Boys soccer club edges Cabrillo in rainy season opener, while basketball and wrestling also debut
As we enter December, the winter sports teams at Santa Ynez High School are starting their seasons with hopes of postseason action around February. A rundown on earlier season action starts here:
Boys soccer edges Cabrillo in season opener
The Santa Ynez High boys soccer team hosted Cabrillo in its season debut on Thursday, Nov. 20, opening up a big lead and then withstanding a CHS comeback to win 3-2.
In a game played in the rain, Marcos Rivera and Santos Orozco each had a goal in the first half to make it 2-0 at intermission. Vince Guerrero then scored the Pirates’ third goal at the start of second half, before the Conquistadors found the net twice to make it 3-2. However, SYHS was able to hold on for the win.
Abner Banegas, designated as Man of the Match said “was very happy to get the start in my first varsity match and help the team get their first win of the season. Santos [Orozco] and him were a great team as center backs, and I hope it’s one of many more wins for the season.”
Coach Hector Garcia’s team, which finished just short of the .300 winning percentage required to make the CIF Central Section playoffs in 2024-25, had two road games this week: Tuesday, Dec. 2, at Arroyo Grande and Thursday, Dec. 4, at Orcutt Academy (results not available at press time). The Pirates play next at Lompoc on Thursday, Dec. 11, at 6 p.m. They return home on Tuesday, Dec. 16, for their first league game against Atascadero at 6 p.m.
Girls basketball bests Nipomo to tip-off season
The Santa Ynez High girls basketball team is coming off a 2024-25 season that saw a memorable postseason run, and on Thursday, Nov. 20, got its 2025-26 season off to a rousing start with a 47-32 victory over Nipomo.
Lexi Molera (14 points, 4 steals), Nelina Pecile (9 points, 12 rebounds, 5 steals), and Rylan Agin (6 points, 6 rebounds), all standout on last year’s team that was CIF Central Section Division IV runner-up and had a win in the state tournament, led the way for the Pirates, while Jasmine Juarez, a sophomore on last year’s squad had 9 points and 7 rebounds.
“The girls were playing with impressive intensity, unity, and focus tonight,” SYHS head coach Jennifer Rasmussen said. “We only lost one senior from last year’s team, so we are looking forward to this year!”
The Pirates are currently playing in the Lompoc Tournament this weekend with game tonight, Friday, Dec. 4, and Saturday, Dec. 5.
Boys basketball drops two at Santa Clara Tournament
The Santa Ynez High boys basketball team went to the Santa Clara Tournament on Thanksgiving weekend, losing games to Eastside (86-51) on Friday, Nov. 28, and Bishop Diego (68-31) on Saturday, Nov. 29. That give the Pirates a 2-3 start to the season.
SYHS won its first two games of the season. In the opener on Nov. 18, the Pirates defeated host Pioneer Valley 70-54. Lucas Ollenburger led the way with 24 points and 9 rebounds, with Gael Villalobos adding 13 points and Mason Skidmore 10. Two days later, on Nov. 20, the Pirates traveled to Nipomo and beat the Titans 70-37. Ollenburger had 14 points and 13 rebounds, with Skidmore (15), Villalobos (10), and Jude Pritchard (14) all scoring in double figures.
SYHS played its first home game Tuesday, Dec. 2, against Cabrillo (result not available) and will next travel to Arroyo Grande for a 6:30 p.m. game Monday night.
PIrates boys, girls wrestlers compete before Thanksgiving
Sean Yamasaki has started as SYHS’s new boys and girls wrestling coach and reported during Thanksgiving week, “it was a busy last couple days for the Pirates — almost everyone competed.”
The boys wrestling squad had a good showing at the Santa Maria Tri Tip Duals on Wednesday, Nov. 26, as the team was 4-1 on the day, defeating San Marcos, Buena, Del Sol, and Atascadero and losing to Pioneer Valley.
“We had three of our wrestlers Neal Cunningham (157), Kaj Kretschmer (190), and Joey Duarte (285) go undefeated as well,” Yamasaki said. “Andrew Badger (138) and Curren Lane (150) also went 4-1 on the day.”
On Tuesday, Nov. 26, the Pirates’ first-year wrestlers also competed in the novice tournament at Santa Maria, with Dylan Zepeda, Luke Kruse, and Zeke Virgen all claiming first place in their weight classes.”
SYHS’s girls wrestlers also competed, as on Saturday, Nov. 22, at Lompoc High.
“Our girls competed, with Dallana Margarito taking first place, Patricia Silva taking second, and Melody Lopez taking third.”
The SYHS girls wrestlers will next see action Friday and Saturday, Dec. 5-6, for the Island Girlz Tournament at Channel Islands HIgh. Boys wrestlers will next see action at the Mad Ranch Tourney Dec. 13 at Liberty High School in Bakersfield.
