Eleven other Santa Ynez players recognized by league
The Central Coast Athletic Association released its All-League teams for the Sunset League football season, with Santa Ynez High junior quarterback Jude Pritchard receiving a top honor.
Pritchard was named Offensive Player of the Year by the CCAA on the year-end team. Pritchard, a junior in his second year as starter for SYHS, has proven himself as quite a double-threat, throwing for 1,661 yards and 12 touchdowns, and also rushing for 513 yards and 6 TDs. Both yardage totals were team highs for the season.
Other Sunset League honorees included San Luis Obispo senior QB Jace Gomes (MVP), Righetti senior linebacker and SLO senior linebacker Hayden Hall (Co-Defensive Players of the Year), Righetti senior player Derek Reynoso (All-Purpose Player of the Year), and SLO head coach Pat Johnston (Coach of the Year). San Luis Obispo was league champ with a 4-0 record in league, 10-2 overall.
In addition to Pritchard, 11 Pirates were recognized with first- or second-team honors, or honorable mentions.
For offense, senior Alex Thompson earned first-team honors at offensive line. SYHS second-team selections were senior Davis Gandolfo (offensive line), senior Luke Gianis, senior Griffin Bruner (running back), and junior Diego Pulido (kicker). Senior Sebastian Perez got honorable mention for offensive line.
For defense, senior Ben Flores (linebacker) and senior Ryder McClurg (defensive back) received first-team honors.Junior Levi Snow (defensive line), senior Luca Clifton (linebacker), and senior Max Andrade (defensive back) were named to the second team. Junior Javier Nungary (defensive line) was an honorable mention.
SYHS hires coaches for spring sports
The Santa Ynez Valley High School District announced on Dec. 11 two coaching hires for spring sports.
Allen Pinoli was named as the Santa Ynez High track and field head coach after serving as the interim head coach for 2024-25, where he stepped in after the season had already started and filled the vacated position. Pinoli also serves as an assistant varsity football coach for the Pirates, where he is in his fifth season as the running backs coach.
“Allen has great passion and enthusiaism for coaching and life in general. He has a phenominal rapport with his athletes and has shown an ability to coach all levels of talent,” SYHS Athletic Director Josh McClurg said. “He is well known and respected in the local community, having grown up in the Valley and is the owner/operator for Pinoli’sMechanical. I am extremely excited to have Allen on permantly as a head coach and I look forward to him continuing to re-build the track program.”
Pinoli attended Santa Ynez High School and graduated in 1995. He was a four-year football player and member of the back-to-back league champion teams of ’93 and ’94. He was the county Player Of The Year in 1994 as well as first-team All CIF-SS and first team all-league. Pinoli’s track career was just as impressive. He was a four-year varsity track athlete and made CIF every year. He earned all-league honors in the 4×100 and 300 Hurdles. He was Los Padres League Champion in the 300 hurdles in 1995.
Allen has also been a huge part of our local Pirate YFL program. He has coached the last five years and has alsoserved on the YFL board of directors.
Also, on Tuesday, Dec. 10, Santa Ynez Valley High School Board approved Felicity Caballero-Montez as the softball head coach. Montez has spent the last four years bringing a private pitching coach in the area and coaching for LGSA (Lompoc Girls Softball Association).
“Felicity brings a new youthful energy to our softball program,” McClurg said. “She has already organized an exciting, young coaching staff that is ready to get working. We are excited to welcome Coach Montez to Pirate family.”
Montez attended Cabrillo High School, where she started at pitcher and second base for the Conquistadores. She also played travel ball for local coach Benny Garcia and subsequently graduated from Cabrillo in 2016.
Girls basketball downs Nipomo before break
The Santa Ynez High girls basketball team defeated Nipomo 53-34 on Dec. 10 to raise their record to 6-4.
The team is now on a two-week break before traveling to Bakersfield for the Arvin Holiday Classic on Dec. 26.
Rylan Agin was the top scorer against Nipomo, with 17 points, while adding 7 rebounds, and 3 assists. Helina Pecile contributed 13 points, 11 boards, and 5 steals, and Lexi Modera had 12 points and 4 rebounds.
SYHS had another big win on Dec. 6, beating Santa Barbara 51-28. Agin led a balanced scoring attack with 12 points, while Elena Sleiman added 10 points, and Pecile had 8 points and 10 rebounds.
“The team put on a strong performance, showcasing both offensive depth and defensive intensity,” said head coach Jennifer Rasmussen after the game. “This was a dominant all-around performance by the girls.”
Boys basketball suffers first loss
The Pirates boys basketball team suffered its first loss of the season on Dec. 10, falling to Lompoc 55-50 and dropping their record to 4-1.
A week before, SYHS beat Templeton 61-27 as Pritchard, now with the basketball team, led the way with 14 points andJayden Mendoza added 10.
The Pirates played in the Morro Bay tournament over the weekend(results not available at press time) and will travel to Carpinteria for their tournament on Dec. 20.
Feature Image: Santa Ynez High quarterback Jude Pritchard (center) waits for the snap during a game against Pioneer Valley earlier this year. Pritchard was named Sunset League Offensive Player of the Year in the season-ending all-league announcements. Star File Photo
