Santa Cruz County Sports Digest

The Santa Cruz Warriors, named the NBA G League franchise of the year in 2020-21, will feature a new general manager, new coach, and Steph Curry bobble-heads this season.

Women on Waves returns to Capitola on Oct. 9, following last year’s virtual event. For 2021, the focus of WOW is “Sea Kindness,” and proceeds will benefit Groundswell, a nonprofit devoted to coastal restoration.

In the tiny burg of Pajaro, a team of workers and engineers is hand-building a new line of cross-country racing bicycles. The Exie is not the first of its kind, says sales manager Josh Tonnissen, but it’s the best among a field of worthy contenders.

The Central Coast YMCA is offering free membership for 12- to 18-year-olds who can show proof of vaccination. The offer runs through Oct. 31 at YMCA locations in Salinas, San Benito County and Watsonville.

Hundreds of bike enthusiasts will compete Sept. 25 in the first-ever Heart of Gold, a 55-mile gravel course race through the Gold Country aimed at raising awareness and funds for mental wellness programs for youth in Nevada County. The race, which begins in Nevada City, should draw as many as 400 racers from around the state.

There are many different ways to cope with the challenges COVID-19 brings. Trevor Allshouse decided to plunge himself into the ocean every day for a year. This month, the Aptos teen met that 365-day goal.

A quartet of players from the NBA G League affiliate in Santa Cruz—Selom Mawugbe, Eli Pemberton, Isaiah Brown and Ryan Taylor—are on the Golden State Warriors roster for the 2021 Summer League.

Watsonville MLB draft pick Ruben Ibarra says he won’t forget the ball fields where it all began.

The Santa Cruz Surfing Museum marked 35 years of history by inducting four historic boards into its collection—all of which have ties to the area.

The National Recreation Association standard for park space in a city is 10 acres of parkland per 1,000 residents. But Watsonville has only 2.25 acres of parkland per 1,000 inhabitants.

The Ramsey Park Pumptrack opened in Watsonville. At over 20,000 square feet, the asphalt paved rollers, banked turns and jumps is the newest, and largest, pumptrack in the county.

Local surfer Liza Monroy introduces us to custom surfboard shaper Carl Gooding, and his efforts to make the waves more accessible and surfing more accepting.

The 8 Little Leagues comprising District 39 are in various phases of enrolling and preparing for the coming season.

Under revised California Department of Public Health guidelines, amusement parks will be allowed to reopen and outdoor sports and other events may resume as soon as April.

The guidelines will restrict capacity and maintain mask and social distancing mandates.

Goodbye parking lot PE classes.
Officials cut the dedication ribbon and officially opened the new athletic field, track and stands for local PV High athletes.

Because the Santa Cruz County COVID rate is currently below the levels stipulated under recently updated State health guidelines, full contact practice and play may resume.