The College of the Canyons Athletic Hall of Fame committee has announced the 2013 class of inductees, which includes the 1975 State Championship men’s cross country team, former softball coach Ray Whitten, former men’s basketball player Nick Sanderson, former swimmer Christine (Castellanos) Worby, former softball player Chantal Pershing and the late former baseball player Robert Corrales.

The five inductees will be honored during the Cougar Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Thursday, Jan. 24, 2013 at the Hyatt Regency Valencia.

Ray Whitten

“The 2013 Athletic Hall of Fame is once again a stellar group of inductees,” said Len Mohney, COC dean of athletics and physical education. “The night promises to be a gala affair. We also are excited about announcing the completion of the first phase of the Athletic Hall of Fame permanent site in the West Physical Education building.”

The COC 1975 cross country team made history when it won the college’s first ever state championship. The team was coached by Monty Cartwright.

Ray Whitten led the COC softball team from 1984 to 2007, during which time the team won eight conference championships and competed in 16 regional playoff games.

State champions: COC’s 1975 cross country team. Photo: COC

Men’s basketball player Nick Sanderson played for two seasons from 1989 to 1991.  Two-time All-Conference winner, Sanderson was also All-State honoree, Conference MVP and All-Star Game MVP. He went on to have a playing career at Brigham Young University.

Before transferring to the University of Redlands, Christine Worby made waves on the swim and water polo teams for two years. Worby is currently an assistant swim and dive coach at Hart High School, and a first grade teacher at Old Orchard Elementary School.

Former softball player Chantal Pershing was named Conference MVP and All-State during her two seasons on the 1999-00 COC softball team. She transferred to the University of Santa Barbara and played for two seasons with the Gauchos.

Robert Corrales was the first COC baseball player to be named first-team All-State. He played shortstop on the 1973-74 COC baseball team before joining Pepperdine University’s baseball program. Corrales lost his battle with leukemia in 2009.

The College of the Canyons Athletic Hall of Fame induction is a biennial event that celebrates the college’s athletic history and excellence. Established in 2005, the event has been a vehicle for fundraising for the permanent Hall of Fame, located in the West Physical Education building on the Valencia campus.

For more information and tickets, visit www.COCAthletics.com or call the COC Foundation at 661-362-3434.