by Billings, MT – 2016 Montana Indian Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be held Wednesday, December 7th from 6:30PM to 9:30PM. The location will be at the Petro Theatre on the campus of Montana State University Billings in Billings, MT.
This year’s induction includes the state’s all-time leading scorer in both boys and girls basketball, Kayla Lambert from Brockton and the Dakota Nation. Also in basketball, we have University of Montana Grizzlies basketball player, AA baseball and high jump state champion from the Salish/Kootenai Tribes, JR Camel. Wolf Point’s 1951 State champion point guard and calf roper from the Assiniboine Tribe, Victor Bearskin. Hays/Lodgepole Thunderbird basketball phenonm, John Kindness. Back-to-back state champion in 1974 and 1975 Poplar point guard, Kenny Smoker representing the Assiniboine Nation. Salish/Kootenai basketball champion and legend, Louie Incashola.
For Cross country and Track we have the 4-time state Class C cross country champion from Heart Butte and the Blackfeet Nation, JR Bremner. Penty Coups High School’s two-time cross country and track state champion and 1981 state basketball champion from Crow Country, Dana Goes Ahead. Browning Indians All-American and two time cross country champion, Merlin Running Wolf. Cut Bank Wolf and University of Montana Grizzlies trackster with a tally of 12 state gold medals in her high school career, Veronica Peterson.
Rounding out the individual inductees are Blackfeet Heavyweight Boxing Champion, Joe Hipp. 26 Titled weightlifting champion from Browning, Charles Farmer. All-around Salish/Kootenai athlete and played for Haskell and the University of Montana Grizzlies football team in the late 1930’s, Archie MacDonald. Dartmouth rugby and top 10 defensive back in their football history out of Bozeman High and representing Sioux country, Jack Manning. Groundbreaking Assiniboine rodeo legend with over 47 saddles and hundreds of buckles, Lyle Cochran. Legendary track and cross country coach representing Cut Bank and Salish country, Mike Reynolds. Whitefish Bulldog and 1950’s quarterback, champion javelin thrower, Grizzlies basketball player and Phillies affiliated minor league baseball player, Jim Baker from the Blackfeet Nation.
This year, the Busby Eagles 1971 State C Basketball team representing the Cheyenne Nation and Lodge Grass Indians 1988, 89′, and 90′ State Champion Boys Basketball teams from the Crow Nation will be honored with team inductions.
The event costs $5 dollars, with under 7 free. For more information check out the www.montanaindianathletichof.org website.
