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Locals shine at 2026 USLA National Junior Lifeguard Championships in Florida | Local Roundup
Santa Cruz Surf Lifesaving Association turned in several stellar performances at the 2026 United States Lifesaving Association (USLA) National Junior Lifeguard Championships in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Tuesday.
Artūrs Medveds, Paige Wood register dominant wins at 2026 Wharf to Wharf Race
Rancho Cucamonga’s Arturs Medveds repeated as champion at the 2026 Wharf to Wharf Race in commanding fashion, and Paige Wood, of Flagstaff, Arizona, also turned in a dominant showing to secure the women’s crown Sunday morning.
Latvia’s Arturs Medveds set for title defense at 2026 Wharf to Wharf Race
A slew of injuries has drastically reduced to the Wharf to Wharf Race’s international field this year, but event officials expect that the 54th running of the 5.91-mile road race will be every bit as spectacular as previous editions.
Chattanooga Lookouts slugger Ruben Ibarra homers twice, including 489-foot blast | Local Roundup
Watsonville’s Ruben Ibarra, 27, produced the longest home run in the Cincinnati Reds’ farm system this season and led the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts to a 9-3 win over the Rocket City Trash Pandas in the teams’ Southern League game at Toyota Field in Madison, Alabama, on Sunday.
Santa Cruz’s Brendan Bobo to compete in Frontier League’s 2026 Y’all Star Game | Local Roundup
Santa Cruz’s Brendan Bobo, 24, was chosen to compete in the Frontier League’s 2026 Y’all Star Game at Thomas More Stadium in Florence. Kentucky, on July 15.
William Kelley, Azalea Groleau earn 10K wins at 41st Firecracker Run | Local Roundup
Santa Cruz’s William Kelley and Felton’s Azalea Groleau earned wins in the 10K race at the 41st Firecracker Run at Harvey West Park in Santa Cruz on Saturday.
More than 6,095 runners compete in 16th annual She.is.beautiful Santa Cruz 10K and 5K | Local Roundup
More than 6,095 runners competed in the 16th annual She.is.beautiful Santa Cruz 10K and 5K races on Saturday, including three competing virtually.
Santa Cruz’s John Mel ties for 13th at WSL’s Jack’s Surfboards Pro | Local Roundup
Mother Nature did Santa Cruz’s John Mel no favors on Finals Day at the World Surf League’s Vans Jack’s Surfboards Pro in Huntington Beach on Sunday.
Scotts Valley boys volleyball earns sweep of Watsonville | Local Roundup
Senior setter Troy Thompson served seven aces, and made 28 assists, four digs, and two kills to help Scotts Valley High’s boys volleyball team earn a 25-9, 25-8, 25-18 sweep of visiting Watsonville in the teams’ nonleague match Tuesday.
Santa Cruz’s Tobin Ortenblad takes fourth in Fuego XL at 2026 Sea Otter Classic | Local Roundup
Santa Cruz mountain biker Tobin Ortenblad, 31, took fourth place out of 535 riders in the prestigious Fuego XL at the 2026 Sea Otter Classic in Salinas on Sunday.
Ella Boyes, Kenzie Culbertson earn wins as Aptos girls take third at Avis Kelley Invitational track meet | Local Roundup
Girls track and field athletes from Santa Cruz County took first place in five events at the 53rd Avis Kelley Invitational at Gilroy High on Saturday.
Saratoga’s Garrett Macquiddy, Montara’s Claire Yerby earn wins in inaugural The Santa Cruz Mile road race | Running
Saratoga’s Garrett Macquiddy and Montara’s Claire Yerby, both 24, were victorious in their respective elite races at the inaugural The Santa Cruz Mile on Sunday morning.
Organizers, entrants hyped for inaugural The Santa Cruz Mile road race | Running
Aptos’ Tim Schenone remembers being overcome with the feels. The former University of Colorado runner had just completed the heralded Fifth Avenue Mile in New York City — widely considered as the most popular annual road race in the U.S. — and loved it. Thing is, he had to travel 3,000 miles to experience it.
Nikki Hiltz runs to 3,000 win at ASICS Sound Invite in NC | Local Roundup
Runner Nikki Hiltz, an Aptos native competing for Lululemon, took first place in the women’s 3,000-meter ASICS race at the ASICS Sound Invite in Winston-Salem, N.C., on Saturday.
Aptos native Eric Kubota wins 2025 Baseball America Tony Gwynn Award | Local Roundup
Aptos native Eric Kubota, the A’s director of scouting, has been named the winner of the 2025 Baseball America Tony Gwynn Award, a lifetime achievement honor presented annually by the publication.
Cabrillo benefits from Folsom Lake’s four red cards, moves into third round of NorCal Regional playoffs | Local Roundup
Nathan Prevoteaux produced the lone goal, and the No. 11 seed Cabrillo College men’s soccer team upset No. 6 Folsom Lake 1-0 in the second round of the 3C2A NorCal Regional playoffs on Saturday.
Harbor, Scotts Valley and Santa Cruz ready for CIF NorCal Regional playoffs | Local Roundup
Placed in different divisions for the Central Coast Section girls volleyball playoffs, Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League rivals Harbor High and Santa Cruz are again competing for the same prize in the CIF NorCal Regional playoffs.
Cabrillo football falls to Coalinga, sees losing skid reach five | Local Roundup
Cabrillo College’s football team led at the half despite giving up a last-minute score in the second quarter, but Coalinga flipped the script in the second half and rallied for a 35-26 win in the teams’ Coast Conference opener in Aptos on Saturday night.
SCYC’s Kilian Kesting, Reuben Wax win Club Flying Junior class at U.S. Junior Olympic Sailing Regatta | Local Roundup
Santa Cruz Yacht Club’s Kilian Kesting and Reuben Wax teamed up for the title in the Club Flying Junior (CFJ) class at the U.S. Junior Olympic Sailing Regatta — also the 2025 Bay Area Youth Sailing Winter Series opener — on the Monterey Bay over the weekend.
Soquel girls water polo takes fourth at prestigious Arroyo Grande Fall Classic | Local Roundup
Soquel High’s girls water polo team went 3-2 and took fourth place at the prestigious Arroyo Grande Fall Classic on Saturday.
Harbor volleyball knocks off Salinas in nonleague battle of defending CCS finalists | Local Roundup
Harbor High’s girls volleyball team rallied past visiting Salinas 22-25, 28-26, 25-19, 26-24 in the teams’ marquee nonleague match Tuesday.
Local track and field talents shine at Nike Outdoor Nationals | Local Roundup
Scotts Valley Track Club’s relay teams posted three top-10 finishes, including a pair of top-five showings, at the four-day 2025 Nike Outdoor Nationals & USATF U20 Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.
Cabrillo baseball qualifies for NorCal Regional playoffs | Local Roundup
Cabrillo College’s baseball team qualified for the California Community College Athletic Association NorCal Regional playoffs, it was announced Sunday at the seeding meeting.
SC surfer Adam Bartlett eliminated on opening day in Barbados | Local Roundup
Santa Cruz’s Adam Bartlett was eliminated on the opening day of action at the World Surf League’s BTMI Barbados Surf Pro at Soup Bowl, Bathsheba, Barbados, on Monday.
Photos | The Santa Cruz Sentinel’s top sports photos of 2024
To close out 2024, Sentinel staff photographer Shmuel Thaler selected his favorite sports photos of the year.