SANTA BARBARA ATHLETIC ROUND TABLE HALL OF FAME The Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table is thrilled to host the INDUCTION CEREMONY 2018 Hall of Fame Banquet on Monday, October 29th. It will be the 51st annual Hall of Fame ceremony. 2018 For over fifty years our organization has supported student athletes in the greater Santa Barbara area. Each year we have been able to give more than 1,000 student athletes and coaches a well deserved pat on the back and extra encouragement to help them become better citizens. To this day we have no paid staff and no office. All your support goes directly to the student athletes. Federal Tax Identification Number: 95-3174198 MONDAY OCTOBER 29TH, 2018 LA CUMBRE COUNTRY CLUB SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA 2018 51th Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Welcome & Opening Remarks Gene Deering, SBART President Masters of Ceremonies PROGRAM TONIGHT’S Barry Punzal, Noozhawk Sports Editor Mike Klan, KEYT Sports Director Hall of Fame Inductees Adrienne Binder Dylan Axelrod Jeff Nelson Jennifer Rehage Kaylene Walter (Wagner) Mike Falberg Michael Giusto Doug Mitchell Gregg Wilson Closing Remarks We hope you will patronize our many business friends and sponsors listed in this program. It is their generosity, along with that of our guests this evening, that contributes to the development of our athletic community and to the lives of our student-athletes. Cover photos courtesy of the inductees and their families. Program articles and athlete bios by Barry Punzal and Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table Board of Directors Program layout and design by Elin Thomson, Boone Graphics Printing by Boone Graphics Audio-Video production by Moray Reels Program Director: Rob Butson, Jensen’s Audio Visual 2018 Founders & Past Presidents Bill Bertka Jerry Harwin Caesar Uyesaka Founder Founder Founder Jerry Harwin 1968-70 Tim Tremblay 1997-99 Bill Bertka 1970-72 Joe Howell 1999-01 Larry Crandell 1972-74 Chris Casebeeer 2001-03 Bill Blythe 1974-80 Marc Gamberdella 2003-05 Craig Case 1980-85 Barry Taugher 2005-07 Bob Huhn 1985-89 Rick Wilson 2007-09 Dick Mires 1989-91 Catharine Manset Morreale 2009-11 David Pintard 1991-93 Rich Hanna 2011-13 Paul Menzel 1993-95 Laurie Leighty 2013-15 Joan Russell-Price 1995-97 Cara Gamberdella 2015-17 Board of Directors 2018-19 Gary Cunningham Chairman of the Board Gene Deering President Bryan Cornet Secretary Ken Newendorp President-Elect Arjun McAvoy Treasurer SBART FOUNDERS SBART Sarai Anderson Scott Lindberg Alison Bernal John McCutcheon Paul Bradford Richard Mires* Dan Brennan Pat Moorhouse-MacPHee Rocco Constantino Tino Munoz Bob Dinaberg Diane O’Brien Jason Donnelly Diana O’Connell Marc Gamberdella* David Pintard Cara Gamberdella* Jay Smith Rich Hanna* John Stoney Rick Hubbard Mike Warren Joe Howell* Jason Wilson Laurie Leighty* Rick Wilson* *Past President Gene’s Hall of Fame Message 2018 Welcome to the Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table’s 51st celebration of athletic accomplishment. Tonight at our Hall of Fame event we honor some of the most outstanding athletes from this area. The impact these athletes had on our community and their teammates helped create a tradition of excellence in our small community. Each of tonight’s honorees was recognized during their playing days by the SBART and we are grateful to provide them our highest honor this evening. The 2017-18 athletic year was one for the record books. If you have attended any of our Monday Press Luncheons at Harry’s, you know that our high school and college student-athletes and coaches have been celebrating great successes both on and off the field. We honor all of our teams and individuals who MESSAGE PRESIDENT’S made it to the playoffs and beyond in addition to excelling in the classroom and community leadership. These luncheons also help showcase the incredible coaches which dedicate their time and energy to our youth. Last year our community was struck by tragic events with the Thomas Fire and the Montecito Mud Flow. These events helped showcase the strength of our community as many heroes emerged saving countless lives. Throughout the winter sports season, the community came together at Harry’s for our Monday Luncheons where we all realized how lucky we were to have sports in our lives. Our local sports programs provided a nice escape for those who may have been affected by the tragic events. Even though many of the winter sports seasons for our local high schools were dramatically shortened, the success our community achieved during the winter seasons was remarkable with five section championships (San Marcos Girls Water Polo, Santa Barbara High Boys Soccer, Carpinteria High School Boys Soccer, San Marcos Basketball, Dos Pueblos Boys Individual Wrestling). I am honored to have served the first year of a two-year appointment as the SBART Board President. I extend a very sincere “thank you” to all of