Melia Haller '21 Recruiting Profile

When deciding on what high school I would go to after my final year at Santa Barbara Junior High, I was torn between two schools. I could either go to Dos Pueblos High School and be on the strongest girls golf team in Santa Barbara, or go to Santa Barbara High School which didn’t have the best team at the time. But since Santa Barbara High had the MAD Academy (Multimedia Arts and Design Academy), which I was very interested in, I chose to go there once accepted. After finishing my freshman season as the number 1 player at Santa Barbara High, we were just short of beating Dos Pueblos for the Channel League Title. But over that summer, I inspired my teammates to improve their games and as my sophomore season came around, we came on strong and ended up beating Dos Pueblos by one stroke to lead as the 2018 Channel League Champions. We defended our title this last season as we accomplished our lowest team score yet at La Cumbre Country Club. Being a part of the golf team at Santa Barbara High School has showed me how encouragement and motivation in others can lead to endless possibilities. Being one of the 3 freshman girls that made the Varsity team that freshman year, we knew we were the future for our high school and did what it took to step it up. These efforts resulted in things we never thought we could accomplish. In the end, going to Santa Barbara High has shown me how it takes a lot of hard work, perseverance, and team encouragement to come out on top. In reflecting on my choice in high schools, I am grateful to be a part of my team and look forward to our next season of pushing our limits even more in our pursuit to keep our Channel League Title and most importantly continue to better my scores every tournament.