5 Super Athletes With Ties To Healdsburg

Sports have a way of teaching invaluable life lessons — building character, fostering teamwork and strengthening the bonds within a community. In the Healdsburg area, these values have shaped some truly remarkable athletes from different eras, whose accomplishments continue to inspire.

Patch has teamed up with T-Mobile to spotlight five standout athletes whose achievements have left a lasting mark on our community. While this list is just a snapshot, there are countless others who have helped shape the rich sports culture in our area.

1. Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman (Tennis)

Born in Healdsburg, Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman was a pioneer in women’s tennis with a career that spanned decades. She won 16 U.S. National Championships, including four singles titles and 12 in doubles and mixed doubles, and earned two Olympic gold medals at the 1924 Paris Games. Wightman also created the Wightman Cup, a prestigious team event between the U.S. and Great Britain. Beyond her competitive achievements, she coached future Hall of Famers and remained an influential figure in tennis well into her later years.

2. Ralph Rose (Shot Put)

A towering figure both physically and athletically, Healdsburg native Ralph Rose was Sonoma County’s first known Olympian. Rose won six Olympic medals (three gold, two silver and one bronze) in shot put and other throwing events between 1904 and 1912. Known for his unique self-taught technique, Rose broke numerous world records and earned widespread acclaim during his lifetime.

3. Alexandria Espinoza (Basketball)

Alexandria Espinoza, a junior at Healdsburg High School, has excelled both on the basketball court and in the classroom. She recently led her team to a perfect season, earning first-team all-league honors for the second year in a row while maintaining a 4.55 GPA. Off the court, Espinoza serves as student body president, volunteers as a coach for younger players and participates in leadership programs such as Sonoma State’s Upward Bound.

4. Jim Cullom (Football)

Healdsburg-born Jim Cullom was a football standout on the California Bears, earning the nickname "The Toe" for his kicking prowess. A first-team all-coast tackle, Cullom set records for consecutive games scoring and extra-point conversions while leading Cal to multiple Rose Bowl appearances in the late 1940s. Drafted by Washington, Cullom had a brief NFL career before transitioning to coaching at Cal, where he worked with both the football and rugby programs.

5. Sarah Sumpter (Cross Country, Track)

Healdsburg’s Sarah Sumpter exemplified resilience and determination as a record-breaking distance runner. After winning state and regional titles in high school, she became a star at UC Davis, earning multiple Big West Athlete of the Year honors and setting school records. Sumpter’s career was interrupted by a brain tumor diagnosis in 2010, but she returned to compete at the national level while undergoing treatment. Though she passed away in September 2015, her legacy of perseverance and inspiration lives on.

This content is brought to our community in partnership with T-Mobile.