STUDENT-ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
After a difficult, injury-riddled start to the 2026 season, the VC softball team had its best week with a 6-6, 13-inning effort at No. 13 Long Beach that was suspended by darkness, a run-rule victory at Santa Monica to open Western State Conference play, and a big home doubleheader sweep over San Bernardino Valley. Leading the way at the plate has been redshirt freshman Samantha Soto. In the final three games of the week, the Camarillo High School product reached base on nine of 11 at bats with six hits and three walks. She scored six runs and had a pair of RBI in the three Pirate victories.
The VC men's basketball team advanced to the State Sweet 16 last week with a decisive victory over East Los Angeles in the second round of the 3C2A Southern California Regionals. Leading the way for Ventura was sophomore guard Kam'Ron Cigar, who scored 33 points to lead VC to the 91-73 victory. The Serrano High School product did not miss from inside the 3-point arc, hitting on all seven of his 2-point shots in addition to a 10-for-10 performance at the free throw line. He was also 4-for-7 from long range as the Pirates advanced to the Regional Final for the first time since 2023.
The Pirates' flag football team is off to a 4-2 start in their debut season, including a 3-1 day Friday at the Bobcat Bowl Tournament at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo. Leading the way for Ventura was two-way standout Honest Watson. She scored five total touchdowns on the day offensively while grabbing a pair of interceptions of defense with five pass break-ups. In the Pirates 23-19 win over MiraCosta, the Ventura High School product found paydirt twice and returned an interception on a PAT try for an extra two points, providing the difference in the game in the triumph.
The women's tennis team if off to a great start in 2026 with a 4-1 record with a 3-1 mark in Western State Conference play. Sophomore Dulce Contreras has been a standout for the Pirates with a 3-1 record in singles and 3-2 mark in doubles. This past week the Hueneme High School product won both singles matches in the No. 3 slot against Bakersfield and Antelope Valley while winning a pair of matches in No. 2 doubles with Isabella DeRosa.
The VC baseball team is off to a solid start in 2026 against difficult non-conference competition. Their best performance of the young season came on Saturday Feb. 7 when redshirt freshman Will Kaczynski pitched six no-hit innings against Rio Hondo in the Pirates' 1-0 victory. The Westlake High School product struck out two and did not give up a walk in his six innings of work, only allowing one baserunner who reached base on an error.
The VC women's basketball team has won three Western State Conference games in a row, propelled by the play of first-year Pirate Olivia Decierdo. The Buena High School product has led the team averaging over 15 points per game during that stretch, making 17-22 free throws (77%) in the process. She also totaled 13 assists and 13 steals in the three outings.
The Pirates' women's basketball team is on a hot streak, winners of their last four games. Leading the way for Ventura has been freshman forward Kayla Lumas. The Oxnard High School product has averaged 16.3 points per game during the winning streak while shooting 45 percent from the floor (19-42) and 83 percent from the free throw line (24-29). Against East Los Angeles on Nov. 22, Lumas scored a season-best 30 points on 11 field goal attempts (making nine) and a perfect 11-11 performance at the charity stripe.
The VC men's basketball team is off to a great start for the 2025-26 season. The Pirates were 7-1 in November and ranked No. 12 in the state, No. 7 in Southern California, in the latest CCCMBCA poll. Leading the way has been transfer sophomore Jerimiyah Smith. The Rancho Cucamonga High School product is averaging 19.1 points per game this season, shooting 60 percent from the floor, and 8.6 rebounds per outing. He has scored 104 points in the last four games, all Pirate victories, while connecting on 40-56 field goal attempts (71.4 percent).
The Pirate football team posted its first-ever home playoff win Saturday, coming back from a 16-point deficit to defeat Cerritos 41-37 at the VC Sportsplex. Quarterback Braesen Leon led the charge, engineering three late scoring drives to bring Ventura back from the brink to advance to the SCFA semifinals on Nov. 29 at Golden West in Huntington Beach. The freshman from Gilbert, Ariz. completed 32 of 39 pass attempts for 427 yards and three touchdowns in the game. Additionally, her ran the ball nine times for 38 yards and another trip to paydirt.
The Pirate volleyball team is heading to the post-season on a hot streak. Winners of five in a row, Ventura won all three matches in the final week of the regular season, including a 5-set thriller against Desert. Leading the way for VC has been Addison Olson. The freshman from Bakersfield finished the week with 17 blocks, 16 kills, 10 digs, two aces in the three outings. Additionally, she led the team in +/- per set at +2.3 for the week.
Redshirt sophomore Wyatt Dingman has been wit the VC men's water polo team for three seasons. This past week he helped lead the Pirates to their first Western State Conference championship in 16 years as VC defeated Cuesta 13-12 in the WSC title game. The experienced team leader from Nordhoff High School in Ojai leads the team with 47 assists on the season, including three in the title game Saturday. His defense also stands out as he delivered the field block at the end of Saturday's game to preserve the crown for Ventura.
The VC men's water polo team head into this week's Western State Conference Tournament at the Ventura Aquatic Center on a hot streak as the Pirates have won six of their last eight games, including five wins over ranked opponents. Sophomore Owen Patterson surpassed the 100-goal mark for the season this past weekend with 10 goals for VC in their four games at the Día de los Muertos Tournament at Southwestern College in Chula Vista. On the year, Patterson's 107 total goals ranks second in the state. Additionally, the Strathmore, CA is second on the team in steals and is also among the team leaders in assists and ejections drawn.
For the 13th straight season, and at least the 20th straight year VC has had a men's cross country team, the Pirates have advanced to the Southern California Regionals as a team on their performance in the Western State Conference Championships. Freshman Henry Fulk led the 2025 effort last week, finishing as the top man for VC in 20th place overall as the team came in seventh to advance to the regionals. Fulk ran the 4-mile course at Moorpark College in 21:34 to earn second-team All-WSC honors.
The Pirate football team is off to a great start at 7-0, ranked No. 3 in the state and No. 2 in Southern California. This past week, the Pirates defeated No. 17 Citrus 31-17 to maintain their undefeated run. Freshman defensive back Marcellus Brigham helped lead the effort with seven solo tackles and a big-time interception in the end zone in the second half. The Augusta, GA native's oskie ended a Citrus scoring threat late in the third quarter, leading to a long Pirate drive that put the game away.
The VC women's water polo team captured a pair of wins last weekend at their own tournament at the Ventura Aquatic Center. First-year Pirates Julia Glukhovsky led the effort against Modesto and Pasadena with a combined 11 goals and three assists in the two games. The Louisville High School product also had five steals defensively and drew 10 ejections against the Pirates and Lancers, respectively. On the season, Glukhovsky leads the team with 48 goals and 38 ED's in 13 games played.
Winners of three straight and five of the last six, the Pirate soccer team is red hot atop the Western State Conference standings. Sophomore Cristal Vargas has been a major contributor to VC's resurgence after a slow start to the season. The Hueneme High School product is back after an injury a year ago and leading the Pirate offense from the front of the attack. She has scored twice with an assist in the past five games, including a goal last Friday as the Pirates defeated Cuesta 2-0.
