5 Super Athletes With Ties To Petaluma

Sports have a way of teaching invaluable life lessons — building character, fostering teamwork and strengthening the bonds within a community. In the Petaluma 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. Anthony Bender (Baseball)

Anthony Bender is a Major League Baseball pitcher who debuted with the Miami Marlins in 2021. Born and raised in Petaluma, Bender’s journey began at Santa Rosa Junior College before being drafted by the Kansas City Royals in 2016. Over his career, Bender has become known for his strong performances on the mound, with a career ERA of 3.37 across 141 games. Despite facing injuries, including Tommy John surgery in 2023, he continues to play at a high level, finishing the 2024 season with a 4.08 ERA and 59 strikeouts in 59 games.

2. Kristi Devert (Soccer)

Kristi Devert is a former midfielder for the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team. She grew up playing soccer in Petaluma and trained at the United States Olympic Training Center from the age of 15. Devert attended Pepperdine University on a full scholarship, serving as team captain while earning a degree in Kinesiology. Known for her dedication to both sport and community, Divert has also run marathons to raise awareness for causes like pancreatic cancer.

3. Josh Akognon (Basketball)

Petaluma native Josh Akognon is an accomplished point guard who has played professionally around the globe, including stints in China, Europe and the NBA with the Dallas Mavericks. His professional journey started after collegiate success at Washington State and Cal State Fullerton, where he averaged 24.3 points per game in his senior year. A standout scorer, Akognon has averaged over 30 points per game in some of the world’s most competitive leagues and has even represented Nigeria in the 2016 Olympics.

4. Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak (Soccer)

Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak is a soccer legend whose career spans playing for the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team to coaching at the collegiate and national levels. A Petaluma native, she excelled at Carondelet High School in Concord before joining the powerhouse UNC Tar Heels, where she won multiple NCAA championships. As a player, Roberts won gold at the 1996 Olympics and the 1999 Women’s World Cup. She later transitioned to coaching, including serving as head coach at the University of Central Florida and an assistant coach for the U.S. national team.

5. Minna Stess (Skateboarding)

Petaluma’s Minna Stess has emerged as one of the top figures in skateboarding, making history as the first and only American woman park skater to podium at an Olympic qualifier or World Championships. Starting her journey as a toddler and competing professionally by age 11, Stess quickly established herself as a standout in the sport. In 2021, she became the youngest-ever Women’s Park champion at the USA National Championships and continued her rise with a bronze medal at the 2023 World Championships and a strong showing at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

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