Inducted during Poet Homecoming, this class joins 193 individual Purple & Gold Hall of Famers. They have each uniquely added to Whittier Athletics' legacy, whether on the field as athletes or off the field as administrators and community leaders.
A standout runner at Whittier College, Michele Callaway-Hernandez's career was marked by First Team All-SCIAC honors and multiple NCAA Division III Nationals appearances. She became an All-American by her junior year and helped Whittier's cross-country and track teams reach new heights.
After college, Callaway-Hernandez pursued a career in education and now serves as an English language specialist in Salinas. She resides there with her husband, Manuel, and their young daughter, Camila.
A Whittier native, Tony Fimbres found success in both baseball and basketball. After starting his college career at California State University, Long Beach, he transferred to Whittier in 1990 to prepare for law school, graduating in 1993. Today, Fimbres is a prosecutor in Riverside County, specializing in major narcotics, gang, and homicide cases. He has spent more than 15 years coaching youth sports and continues giving back to his community.
Fimbres lives in Indio with his wife, Kirsten, and their two daughters.
A distinguished professor of Hispanic studies, David Herzberger became a familiar face at Whittier after his wife, Sharon, was named president in 2005. A lifelong sports enthusiast, David quickly became a "superfan" of Whittier Athletics. He and Sharon often hosted teams at Wardman House, fostering close connections with student-athletes.
David, who retired in 2018, remains a passionate supporter of Division III athletics and the life lessons they impart.
Sharon Herzberger's tenure as Whittier College president from 2005 to 2018 saw a significant boost in the prominence of Whittier Athletics. Though she never played competitively, Sharon recognized the value of sports in shaping well-rounded students. Under her leadership, the college expanded its NCAA programs and athletic recruitment, resulting in athletes comprising over 30% of the student body by 2018.
Now retired and living in Massachusetts, Sharon continues to support Whittier Athletics from afar.
A three-sport athlete at Lynwood High School, Ron Klepfer's athletic prowess led him to Whittier, where he played football and baseball. During his senior season, he pitched 93.1 innings, struck out 124 batters, and boasted a 1.45 ERA, earning All-SCIAC honors. After graduation, Klepfer represented Team USA in the 1959 Pan American Games, where his team won bronze.
Klepfer’s post-athletic career included 38 years of teaching in East Whittier. Now retired, he resides in Huntington Beach with his wife, Judy, and enjoys spending time with their grandchildren.
Since joining the faculty in 1969, Mike McBride has made immeasurable contributions to the campus community. A professor of political science, McBride also helped establish the current softball program in 1979. He has served as a coach and team historian for more than 40 years, shaping the lives of countless student-athletes. Additionally, McBride is involved with the Whittier College Institute for Baseball Studies, further cementing his legacy as a champion of both academics and athletics.
McBride has baseball in his blood. His dad loved the sport, and McBride taught “Baseball in Literature and Film” at Whittier for many years. The father of two daughters, he had an early passion for making sure girls grew up with the same opportunities on a diamond that boys had enjoyed for generations. As the Whittier softball program grew, he saw the rewards of that passion.
Among his points of emphasis over the years has been perspective. Softball can be a cruel sport, but when players get down, McBride offers light. “You should enjoy this; have fun. It’s an opportunity a lot of people don’t have in other parts of the world.”
Taking his place among former Poets softball players in the Hall of Fame, McBride relishes the number of Whittier alumni who have become coaches themselves. “In a way, they’re spreading [the influence],” he says, “creating opportunities for other young women on their way up.
McBride and his wife, Gail, have been married for 56 years and live in Whittier.
Born and raised in Glendora, Mary Pacheco (Walthers) displayed an early passion for softball. A standout at St. Lucy's Priory High School, she balanced academics and athletics with determination. Her college career at Whittier College began in 2006, where she quickly made her mark on the softball field. Despite suffering an Achilles injury, Pacheco was named Freshman Female Athlete of the Year and earned First Team All-SCIAC honors in her freshman, junior, and senior years. Her accolades culminated in receiving the Louisville Slugger Award in 2009.
After Whittier, Pacheco earned a master's degree in psychology from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. Today, she is a licensed marriage and family therapist, living in Rancho Cucamonga with her husband, Zach, and their three children.
— Jack Goodwillie & Frank Murtaugh contributed reporting.
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