Top 150 Dons Athletes Of All-Time Selected For Santa Barbara High School Anniversary

As part of Santa Barbara High School’s 150th Anniversary, the Top 150 Dons Athletes in the History of SBHS have been chosen to be a wide-ranging Selection Committee.

The Dons Top 150 include many familiar names who excelled in the local sports arena throughout a variety of memorable decades. Among the distinguished group are golfer Al Geiberger, baseball’s Jesse Orosco, Eddie Mathews and Ryan Spilborghs, football’s Randall Cunningham, Sam Cunningham and Marv Goux, surfing’s Tom Curren and Kim Merig, volleyball’s Karch Kiraly, John Hanley and Lisa and Kelly Strand, and countless others.

The Top 150 will be recognized at a special event on November 9 organized by Ye Ole Gang, a local group of former Dons who have supported SBHS Athletics for more than 50 years.

 “Few high schools can boast a list of outstanding athletes quite like Santa Barbara High,” said Ye Ole Gang President David Bolton ‘81. “The Dons are legendary. We are honored to be able to recognize these Top 150.”

For the past several weeks, Ye Ole Gang collaborated with the Santa Barbara High School Alumni Association and the SBHS 150 Year Committee in the planning process.

“The SBHS Alumni Association is thrilled to join forces with Ye Ole Gang in celebration of 150 years of Santa Barbara High School, and in coming together to honor the top 150 Dons athletes of all time,” said SBHSAA President Talli Richards-Versola ’82. “Everyone is looking forward to celebrating together on November 9 and honoring these fine athletes.”

The Top 150 selection process included an esteemed committee which included all of the athletic directors since 1990, coaches, local sports journalists and alumni.

“ The selection process for honoring the top 150 athletes from our storied Dons tradition was thorough and well researched,” said Mark Alvarado ’82 who served as the selection committee chair. “Based on CIF records dating back to 1913, more than 400 athletes were identified as worthy candidates for this prestigious and elite honor. The process has proven that SBHS continues to be one of the strongest athletics programs in the nation.”

“The opportunities to celebrate the storied history of SBHS have been myriad,” said Heidi Jensen Winston ‘82, SBHS150 Committee Chair. “Ye Ole Gang’s idea to recognize 150 athletes in honor of 150 years was nothing short of brilliant. The SBHS Sesquicentennial Anniversary, 1875-2025, provides a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the the incredible depth of excellence that is embedded in the rich traditions of Dons Athletics.”

List of the 150 DONS SBHS Athletes of All Time – 150th SBHS Anniversary: https://yeolegang.com/top-150-dons-athletes/