our very generous sponsors and members. I would like to recognize specifically the Santa Barbara Association of Realtors and their Charity Golf Tournament. Last year the SBART was chosen as the tournament beneficiary. Thanks to the tireless work of the SBAOR Events Committee, chaired by Drew Wakefield, the tournament was a wild success. The funds from this Golf Tournament have enabled us to establish an annual scholarship in Phil Womble’s name. I extend a deep appreciation for all of the hard-working members of the SBART Board of Directors. The SBART has no paid staff; we are truly a “working board” with countless committee meetings, luncheons and long hours spent, coupled with the financial generosity of our sponsors and members, to keep the SBART mission moving forward. Last, but not least, a very hearty “thank you” to our local sports media for covering our luncheons, working together to honor our student-athletes with weekly and end-of-year awards and for publically sharing all of the great sports stories from our high schools and colleges each and every day. Growing up, I struggled with learning disabilities and I was able to achieve confidence and friendship through sports. Having sports to provide inspiration and motivation to attend college was vital in my life. When I first learned of the Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table and their mission to help recognize and celebrate achievements on the field of play and in the classroom, I wanted to be involved. Thank you to all of you in attendance tonight for showing your support for our local student-athletes, coaches, community leaders, sports media and the Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table. Sincerely, Gene Deering President 2018 Founders Almost five decades ago, Jerry Harwin and Harry’s Plaza Café was the site of the SBART’s Caesar Uyesaka sipped coffee at Caesar’s first press luncheon held on September14, Restaurant, talking about the need for a sports 1970. The luncheons, initiated by the new group in Santa Barbara that could help the president, Bill Bertka, were similar to a local athletic community in times of need. “Monday Morning Quarterback Club.” All After Jerry and Caesar shared a couple more area schools were represented by the head coffee breaks together, the Santa Barbara coaches of the sports in season. For over four Athletic Round Table was born. Its motto: The decades the SBART luncheons have been advancement and betterment of all sports and held at Harry’s every Monday, attended by athletics in the greater Santa Barbara area. standing-room-only crowds. The SBART got off to a fast start. Its first Since its first meeting back in 1968, the Santa organizational meeting was held at Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table has helped Barbara’s East Beach on January 25, 1968. thousands of individuals and organizations by SBART FOUNDERS SBART Hundreds of people attended this meeting, raising funds to support their athletic programs. and over 200 joined that evening as Charter The Round Table is proud to help student- Members. The SBART’s first annual banquet athletes at all levels compete in events they was held at Santa Barbara City College on would otherwise not have been able to attend. June 22, 1968. Through membership dues, It is with our deepest regards and warmest contributions, fundraising events and local thanks that we acknowledge and celebrate the foundations, the Round Table has raised more vision and hard work of our founders, Caesar than $2 million for local athletics. Uyesaka, Jerry Harwin and Bill Bertka. The mission of the Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table is to recognize and support athletic participation as an important means of fostering discipline, teamwork, self-respect, personal responsibility, and camaraderie. The SBART provides a public forum for area athletic coaches and athletes; grants financial support to organizations, teams, Mission and individuals to further their participation in sports; and Statement publicly honors athletic performance, scholastic achievement and exemplary ethical behavior. In Memoriam 2018 The Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table honors the life of long-time Board Member CHRIS CASEBEER 1946-2017 IN MEMORIAM Chris Casebeer was a man who was big, bold, and full of love. Breaking social norms everywhere he went, Chris could not pass up the chance to strike up a conversation and connect with people. He cultivated friendships with people near and far. He never held back sharing a big hug, genuine smile, or an invitation to visit his home. Chris lived with a sense of sharing abundance and possibility that is rare in this world; and all of us who knew and loved him are so much the better for it. A long-time SBART Board Member and Past-President, Chris was an active force for SBART membership, events and awards. The SBART Special Olympics Athlete of the Month Award has been named in honor of Chris.