HALL OF FAME
STEPHANIE NIPPERT-HULL
SOFTBALL
Stephanie Nippert, who set NAIA career home run records as a member of the Corban softball team, was named the Ad Rutschman Small College Female Athlete of the Year at the 62nd Oregon Sports Awards held on March 9th, 2014 at Nike World Headquarters. Nippert, who played at Corban from 2010-13, closed out her record-breaking career with a NAIA-record 83 home runs, including a school and Cascade Collegiate Conference single-season record 30 as a senior in 2013. She earned NAIA All-America honors four times and was a three-time Cascade Collegiate Conference Player of the Year. In her final season of collegiate competition, Nippert became the first player in CCC history to register more than 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases in a single-season after she tallied 22 stolen bases to go along with her 30 homers. On the strength of Nippert's bat, Corban won a school-record 43 games and the program's first-ever regular season conference title in 2013. She led the nation in homers (30), home runs per game (0.51), total bases (168) and slugging percentage (1.098), while ranking second in RBIs (82) and third in runs scored (77). In her final season as a Warrior, Nippert set single-season school and conference records for home runs, runs batted in, and walks (68). She was the NAIA's all-time leader in home runs with 83 and ranks in the Top 10 all-time in seven statistical categories that includes home runs (1st - 83), slugging percentage (2nd - 0.954), total bases (2nd - 564), walks (3rd - 120), runs batted in (5th - 240), batting average (6th - 0.447), and runs scored (tied 6th - 220).
ZACK GRAVES
FOOTBALL
Zack Graves was a 2009 graduate of Whitney High School, where he ran for 2,783 yards and 39 touchdowns as a senior and led the Wildcats to a 13-0 record and the Sac-Joaquin Section title his senior year. For his high school career Graves ran for 4,218 yards and 55 touchdowns. He joined the College of Mary Marauders after transferring from Sierra College, where he ran for 1,200 yards and 11 touchdowns and caught 27 passes for 205 yards and four scores to earn all-conference honors. Zack will major in mass communication at the University of Mary.
AUSTIN WENTWORTH
FOOTBALL
Austin Wentworth (born May 10, 1990) is a former American football offensive guard who played one season with the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at California State University, Fresno and attended Whitney High School in Rocklin, California. Wentworth played high school football for the Whitney High School Wildcats. He earned Pioneer Valley League lineman of the year as the Wildcats finished with an 11-2 record, was named First-Team All-PVC twice, first-team All-metro, first team All-state, Whitney High School Athlete of the Year and played in the KCRA3 All-Star Classic. He also lettered in track & field as a thrower in the shot put (47-11 or 14.62m) and the discus (131-5 or 40.13m). College career - Wentworth played for the Fresno State Bulldogs from 2010 to 2013. He was redshirted in 2009. He was named Sports Illustrated honorable mention All-American following his senior season. He was a two-time 1st-Team All-Mountain West selection and finished his career with 43 starts, including 42 consecutive. Professional career - Wentworth signed with the Minnesota Vikings on May 11, 2014 after going undrafted in the 2014 NFL draft. He was released by the Vikings on August 31 and re-signed to the team on September 2, 2014. He made his NFL debut on October 26, 2014 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Wentworth was released by the Vikings on May 7, 2015. On May 13, 2015, it was reported that he was retiring due to blood clots in his leg. After surgery, he lost the muscle in his left leg that controlled the up function of his foot and will have to wear a brace for the rest of his life.
DEJA EDWARDS
TRACK AND FIELD
UNLV: A three-time Academic All-Mountain West Team member (2009-11). 2011: Ran/jumped in seven outdoor meets, including the Mountain West Conference Outdoor Championships and NCAA Preliminary. Furthest long jump was 19-7.50 (5.98m) at the Cal-Nevada Championships (first place) 2010: Ran/jumped in six outdoor meets, including the Mountain West Conference Outdoor Championships. 2009: Competed in three indoor meets and seven outdoor meets ... Finished second in the triple jump (35-2.00) and fourth in the long jump (17-7.00) at the Lumberjack Invitational to open the indoor season ... Both marks were indoor season bests ... Opened the outdoor season by running a leg on the 4x100m relay team that took third place with a time of 49.49 at the UNLV Classic... Finished 10th at the Mountain West Outdoor Championships in the triple jump with a season-best distance of 37-9.50. High School: A 2008 graduate of Whitney HS in Rocklin, Calif. ... Lettered twice in track & field ... Broke the school record in the long jump with a leap of 19-2.75 and the school mark in the triple jump with a distance of 37-0.00 as a junior in 2007 ... Helped the Wildcats win the 2007 regional and sectional championship and qualified for the state meet ... Named the squad MVP in 2007
MIKE GIMENEZ
FOOTBALL COACH
Mike Gimenez was the first head football coach at Whitney High School and got the Wildcats off to a great start with back to back section final appearances in 2007 and 2008. During his tenure, Gimenez won 67 games in 9 years and during a five year span had the fifth most wins in the Sac-Joaquin Section. Gimenez won 4 league titles and led seven playoff teams in his nine seasons at Whitney with two trips to the Sac-Joaquin Section finals, including a championship in 2008. “His influence on the football program, athletic department and school culture during his coaching tenure has been truly remarkable,” said Whitney athletic director Jason Feuerbach. “His actions were that of a man who is a role model for all. He spoke about sportsmanship, character, citizenship and much more after every practice.”
