Morro Bay High School’s Athletic Boosters Club, in conjunction with the school’s athletics teams and new athletic director, have begun a new program to recognize athletes of all sports for their outstanding performances, as well as team leadership and sportsmanship.
Estero Bay News has agreed to help with the “Athlete of the Month” awards, as nominated by the coaches of the individual sports teams
Ken Hotaling, vice-president of the MBHS Athletic Booster’s Board, said their goal is to bring more recognition to the lesser-known sports.
“One of the goals of this program,” Hotaling told EBN, “is to give some accolades to the student/athletes that are in some of the non-football or non-baseball sports.” For example, “Water polo barely gets any recognition in comparison to the ‘bigger’ sports. We’re hoping to honor as many student/athletes as possible.”
Here are the August 2022 Athletes of the Month:
Water Polo
Sophomore Ryker Robson was named Boys Varsity Water Polo Athlete of the Month by his coach Joseph Tomlinson.
Photo by Tyler Hoyt
Sophomore Ryker Robson is the Boys Varsity Water Polo Athlete of the Month.
Coach Joseph Tomlinson said Robson deserves this award for August, as well as his consistent work ethic and focus over the past year.
Last season, the Mountain League coaches unanimously named Robson, then a freshman, to the All League Second Team. Coach Tomlinson said Robson is dedicated to the sport.
He spent the first eight months of 2022 playing club water polo on weekends, Coach Tomlinson said, lifting weights on his own or with sophomore teammate Noa Dallas, and grinding through swim season with the MBHS Swim Team.
He came into the pre-season stronger, faster and determined to forge a successful year.
Robson, “is fiercely competitive and raises the intensity level of the entire team with a quiet, determined focus,” the coach said.
With the season just getting started, and including a scrimmage and first Mountain League game, Robson has led the team in goals scored and defensive steals.
“In this sophomore year,” Coach Tomlinson said of Robson, “will only continue to improve, gain mastery of his skills, and dominate.
“As a coach and fan of the sport, it’s fun for me to witness such an outstanding athlete’s progress.”
Girls Volleyball
Reese Mischel and Hannah Colletti were voted in as captains by their teammates because of their outstanding character, athletic abilities, and volleyball experience, according to girl’s volleyball coach, Kate Yarbrough, who nominated them for Athlete of the Month honors.
“Both young women put in extraordinary work during the off-season and pre-season to improve both their physical and mental game,” Coach Yarbrough said, “and show incredible dedication to the sport. They are role models in positive attitudes, comportment, and have earned the trust and respect of their coaches and peers.
Mischel and Colletti were also named co-players of the match during the lady Pirate’s pre-season opener against San Luis Obispo High.
Cross Country
MBHS Cross Country Athletes of the Month for August Annie Wieck and Michael Carbajal are shown here finishing last year’s MB Invitational.
Cross Country Coach, Chuck Ogle nominated Michael Carbajal of the boys cross country team and Annie Wieck for the girl’s team honors.
“Both train hard,” Coach Ogle said, “lead by example, and have their squads set up for great seasons.”
But their seasons got off to slow starts as neither runner competed in the Sept. 11, Morro Bay Invitational, because they were battling illnesses and sat out the school’s big season opener.
But both were outstanding last season in both cross country and track, and should get back on the road putting in the miles of training needed to lead the Pirates into the cross country season.
