(Editor's note: Montana State University media release)
BOZEMAN – Six of Montana State’s legendary student-athletes and a pair of men’s basketball squads that thrilled Bobcat fans are set for induction in the Bobcat Athletics Hall of Fame on Friday.
Women’s pole vault national champion Ellie (Rudy) van Swearingen, the only female national champ in Bobcat track and field history, is joined by All-America decathlete Stevie Keller and three football stars. Bobby Daly led the Big Sky Conference in tackles while earning All-America honors as a junior (2007) and senior (2008), and Dane Fletcher earned All-America and Big Sky defensive MVP honors as a senior in 2009. Wayne Purdom was an all-Big Sky linebacker in 1966, the year he also won the Big Sky wrestling championship at 171 pounds.
The 1985-86 and 1986-87 men’s basketball teams, that authored one of the great runs in MSU’s modern history, will also be inducted. After an 8-13 start to the 1985-86 men’s basketball season, the young Bobcats won four of their final seven regular-season games, then sprinted to a Big Sky Tournament championship to cap an incredible Cinderella run to the NCAA Tournament. The team lost to Walter Berry and St. John’s in the tourney, then put together a sparkling 21-8 record in 1986-87 that included a league regular-season title and an NIT bid. Those two Stu Starner-coached teams continue to hold a special place in the heart of Cat fans.
The Bobcat Athletics Hall of Fame banquet begins with a reception at 6 p.m. and dinner and inductions at 7 p.m.. Few tickets remain, but they can be purchased by clicking here.
