Athlete of the Week Articles

On Nov. 2, quarterback Curry Parham of St. Joseph High School’s Knights once again demonstrated why he’s one of the Central Coast’s best prospects for football glory. During their 51-28 victory against Bakersfield’s West High School on that day, Parham completed 10 passes for 249 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed for 59 yards, […]

Allan Hancock College forward Seth Kena is going with the flow. And since that flow has taken him to seven goals in six games, the strategy seems to be paying off. Kena—originally from Ghana, more recently from the East Coast—came to the area in July to play basketball for the Bulldogs. Practice started in early […]

While Santa Maria native Sierra Duarte is currently resting her sprained ankle, her record over the past few weeks is undiminished. Having scored 11 goals in the 2011 season, she’s already equaled that number, and once she’s back on the field, she’ll likely exceed it by a wide margin. Duarte is a local example of […]

What are the secrets to success as you bring home the gold medal and become the Black Belt World Champion in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu? “A positive attitude, supportive family, good food, and wine” explained the newly crowned world champion. Chris Hammell 40, a local and manager of Bien Nacido Vineyards took gold in the biggest event […]

During their intense 49-40 victory over Moorpark on Sept. 22, Brian Price came up with some big plays for Allan Hancock College’s Bulldogs. The freshman defensive lineman made six tackles, two of which were solo. This was only his latest performance in what’s turning out to be a great first half of the season for […]

Santa Ynez High School senior Karl Fredrickson has it right when he says water polo is a sport that most people don’t understand. People don’t seem to get why anyone would want to play a sport that requires players to swim back and forth constantly, drowning in pool water–all the while being beat up by […]

A high school athlete with exceptional athletic abilities is always someone to watch. But a high school student with tremendous talent and a mature head on her shoulders is even more amazing. The Righetti High School volleyball team is lucky enough to have one such rarely packaged player. Senior Brooke Butler’s love and passion for […]

Allan Hancock College’s Cameron Artis-Payne has just one word to describe his game: physical. The stellar sophomore running back exhibited his breakout ability on Sept. 8, tearing up highly ranked El Camino College for 232 yards on 22 carries, and scoring three touchdowns. The performance could be just a glimpse of what Bulldog fans can […]

The age-old adage “good things come in pairs” will never get old, especially with such proof in the dynamic tennis duo from Orcutt Academy. Kacy Ortiz and Alissa Laventes—both going into their senior year of high school—bring unique talents to their tennis partnership. Kacy, fearless and outspoken, adds power and passion to the court. Alissa, […]

Triathlons. They’re the ultimate physical test of fitness, endurance, and determination. Consisting of cycling, swimming, and running portions, the sport is growing by leaps and bounds every day, with thousands of races held across the world each year. The reasons people sign up for triathlons are varied: some want to prove they can, others thrive […]