Sports Leads

The Ernest Righetti High School boys’ water polo team stepped out of the heated pools they’re accustomed to and braved the open water for a summer tournament on Foster Lake in Oregon. “Once in a while you’ve got to change it up,” head varsity coach Kyle Shaffer said. This July, it wasn’t necessarily other teams […]

Chris Ruiz was on vacation at Disneyland when he realized he was suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. In 2005, the former Marine was almost asleep in his hotel when he heard the thud of exploding fireworks. He tried to calm himself, but his heart was racing, and when the grand finale boomed, he sat […]

The Chumash Event Center is buzzing on Aug. 15, even more so than it usually does during Friday Night Fights. Camera crewmembers are wildly running around putting wires where they need to go while two men, groomed far beyond everyone else in the event center, are waiting. It wasn’t going to be a typical lineup […]

When members of the One Way skate team aren’t skateboarding, they’re hanging out with team members, and much like old friends do, they squabble and make fun of each other. Outside of making friends, being on the skate team is an opportunity all of them are grateful for: It’s a way for them to keep […]

Joseph Domingues is showing off his bronze medal and talking about what he’s looking forward to now that he’s back from the Junior Olympics in Iowa: eating whatever he wants, sleeping in, and running at his own pace. “I’m shocked to be in Santa Maria right now. I was getting used to being in a […]

For all Don Willis knew, his football career was over at age 8 when he was cut from his competitive youth team. He shied away from the sport until his eighth grade year when he and his family moved from Oakland to Lompoc, where he began to pursue his passion for football once more. “All […]

The 150-mile stretch of coastline from Santa Barbara to San Luis Obispo is a cyclist’s paradise, with an unparalleled climate, limited rainfall, and unbelievable views of the Los Padres National Forest and Pacific Ocean. But perhaps the most amazing thing about this happy stretch of coastline is how much everyone loves riding on it and […]

Katrina Mackinnon, 11, was born and raised in California. Bounding with energy, Katrina participates in softball, cheer, track, and basketball—she loves any sport where she can run a lot. She might have said cheer or softball is her favorite sport, but that was before she witnessed a lacrosse game. “I didn’t really know what the […]

Santa Maria Brewery was crowded for 10 a.m. Stepping through the doors revealed a crowd of fans decked in red, white, and blue attire to show support for the U.S. men’s soccer team. Families, friends, and children gathered around tables, munching on doughnuts or nursing a beer or mimosa (hey, it’s the World Cup after […]

Participation in high school sports continues to grow nationwide. As more athletes join the game, competition becomes bigger, faster, and more intense—but the higher level of play means keeping athletes safe and healthy is particularly paramount. Since Joe Graack took over as athletic director for Santa Maria High School in 2012, sports safety has been […]

There are several things in this life I would like to not have to worry about, among them world hunger, an ever-inconvenient menstrual cycle, and being overweight. But after my college tour, I realized my weight was definitely a reason to worry. Three years ago, I graduated college at 180 pounds—mind you, I’m 5-foot-6, so […]