Barry Punzal

Barry Punzal brings more than 30 years of experience in local sports journalism to Noozhawk.

Before joining Noozhawk in 2016, he worked for five years at Presidio Sports, an online-only sports site that ceased publication at the end of 2015. While there, he covered the athletic teams at the area’s eight high schools and three colleges, as well as the Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table and the Semana Nautica summer sports festival.

Barry previously worked at the Santa Barbara News-Press, where he had several duties. He started as a copy editor and page designer in 1984, and later became the college soccer writer, covering the rise of UCSB men’s soccer. Barry held the position of assistant sports editor and became the sports editor in 2006.