Some people try a backflip and land on their feet. Others make an attempt and land on their face. The most unfortunate land on YouTube. Then there’s Santa Maria’s Trevor Henning. His acrobatics landed him in Cincinnati to compete in the Junior Olympic National Championships, running through May 13. Henning, 14, started training in gymnastics […]
Athlete of the Week Articles
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Athlete of the Week: Todd Rogers
In any office setting, you can find a cubicle with a calendar. On that calendar might be a picture of an exotic beach—a reminder of what lies beyond the computer monitor, or maybe a motivator for an upcoming vacation to escape the routine. For Solvang resident and Olympic gold medalist in beach volleyball Todd Rogers, […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Athlete(s) of the Week
Sometimes good things come in pairs. It’s certainly true for the boys’ and girls’ basketball teams of tiny St. Mary of the Assumption School, a Catholic school in Santa Maria. Both teams—made up of sixth through eighth-graders—recently completed perfect 17-0 league seasons and won their respective Central Coast Small Schools League Championship Tournaments. According to […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Athlete of the Week: Courtney Cuzick
When softball pitcher Courtney Cuzick steps onto the mound, you can tell she means business. A junior at Nipomo High School, Cuzick is the lead pitcher in the bullpen, with a 0.56 ERA (earned run average) and 178 strikeouts so far this season. Like every pitcher, Cuzick has a certain mindset when she gets into […]
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Athlete of the Week: Hunter Walker, Righetti
The Sun spoke to Righetti High School’s Hunter Walker as he laced up his kicks in preparation for taking on the area’s best basketball players at the Kiwanis Central Coast All-Star Basketball Spectacular on March 31. Walker has been playing basketball for as long as he can remember, but it wasn’t until junior high, after […]
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Athlete of the Week: Juan Robles
For Pioneer Valley varsity soccer coach Roberto Robles, it’s not just his son Juan’s athletic ability that makes him an Athlete of the Week—it’s his leadership abilities and dedication to the game. Juan, a junior forward (who can also play middle field), is having a stellar season so far. In the Panthers’ eight wins and […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Athlete of the Week
Softball player Vanessa Gonzalez, 16, isn’t on her high school varsity team. Her school’s softball coaches didn’t take her twice in the three years she’s tried out. She’s never played a full season of high school softball. So why is she our Athlete of the Week? Even gifted athletes struggle with maintaining the perseverance and […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Athlete of the Week: Ryan McNeil
Here’s a tip: If you see our Athlete of the Week, Ryan McNeil, anywhere around town, get his autograph. Quick. There are three main things to look for when trying to spot the high school baseball prodigy. First is his height; he stands about 6-foot-4, making him hard to miss. Also, look for a swarm […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Vanessa Gudino
Santa Maria High’s Vanessa Gudino is one of the Saints’ top wrestlers and an aspiring artist. She uses chalk, paint, pencil, and pastels to express her creative side. But her favorite thing to put down on a canvas? Her opponents’ faces, of course. With only two years of wrestling experience, Gudino completed the regular season […]
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Athlete of the Week: Jacob Rodas
Though Santa Maria High School’s saintly mascot may not be the most menacing, a wrestler from the school is working hard to make sure that he is. Meet Jacob Rodas, one of the school’s top wrestlers and our Athlete of the Week. “I want to bring pride back here to Santa Maria,” Rodas said. “Back […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Athlete of the Week: Christina Ozzimo
Christina Ozzimo has played a large role on her soccer team this year, helping the Nipomo Titans end their season with a 13-8-2 record and their first trip to the CIF playoffs since 2005. She’s been kicking soccer balls around since she was 5 years old. By the time she turned 8, her friends were […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Stuart Malm
Righetti High School’s Stuart Malm is humble, soft-spoken, and hesitant to admit any hint of his prowess as a wrestler. “I don’t think I’m that good,” he said of his wrestling abilities. However, a short video on Youtube that shows Malm in the heat of battle is confirmation of the old adage “actions speak louder […]
