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Carl Whipple, Chippewa Hills
2021 Chippewa Hills ATHLETE YEAR of the
CARL WHIPPLE Three-sport athlete’s career for Warriors was exceptional Three-sport athlete’s career for Warriors was exceptional
Carl Whipple played baseball and football and also wrestled for Chippewa Hills
REMUS – Carl Whipple’s solid three-sports varsity career at Chippewa Hills has ended and he’s ready for new challenges.
He had four years of football and was AllState and all-league. He was a wrestling four-time varsity letter, CSAA champ/1st team all-league, 2019 state qualifier, and a two-time letter winner in baseball.
Whipple and his baseball team lost in the district semifinal round and finished up a school season in which he was able to play football, wrestle and play baseball despite COVID-related restrictions.
He played four seasons of baseball, including 2020 which was actually canceled because of COVID.
“I enjoyed playing with my buddies,” Whipple said.
There were plenty of memories of the season, including walk-off base hits. In CSAA action, the Warriors split with league rivals Reed City and Big Rapids.
Now he’s focusing on football at Alma.
“I signed (in mid-May) but I committed in the winter,” Whipple said. “I love the atmosphere. They have great coaches. I knew it is where I wanted to be. It’s like home.”
Whipple expects to be playing defensive line with Alma.
He’s not expected to be redshirted.
“I could be playing as a freshman,” he said. “I just have to keep working out.”
Whipple, a senior, has had a strong start at 215 pounds. He’s coming off an AllState football season as a two-way lineman. On defense, he had 40 tackles including two for losses and two sacks.
It was a long two months from Nov. 16 to Jan. 16 for Whipple and his wrestling teammates when sports were on pause. Contact sports were able to be in full force by Feb. 8.
“We’ve been having workouts and we’ve been doing what we can,” Whipple said prior to that date. “We did a lot of conditioning and things we can do without grabbing each other. It’s frustrating but we focus on what we can control, that’s the big thing. We can control working hard.”
Whipple has been wrestling for 13 years. This was his third varsity season.
“My freshman year, I was behind two really great wrestlers and I just did my part,” Whipple said. “My sophomore year, I did my part. My junior year, I just missed out on the state meet in the blood round of the regional championship. This year, I’m looking at placing at state.”
It was a memorable senior football season for Whipple who was disappointed losing in the first round of the playoffs. His All-State honors on defense were from the coaches association.
