After sweeping the Valley Oak League’s MVP awards in football, basketball and baseball, Ripon resident Tyler Paul Wentworth accepted one more accolade before starting his freshman year at Clemson.
The son of former Manteca High multi-sport star and PGA golfer Kevin Wentworth has been awarded Cal-Hi Sports Division II Boys Athlete of the Year.
Ripon Christian grads Grant Sonke (football, baseball) and Maddie Yonker (volleyball, basketball) received honorable mention as two of the top seniors in Division V.
This past spring, the Raiders (23-10) finished as Sac-Joaquin Section Division III and NorCal Division III runners-up to Oakmont in both tournaments.
The 6-foot-5, 225-pound left-handed pitcher and center fielder He hit for a .360 average, bashed seven homers, drove in 28 runs and stole 13 bases. On the mound, Wentworth compiled a 10-2 record with a 0.51 ERA, and a 119 strikeouts in 69 innings. He also threw two no-hitters, one being a 14-strikeout gem in CC’s NorCal semifinal win over Justin-Siena. Cal-Hi Sports and MaxPreps named him to their all-state first teams.
Wentworth came up clutch throughout his senior year, especially against his dad’s alma mater. In the SJS baseball quarterfinals, he blasted a majestic, go-ahead grand slam that powered Central Catholic to an 8-2 win over Manteca.
In basketball, he hit a buzzer-beating game winner at Manteca, and the Raiders (25-7) went on to claim the outright VOL title. Wentworth had his best season on the hardwood, averaging 14.3 points and 8.2 rebounds.
The football team secured its crown with a thrilling 39-35 win over the Buffaloes, and it was Wentworth who sealed it with a fourth-down tackle in the red zone on the final play of the game. He was a terror on both sides of scrimmage, throwing for 2,069 yards and 25 touchdowns while running for 386 yards and 10 scores. Defensively, he racked up 46 tackles, 4.0 sacks and two interceptions as a safety.
Sonke and Yonker were recognized as Division V Senior Athletes of Honor.
Sonke led Ripon Christian’s 12-2 football team to an SJS Division VII-A crown. He was the Knights’ leading rusher (1,030 yards, 16 TDs) and was All-Southern League Defensive Player of the Year (84 tackles, 4.0 sacks) for a second straight season.
The baseball team (22-9) reached the SJS Division VI final. Sonke produced across the board with a .438 average, four homers, 41 runs, 27 RBIs and 36 steals.
Yonker was a member of the two-time state champion girls volleyball team, which went 37-5 last fall. She earned all-league honorable mention. In basketball, she’s a three-time All-Trans-Valley League selection and averaged 15.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 3.0 steals, 2.5 assists and 1.7 blocks in her senior season.
