MSUM Athletics announces 2018 Dragon Sports Hall of Fame inductees
The Minnesota State University Moorhead athletic department has announced the 2018 inductees into the Dragon Sports Hall of Fame. The class will be inducted on Friday, Oct. 5 at the Comstock Memorial Union on the MSUM campus.
“Being part of the Dragon Hall of Fame process always gets me fired up,” MSUM athletic director Doug Peters said. “There is no better feeling than providing support to the selection committee as they identify, review and select the Dragons whose accomplishments qualify for them to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.”
Twelve individuals will be joining the Hall of Fame while John Richman will receive the Distinguished Service Award.
The ceremony begins with a social at 5:30 p.m. with dinner and program set for 6 p.m. You can register for the ceremony here.
Here is the 2018 Dragon Sports Hall of Fame class:
Pat Billig (Men’s Track and Field/Cross Country, 1982-85)
NAIA All American in the 5,000 meter placing 4th in Outdoor in 1984, also placed 7th in the two-mile in 1984 for the NAIA Indoor…All-NAIA in cross country in 1982, placing sixth…all-conference in cross country in 1982, placing fifth at NIC meet…third-fastest time in 5,000 meters (14:24.4) in school history.
Paul Brigandi (Football, 1978-81)
Associated Press honorable mention All-American in 1981…All-NSIC First Team selection…team MVP in 1981…a three-year starter, one of the best inside linebackers to ever play at MSUM….NAIA All-District selection as well.
Aaron Clark (Women’s Track and Field, 1997-2000)
All-American in the pole vault in 2000, placing third at national indoor meet…three-time NSIC Track and Field Athlete of the Year (twice outdoors, once indoors)…won 15 NSIC individual championships in career, including winning five events at 2000 outdoor meet…has second-best indoor long jump in school history (18-6 1/4) and third-best pole vault (12-6).
Darren Dunlop (Baseball, 1979-82)
NAIA Honorable mention All-American catcher in 1981 after outstanding season…All-NIC catcher in 1981 and also named to All-District 13 Team… batted .419 while playing for the Dragons in 1981.
Vince Felchle (Basketball/Track, 1968-71)
Four-year member of track and field and men’s basketball teams at MSUM. . . Member of award-winning basketball Dragons of 1970-71 that claimed NIC title, advanced to post-season play, finished 24-2 overall and ranked fourth in the nation. . . Named Most Valuable Freshman in track, claimed five conference titles in long and triple jump. . . Scored most individual points ever as a senior…set numerous Nemzek Fieldhouse and track meet records…led basketball team in field goal percentage as a sophomore.
Scott Larson (Wrestling, 1998-2002)
Four-time NSIC Champion…part of three NSIC title winning teams… 3-time NCAA II Academic All-American 1st Team…NCAA II National Qualifier…NCAA II Midwest Regional Runner Up.
Grover Moore (Football 1996-99)
One of the top running backs in school history…MSUM’s all-time leading rusher (4,059 yards)…holds single-game record with 305 rushing yards vs. UM-Morris (305, 1997)…two-time All-NSIC First Team selection…team captain and MVP in 1998…has best rushing average in school history (7.0).
Mike Neiman (Men’s Track, 1978-81)
All American NAIA Indoor Track for two-mile for 5th place finish in 1980…set MSUM record in 1,500 and also part of school-record holding 4-mile relay team (17:26)…finished 14th at NAIA District 13 championships in 1979 and competed at national meet…Has fourth-best time indoors in 3,000 meters (8:32.74).
Sigourney Schaffer (Volleyball, 2002-05)
AVCA All-American in 2005…two-time All-NSIC first team selection…two-time team MVP…two-time NCAA North Central Region selection…second all-time in hitting percentage (.308) in MSUM history while placing third all-time in solo blocks (83) and fifth all-time in kills (1,278) in MSUM history.
John Stolpman (Football, 1971)
A real force on the offensive line who was a two-time All-NIC selection as an offensive guard (1970 and 1971)…co-captain in 1971…co-MVP in 1971…helped Dragons to NIC title in 1971.
Ralph Western (Men’s Basketball, 1988-92, will be inducted in 2019) All-time leading scorer in dragon history-2,015 points, only Dragon basketball player to surpass 2,000 career points scored…four-time All-NSIC selection…third all-time in field goals made (704) and second in free throws made (459)…third all-time in assists (339), tied for fifth with 127 steals…because of health issues will defer induction until 2019.
Katy Wilson, Athletic Director (1993-2003) and Softball Coach (1986-1993)
Served as MSUM athletic director from 1993-2003…tripled athletic scholarships at MSUM and also increased full-time staff from eight to 27….Dragon softball coach from 1986-1993 and had record of 140-112…led team to three NAIA District 13 Championships in 1986, 1992 and 1993. NSC Champions in 1990
Distinguished Service Award
John Richman (Football/Track 1973-76, and Assistant Football Coach)
Named team’s top offensive lineman as a tight end in 1974…played OG and TE – willing to play anywhere to help the team…MSUM won two football titles with Richman as an assistant coach and six track and field titles with him as an assistant…returned to MSUM in 1979 as an off line coach and played key role in development of that group…as an athlete won two football conference titles as a player and won four track and field titles. went on to be a successful coach at NDSU, then AD, then VP and now President of North Dakota State College of Science.
See more on MSUMDragons.com.