Several months ago, a certain sports editor made the bold statement that Santa Barbara City College has not won much lately. He went on to say that “we need a champion.”

This editor’s statements were proven wrong on multiple occasions, and proven correct on a few as well.

We did not get a state champion, but we were close. Our men’s volleyball team went to the Final Four. We had the league’s best women’s golfer in Kiersten Capito. We also have the league’s best baseball pitcher in Tyler Davis. And we had an All-State, and possibly All-American, softball player in Nicole Bouchereau.

Seven teams made playoffs, with two league champions who assisted this editor in placing his foot in his mouth.

Then again, that leaves eight teams that missed playoffs. Baseball is still playing and looks like it might become the equalizer as the eighth postseason-bound Vaquero squad.

A month-by-month review of the athletic aspect of the 2004-05 academic year:

SEPTEMBER

The football team picked what would be their only win of the year, a 30-29 squeaker over non-conference opponent College of the Desert. In this first month of autumn, they would also lose the first three in a run of nine losses that ended the season.

Coach Reggie Bolton remained optimistic all year, even predicting “We’ll get a win before the end of the season,” with three games to go. He must have spent too much time with aforementioned sports editor.

OCTOBER

The respective seasons of the men’s and women’s soccer teams followed similar paths. The women fell short of the postseason altogether, and the men lost in round one to seventh-seeded Orange Coast.

Men’s striker David Hansson provided Sweden’s greatest contribution to CC sports by tallying 43 points, sixth-best in state. Goalkeeper Jason Elliot was rated No. 13 in California at his position.

NOVEMBER

Men’s basketball got off to a rocky start, going 3-3 in the month. “We are going to play hard, we are going to play smart, and we are going to play together,” said 15th-year coach Morris Hodges early in the season. The team played together to the tune of a 13-14 record and a postseason miss.

The women’s golf team capped off their WSC championship season as Capito was named conference Player of the Year. Coach Chuck Melendez recieved Coach of the Year honors.

DECEMBER

After upsetting sixth-seeded Palomar in the first round of the SoCal regionals, the women’s volleyball team bowed out in three games to the no. three seed, LA Pierce, in round two. Ruth Testman was named All-League for the second time.

Three Vaquero cross-country runners reached the state finals, Victor Ornelas for the men and Shawna Berger and Monica Su for the women.

JANUARY

Men’s golf began what would be an uneventful season. At one point, coach Melendez pleaded that the subject be changed when asked about the team. Chris Satterlee, the team’s top player, averaged a 74 for the season but did not participate in the state finals.

FEBRUARY

The women’s basketball team’s season ended prematurely. “Sixty-four city college teams are eligible to go to the playoffs,” head coach Sandrine Krul said. “Eighteen go. We were No. 19.”

When point guard and co-captain Talia Joyce tore her ACL early in the year, things did not look too promising. But Melissa Durian stepped in at the point. She, Annie Wingard and Jessie Mira were recognized as All-League performers.

MARCH

Track & field star Danielle D’Alfonso set a school record with a pole vault of 10 feet, 5.75 inches.

Vaqueros baseball shut out Oxnard, 6-0. The win was the first of three against the eventual league champions.

APRIL

The softball team was unfortunate to see their season end within the year’s fourth month. Despite an impressive 25-12-1 record and the presence of 10 league-recognized athletes, the Vaqueros fell short of the postseason for the second straight year. Lack of reputation is likely to be the main culprit, as this program has still never reached playoffs.

MAY

The men’s baseball team is 3-0 in the month-so far. If they continue to win, they will be doing so in the playoffs. Even if they don’t make it, the Vaqs have had their best season since the ’70s, finishing near the top of the league with some of the state’s best performers on the team.

At least I was right about something.