Legends Earn Induction into Wendy's Hall
8/4/2004 12:00:00 AM | General
Rodeo legend Dan Mortenson, former WNBA player Cass Bauer, and the first conference championship team of the modern era of women’s athletics at MSU lead a group of Bobcat legends into the Wendy’s MSU Hall of Fame on September 17. Long-time MSU football coach Cliff Hysell, volleyball standout Barbara Moe, football star Rocco Perciavalle, and the 1983 women’s indoor track and field squad join Bauer and Mortensen as 2004 inductees.
Cass Bauer's long and successful WNBA career stands as testimony to her status as one of the top players in Big Sky Conference women's basketball history. She remains third in school history in scoring and fifth in rebounding. Bauer, from Hysham, was the 1993 Big Sky Conference MVP and Kodak All-America Region VII, and was a three-time All-Big Sky choice.
Cliff Hysell played football for the Bobcats in 1964 and ‘65, and was an assistant coach from 1972-81. As a player or coach, Hysell was part of four Big Sky Conference Championships. The Helena native also served as an assistant at Great Falls High from 1966-71, and after leaving MSU earned a national reputation as defensive coordinator for Fresno State’s outstanding teams from 1982-91. As MSU’s head coach Hysell compiled a record 41-47, amassing the second-highest win total in school history. Four of Hysell’s eight teams had winning records, MSU’s only winning seasons betwen 1985 and 2002.
Barbara Moe, a Spokane native, was a four-time All-Northwest Volleyball League choice. The four-sport letterwinner at Mead High remains in MSU’s record book, holding the fifth spot on the school’s single-season service aces list, despite playing in an era in which few statistics were kept.
Dan Mortensen, a Billings native, was a CNFR national champion rodeo cowboy at Montana State, and parlayed his success as a Bobcat into one of the most legendary professional careers in history. Mortenson is a five-time world saddle bronc champion, and will likely enter the National Finals Rodeo this December in the mix for another world title. He was a junior college standout at Northwest Community College in Powell, Wyo., before transferring to MSU.
Rocco Perciavalle was a Mid-Bracket All-America Honorable Mention and Small College Second Team All-America fullback for the great Bobcat football teams of the late ‘50s, and was a key player on the 1956 National Championship squad. The Leetsdale, Pa., native was MSU’s leading rusher in 1958, and also led the team in scoring that season.
Montana State’s 1983 Women’s Indoor Track Team was the first women’s squad in school’s history to win a Mountain West Athletic Conference -- the women’s precursor to the Big Sky -- title. Janet Buntin scored 24 points and won the long jump to pace MSU, while Mary Lynn Guyer (30000 m), Carrie Albano (shot put), and Denise Clare (600 m) also won individual titles. MSU clinched the title in the meet’s final event, the 4 x 400 meter relay, when Clare rallied past Idaho State and Weber State to win the relay (UM finished first, but was disqualified). Three individuals and both relay teams set school records at the 1983 conference championship meet. Montana State topped Idaho State on the Bengals’ home track by nine points.
The 2004 Wendy’s MSU Hall of Fame banquet and induction ceremony will begin with a 6 pm social on Friday, Sept. 17 in the Stadium Club at Bobcat Stadium. Dinner will begin at 7 pm, with the induction to follow.
Cass Bauer's long and successful WNBA career stands as testimony to her status as one of the top players in Big Sky Conference women's basketball history. She remains third in school history in scoring and fifth in rebounding. Bauer, from Hysham, was the 1993 Big Sky Conference MVP and Kodak All-America Region VII, and was a three-time All-Big Sky choice.
Cliff Hysell played football for the Bobcats in 1964 and ‘65, and was an assistant coach from 1972-81. As a player or coach, Hysell was part of four Big Sky Conference Championships. The Helena native also served as an assistant at Great Falls High from 1966-71, and after leaving MSU earned a national reputation as defensive coordinator for Fresno State’s outstanding teams from 1982-91. As MSU’s head coach Hysell compiled a record 41-47, amassing the second-highest win total in school history. Four of Hysell’s eight teams had winning records, MSU’s only winning seasons betwen 1985 and 2002.
Barbara Moe, a Spokane native, was a four-time All-Northwest Volleyball League choice. The four-sport letterwinner at Mead High remains in MSU’s record book, holding the fifth spot on the school’s single-season service aces list, despite playing in an era in which few statistics were kept.
Dan Mortensen, a Billings native, was a CNFR national champion rodeo cowboy at Montana State, and parlayed his success as a Bobcat into one of the most legendary professional careers in history. Mortenson is a five-time world saddle bronc champion, and will likely enter the National Finals Rodeo this December in the mix for another world title. He was a junior college standout at Northwest Community College in Powell, Wyo., before transferring to MSU.
Rocco Perciavalle was a Mid-Bracket All-America Honorable Mention and Small College Second Team All-America fullback for the great Bobcat football teams of the late ‘50s, and was a key player on the 1956 National Championship squad. The Leetsdale, Pa., native was MSU’s leading rusher in 1958, and also led the team in scoring that season.
Montana State’s 1983 Women’s Indoor Track Team was the first women’s squad in school’s history to win a Mountain West Athletic Conference -- the women’s precursor to the Big Sky -- title. Janet Buntin scored 24 points and won the long jump to pace MSU, while Mary Lynn Guyer (30000 m), Carrie Albano (shot put), and Denise Clare (600 m) also won individual titles. MSU clinched the title in the meet’s final event, the 4 x 400 meter relay, when Clare rallied past Idaho State and Weber State to win the relay (UM finished first, but was disqualified). Three individuals and both relay teams set school records at the 1983 conference championship meet. Montana State topped Idaho State on the Bengals’ home track by nine points.
The 2004 Wendy’s MSU Hall of Fame banquet and induction ceremony will begin with a 6 pm social on Friday, Sept. 17 in the Stadium Club at Bobcat Stadium. Dinner will begin at 7 pm, with the induction to follow.
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