Naperville North adds to hall of fame

From Olympic athletes to a longtime coach, six people have scored a place in Naperville North's third annual athletic Hall of Fame class.

This year's inductees are Kevin Barnett (Class of 1992), a two-time Olympic volleyball player; Larry Christian (1994), a standout athlete in soccer and basketball; Jenny Marine (1993), a state medalist in cross country and track as well as a national-caliber triathlon competitor; Gianni Minervini (1984), a swimming state-record holder and three-time Olympian; Mike Renella (1992), a state champion wrestler and all-state soccer player; and Dick Whitaker, Naperville North's first boys basketball coach who was at the helm from 1975 to 1991.

The school honors athletes based on their achievements both at and beyond their time at North.

"I think it just speaks well of the tradition of North and to see the people that helped start that tradition and carried that tradition on," athletic director Doug Smith said.

A selection committee sifted through roughly 85 nominees before choosing six. To qualify, inductees must have graduated at least seven years ago.

This is the first year North has inducted a coach and will continue to do so each year along with five athletes.

Next year the school will also start inducting its 13 state championship teams, four at a time in chronological order.

The 2008 inductees will be honored in a ceremony at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 25 between the sophomore and varsity boys basketball games at the school, 899 N. Mill St.

Smith said he hopes his current athletes will see the honorees as role models.

"They are currently carrying on the tradition at North with current successes and hopefully they'll feel they can obtain this in X number of years," he said. "Hopefully 10 years from now we will be paying homage to them as future inductees."

This is the third year the school is recognizing former athletes. Twenty were inducted into the inaugural Hall of Fame class in 2006 followed by another 10 the following year.

Past inductees include professional football players Chris Brown, Glenn Earl and Justin McCareins and professional baseball player Jerry Hairston Jr.