Naperville North Athletic Hall of Fame
The battles won and lost over the years on the courts, pool and athletic fields of Naperville North have not been forgotten.
Today, the school will honor five alumni and one former coach during its third annual induction ceremonies for its athletic Hall of Fame.
The honor recognizes the inductees' accomplishments both during and beyond their high school years. This is the first time the school has inducted a coach and it will continue to do so each year along with five athletes.
The induction ceremony will take place at 4:30 p.m. at the school, 899 N. Mill St. The athletes also will be recognized between tonight's sophomore and varsity basketball games.
Four of the honorees -- volleyball player Kevin Barnett, wrestler Mike Renella, cross country runner Jenny Marine, and basketball and soccer player Larry Christian -- are expected to be at tonight's ceremonies.
Swimmer Gianni Minervini is in Italy. Basketball coach Dick Whitaker will be honored in memoriam.
2008 Inductees
Gianni Minervini (1984)
• State champion in 200-yard medley relay and 100-yard breaststroke (1984)
• Longest standing 100-yard breast stroke state record (0:55.56)
• Second place in 1986 World Games in 100-meter breast stroke
• NCAA champion in 100-yard breast stroke (1987, 1988)
• Swam on three Olympic teams for Italy
Kevin Barnett (1992)
• Member of boys volleyball team (1992)
• NCAA volleyball All-American at Pepperdine
• USA National Team MVP (1998)
• Member of USA Olympic volleyball team (2000, 2004) and its 2004 Player of the Year
• Four seasons of professional volleyball overseas
Mike Renella (1992)
• Fourth place in state wrestling 103 pounds (1990)
• Wrestling state champion 112 lbs. (1991, 1992)
• All-state soccer player (1992)
• Freshman Athlete of the Year at Illinois State (1993)
• NCAA national qualifier in men's wrestling (1993)
Jenny Marine (1993)
• Fourth place in state cross country meet (1991)
• Second place in state 1600-meter run (1993)
• University of Illinois cross country MVP (1995)
• University of Illinois George Huff Award winner for athletics/academics
• Professional triathlete
• Qualified for 2002 triathlon world championship team
Larry Christian (1994)
• Two-time DVC selection in basketball, once in soccer
• Member of two-time DVC championship soccer team
• Member of basketball state sectional champion team
• All-sectional, all-state and all-Midwest in soccer (1993)
• Played basketball at the University of Illinois
Dick Whitaker (1975-1991)
• Naperville North's first boys basketball coach
• More than 440 career wins
• More than 200 victories at North
• Inductee into Greater Peoria Area Hall of Fame (2004) and Illinois Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame (1994)