SBCC Alum Uses Her Experience to Help Athletes

Sierra Cavaletto leveraged her experience playing basketball at Santa Barbara City College to not only play basketball around the world, but also to learn how she can aid athletes. Cavaletto is obtaining hours to fulfill the requirements for her CMPC, which she plans to pursue post-graduation. After SBCC, she continued her playing career at the University of Hawaii-Hilo before traveling to Italy to play at the Rome City Institute. A graduate of Dos Pueblos High School, she reflects on how the Santa Barbara community helped shape her as an athlete and a person.

• Looking back, what did being part of the SBCC Women's Basketball program mean to you, both on and off the court?

  1. Being part of SBCC Women's basketball was more than just competing- it was about growth, connection, and community. Staying local gave me the chance to deepen relationships with the people and places that shaped me, and that opportunity meant everything. It also allowed me to stay at home, mature, and gain more life experience before continuing my academic and athletic career. On the court, I learned to lead with purpose and play with heart, embracing MTXE just as Coach Sandrine taught us. That mindset has stayed with me and ultimately guided me toward the career path I'm on now, six years later. Off the court, SBCC gave me a second family and a foundation of support that still surrounds me today. The relationships I built and the lessons I learned in 2018 continue to shape who I am, and I carry them with pride wherever I go.

• How did your experience at SBCC—academically, athletically, and personally—help prepare you for the transition to Hawaii Hilo as a student-athlete?

  1. SBCC gave me the tools to thrive. Academically, I learned how to advocate for myself and stay organized through demanding schedules. Athletically, I was challenged to elevate my game and embrace feedback, which made the jump to Hawaii Hilo and overseas feel like a natural next step. Personally, I grew in confidence- learning how to balance ambition with self-care and how to stay grounded in my values even when the environment changed. 

• What lessons or values from SBCC women's basketball MTXE (Mental Toughness Xtra Effort) culture still guide you today?

  1. MTXE is still in everything I do. It has led me into my Master's program, which I am currently in, studying Sport Psychology. It taught me that effort is a choice and that mental toughness isn't just about pushing through-but staying present, trusting your preparation, and showing up even when things get hard. Whether I am in the classroom, on the court, or designing resources for my athletes, that mindset has helped me stay focused and build resiliency. Although I am not currently playing basketball competitively, just leisurely, I have still been able to apply MTXE throughout my career. Especially now that I am in the process of becoming a certified mental performance coach, I have been able to shape athletes' minds with the knowledge accumulated over the years of implementing MTXE. 

• What do you think were the biggest factors that contributed to your success after leaving SBCC?

  1. The mentorship I received from coaches, teammates, and the academic staff helped guide me throughout my time at SBCC. Coaches, teammates, and advisors believed in me before I fully believed in myself, and that made a huge difference. The relationship that Coach Sandrine and I created helped me succeed after SBCC. Whether it was a motivational text, podcast, video, or simply her telling me the attributes about myself that she loved, she has been a constant supporter in my life. Being able to stay home for an additional two years out of high school and be with my family during the beginning of COVID allowed me to mature and find my footing while applying to transfer to colleges out of state. Having such a strong support system in Santa Barbara has allowed me all of the success I have had to this day. 

• What advice would you give to current SBCC student-athletes who hope to continue their careers at the next level, both in school and in sports?

  1. Own your story. Your path might look a little different than others, and that's okay. Stay curious, hungry, and never shy away from help. The habits that you build now- how you study, how you train, how you talk and carry yourself- will carry you forward. Success isn't just about stats and scholarships; it's about the growth that you acquire along the way. Trust the process, life's a journey, not a destination. I continue to remind myself of this quote and have been able to continuously motivate myself to pursue the career path that I am in now. As I start my second year of my master's program at Long Beach State and strive for my CMPC (certified mental performance consultant) certification, I remind myself of everything that SBCC, Coach Sandrine, UH Hilo, and Rome have taught me.