Wendy's/MSU Athletics Hall of Fame Adds Seven on Friday
9/11/2014 9:30:00 AM | General
Bobcat greats join list of all-time legends during induction ceremonies on campus
An impressive array of All-Americas and conference champions take center stage Friday night at Montana State University's Wendy's of Montana/Bobcat Athletics Hall of Fame induction ceremony on the MSU campus.
Included among the school's 2014 inductees are football player Kane Ioane, track stars Lacy Hinzpeter and Lyle Weese, and men's basketball standout Jason Erickson, all of each who are entering in their first year of eligibility. Basketball player Holgrim Hollo, a member of Montana State's great teams of the early 1950s, join 1970s football standout Rick Vancleeve and women's tennis pioneer Robin Coverdale, who played in the 1980s. The ceremony begins with a 6 pm social Friday evening at the Strand Union Building on the MSU campus.
Montana State's 2014 Wendy's/Bobcat Athletics Hall of Fame inductees:
ROBIN COVERDALE, women's tennis, 1980-84: A pioneer of the Bobcat women's tennis program, Robin Coverdale's ascent from walk-on to star was spectacular. The native Minnesotan won three conference championships, qualified for the NCAA Championships twice, and won more than 130 matches in singles and doubles play combined. She did so at a time when training and playing conditions were less-than-polished, and her success extended beyond her college days. She eventually became a teaching pro and was one of the finest USTPA women's players in the nation in the late '80s.
JASON ERICKON, men's basketball, 2000-04: There was no greater sight in Worthington Arena in the early years of this century than to see Jason Erickson slap the floor before a big defensive stand. Erickson was one of the finest defensive players in Montana State history, setting the school record for steals. He led the Cats to a 2002 Big Sky regular season title, earning Big Sky MVP and Honorable Mention All-America honors along the way. He was a two-time First Team All-Big Sky selection, and long-time legendary Bobcat coach Mick Durham called Erickson the best leader he ever coached.
LACY (HINZPETER) TURNQUIST, women's track and field, 1999-2003: A decade after her career ended, Lacy Hinzpeter remains the Big Sky Conference record-holder for points scored during indoor championship competition. She also continues to hold the league's outdoor record in the long jump, as well, and won seven league individual titles in sprint events and the long jump. Most significantly, though, Hinzpeter was part of two Big Sky Conference Championships – the 2001 indoor title and the outdoor crown in 2003. She remains the ultimate success story in synthesizing individual success and team achievement.
HOLGRIM HOLLO, men's basketball, 1950-54: A sturdy and dependable post player on teams that advanced to the NAIA National Tournament twice while winning 51 games in his three varsity seasons. Hollo was First Team All-Rocky Mountain Conference as a senior after earning second team honors as a junior, finishing among the loop's top 10 scorers each season. Hollo will miss Friday's banquet, but was officially honored at a Bobcat men's basketball game last spring.
KANE IOANE, football, 2000-04: Widely recognized as one of the greatest defensive players in Big Sky history, Kane Ioane is the only Bobcat to earn All-America honors four times. He was the league's Defensive Player of the Year as a senior, and remains the conference's all-time tackles leader. Ioane led MSU from the ashes of an 0-11 season during his freshman season in 2000 to back-to-back Big Sky Championships in 2002 and '03, and has served as an assistant coach at Montana State since finishing his playing career. He has collected six conference championship rings as either a player or assistant coach.
RICK VANCLEEVE, football, 1975-78: A rugged interior lineman, Rick Vancleeve's emergence as a young presence in the middle of the defense helped boost Montana State to Big Sky Conference and NCAA Division II Championships in 1976. Vancleeve was a First Team All-Big Sky choice in 1977 and '78 after earning Second Team honors as a sophomore during the team's title run. He was known for his agility and explosiveness.
LYLE WEESE, men's track and cross country, 1999-2003: Lyle Weese, originally from Dillon, earned All-America honors twice in track and field and once in cross country, and won three Big Sky championships. He also spurred MSU to one of the great team achievements in school history, leading the men's cross country team to an 11th place finish in the 2002 NCAA Championships. That performance capped one of the most thrilling weekends in school history, coming on the heels of the football team's win in Missoula and the men's basketball team's victory at Washington.
