Hall of Fame announces second class

The Whitehall Hall of Fame Athletic Hall of Fame has announced its second class.

The Class of 2017 will be inducted at a ceremony later this year.

This year's class features a coaching legend from the 1930s and 1940s, Hiney P. Lund. It also highlights nine outstanding athletes, including Rick Shaw and Peggy Patacini in basketball during the 60s and 70s, T.J. Nelson, Mike Hedegaard, Roger Sacry, Mark Joy and Nathan Reiff in wrestling during the 80s and 90s, and Darby Jones, and Trenna Loomis in track and field, also during the 80s and 90s.

Most of the athletes were stars in numerous sports, but are listed above by their primary sport.

They will also honor five teams, inducting the 1940 Football team, the 1976 Girls Basketball team, the 1980 and 1984 Wrestling teams, and the 1997 Girls Volleyball team. The Hall of Fame will also induct its first candidate in the "Contributor" category, long-time supporter of WHS athletics Erv Hedegaard.

"We are pleased to announce the second class of inductees into the Whitehall High School Hall of Fame for 2017," said Hall of Fame committee chairman Mike Hedegaard.

"Beyond the celebration of this year's inductees, we anticipate welcoming back many of the inaugural class of inductees who together represent the ideals of sportsmanship and athletics at Whitehall High School." The combined 2016 and 2017 classes now represent members who participated in WHS athletics during every decade from the 1930s, through 2010.

The Class of 2017 was selected by a special committee, comprised of former WHS athletes, coaches, administrators, teachers and community members. This class of inductees will join the inaugural class from 2016 that included 11 coaches, athletes and teams.

A ceremony is being planned for a date in March or April, 2017 to induct the members of the class. More information will be announced when the date, time and location of the induction ceremony is set.

About the WHS

Athletic Hall of Fame

The WHS Athletic Hall of Fame, founded in 2015, has a mission to identify and honor the outstanding accomplishments of former athletes, coaches, administrators, teams and contributors of WHS.

Athletes are eligible for nomination 10 years after their class's graduation. Such athletes must have competed in a WHS-sanctioned varsity sport and must have excelled in such sport. Among the accomplishments taken into account will be individual (State Champion, Division Champion, all-Conference, all-State) and team accomplishments. Also considered are individual school or team records held. Applicants are evaluated on their impact on teams and the overall athletic program at Whitehall High School during their era and accomplishments thereafter.

Nomination is also open for team induction into the Hall. Accomplishments taken into account will be State Championship/Runner-up accomplishments. Teams are eligible for nomination 10 years after the championship/Runner-up season.

Nomination is also open to coaches or administrators, who have participated with distinction and/or made significant contributions to athletics at Whitehall High School, as evidenced, for example, by the success of their teams and the acknowledgment of their former student-athletes. Such coaches or administrators shall be eligible for nomination beginning four years after they have left Whitehall High School.

Contributors will also be considered for nomination based upon their service and dedication to the athletic programs at Whitehall High School.

For more information on the WHS Athletic Hall of Fame, or to donate to the organization, please contact the Chairman of the WHS Athletic Hall of Fame at 406-396-3556 or email at chairmanwhshof@gmail.com.

To nominate a team, athlete, coach/administrator or contributor for consideration by the WHS Athletic Hall of Fame, download the nomination and application forms from the WHS website at http://whitehall.schoolwires.com/ under the Whitehall Hall of Fame link. Nominations and applications for the 2018 class must be received no later than June 1st, 2017.