountain biking is exemplified by the fact that he puts forth his best effort during each and every […]

Sometimes, our biggest competition has a familiar face. For Nipomo High School (NHS) junior Saundra Renner, challenging herself to perform to her best ability happens every time she takes to the field. “[Softball] taught me how to be a leader and shake off my mistakes. I always try to one-up myself,” she said. A member […]

The tall oak trees blocked the sky above me as my black Ford Focus cruised along the bumpy dirt road in the remote hills of Nipomo. For a while, all I could think about was how dirty my car was going to be at the end of this. Thus far, this has been my most […]