Included among the school's 2014 inductees are football player Kane Ioane, track stars Lacy Hinzpeter and Lyle Weese, and men's basketball standout Jason Erickson, all of each who are entering in their first year of eligibility. Basketball player Holgrim Hollo, a member of Montana State's great teams of the early 1950s, join 1970s football standout Rick Vancleeve and women's tennis pioneer Robin Coverdale, who played in the 1980s. The ceremony begins with a 6 pm social Friday evening at the Strand Union Building on the MSU campus.
Montana State's 2014 Wendy's/Bobcat Athletics Hall of Fame inductees:
ROBIN COVERDALE, women's tennis, 1980-84: A pioneer of the Bobcat women's tennis program, Robin Coverdale's ascent from walk-on to star was spectacular. The native Minnesotan won three conference championships, qualified for the NCAA Championships twice, and won more than 130 matches in singles and doubles play combined. She did so at a time when training and playing conditions were less-than-polished, and her success extended beyond her college days. She eventually became a teaching pro and was one of the finest USTPA women's players in the nation in the late '80s.
JASON ERICKON, men's basketball, 2000-04: There was no greater sight in Worthington Arena in the early years of this century than to see Jason Erickson slap the floor before a big defensive stand. Erickson was one of the finest defensive players in Montana State history, setting the school record for steals. He led the Cats to a 2002 Big Sky regular season title, earning Big Sky MVP and Honorable Mention All-America honors along the way. He was a two-time First Team All-Big Sky selection, and long-time legendary Bobcat coach Mick Durham called Erickson the best leader he ever coached.
LACY (HINZPETER) TURNQUIST, women's track and field, 1999-2003: A decade after her career ended, Lacy Hinzpeter remains the Big Sky Conference record-holder for points scored during indoor championship competition. She also continues to hold the league's outdoor record in the long jump, as well, and won seven league individual titles in sprint events and the long jump. Most significantly, though, Hinzpeter was part of two Big Sky Conference Championships – the 2001 indoor title and the outdoor crown in 2003. She remains the ultimate success story in synthesizing individual success and team achievement.
HOLGRIM HOLLO, men's basketball, 1950-54: A sturdy and dependable post player on teams that advanced to the NAIA National Tournament twice while winning 51 games in his three varsity seasons. Hollo was First Team All-Rocky Mountain Conference as a senior after earning second team honors as a junior, finishing among the loop's top 10 scorers each season. Hollo will miss Friday's banquet, but was officially honored at a Bobcat men's basketball game last spring.
KANE IOANE, football, 2000-04: Widely recognized as one of the greatest defensive players in Big Sky history, Kane Ioane is the only Bobcat to earn All-America honors four times. He was the league's Defensive Player of the Year as a senior, and remains the conference's all-time tackles leader. Ioane led MSU from the ashes of an 0-11 season during his freshman season in 2000 to back-to-back Big Sky Championships in 2002 and '03, and has served as an assistant coach at Montana State since finishing his playing career. He has collected six conference championship rings as either a player or assistant coach.
RICK VANCLEEVE, football, 1975-78: A rugged interior lineman, Rick Vancleeve's emergence as a young presence in the middle of the defense helped boost Montana State to Big Sky Conference and NCAA Division II Championships in 1976. Vancleeve was a First Team All-Big Sky choice in 1977 and '78 after earning Second Team honors as a sophomore during the team's title run. He was known for his agility and explosiveness.
LYLE WEESE, men's track and cross country, 1999-2003: Lyle Weese, originally from Dillon, earned All-America honors twice in track and field and once in cross country, and won three Big Sky championships. He also spurred MSU to one of the great team achievements in school history, leading the men's cross country team to an 11th place finish in the 2002 NCAA Championships. That performance capped one of the most thrilling weekends in school history, coming on the heels of the football team's win in Missoula and the men's basketball team's victory at Washington.
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