BHSU to induct alumni, athletic teams into Hall of Fame

Black Hills State University will induct two teams, five athletes, one coach and two contributors into the Yellow Jacket Hall of Fame during the 2018 Swarm Week homecoming celebration Sept. 23-29.
 
The recipients will be honored during the Hall of Fame Banquet to be held Friday, Sept. 28 at 6 p.m. in the Jacket Legacy Room of the David B. Miller Yellow Jacket Student Union, BHSU Campus, in Spearfish. Tickets for the Banquet must be purchased in advance by contacting the BHSU Alumni Office at 605-642-6385. Seating is limited. Tickets are $30 per person.
 
The 2018 Yellow Jacket Hall of Fame inductees include:
 
The 1960 Baseball Team won 13 games and lost four and was invited to NAIA National Tournament. The Jackets boasted one of the best pitching staffs in the Midwest led by Mike West, Jim Lawton, Dan Badger, Duane Baer and Neil Doeden. Other team members included Jerry Simmons, Lew Montrose, Clay Dunlap, Bob Phillips, Melvin Harter, Ron Morton, Bob Johnson, Kenny Everett, Dennis Harter, Orlin Kidner, Don Kubitschek, Dick Divich, Rocky Jones and Harold Feldman. The Jackets were coached by Cliff Papik. 

  
The 2004 Women’s Indoor 3200 Meter Relay Team won a NAIA National Championship in Johnson City, Tenn., and set a new school record with a time of 9:09. At the time, it was the fastest collegiate time ever run in South Dakota. Team members included Kendra (Karst) Mack, Liz Woodruff, Jamie (Hahn) VanDeest, and Angi (Axmann) Grabinger. They were coached by Scott Walkinshaw.

Joe Giacometto, attended, Rapid City, was an NAIA All-American at 177 lbs. in wrestling in 1989 with a 5-2 record at the NAIA National Tournament. He was first Jacket wrestler to ever win a championship at the St. Cloud Invitational NAIA Area Tournament. He led BH with a 27-3 record during his junior year. Joe also played linebacker for the Jackets football team.

Dave Garcia, ’92, Savage, Minn., was an NAIA Honorable Mention All-American in 1990. He set the BHSU record for passes attempted in one game (68) and was second in BHSU history with 956 for his career. He also was second in passes completed (411) in his career and had the second most passing yards in BHSU history with 6,093. Dave also had the second most total offense in University history with 6,579 yards for his career. Dave also played basketball for BHSU.

Justin Lake, attended, Sioux Falls, was a first team NAIA All-American in football as an offensive tackle in 1999. He also was a three time first team all-conference performer in 1997, 1998 and 1999. Justin was voted as one of three Most Valuable Players in the South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference in 1999. He was a four year starter from 1996-99 and the Jackets never lost to the School of Mines during Justin’s career.

Angi (Axmann) Grabinger, attended, Fort Collins, Colo., was a three time All-American in track (Indoor 3200 Meter Relay (National Champions – S.D. Record) 2004, Outdoor Steeplechase National Champion – S.D. Record 2005 and Outdoor 3200 Meter Relay (S.D. Record) 2005). She held the school record in the indoor 1000 M Run with a time of  2:53.35 in 2004, the outdoor 3000 M Steeplechase with a time of  10:33.38 in 2005 and set a Dakota Athletic Conference record in the indoor 1600 meters with a time of 5:14.92 in 2004. Angi also ran Cross Country for the Jackets and finished 31st at the National Cross Country Meet in 2004.

Hunter Schurrer, ’04, Edmonds, Wash., was an NAIA All-American and National Champion in the indoor 35 lb. Weight Throw in 2004. He at one time held the BHSU School Record with a toss of 57 feet 5 inches. Hunter placed in the top three in the Weight Throw at the conference meet his sophomore, junior and senior years. He qualified in the Weight Throw for the NAIA National Meet his sophomore, junior and senior years.

Ron, ’75, and Julie (Moore), ’84, Meeker, Sioux Falls, will be inducted as contributors. Ron and Julie have pledged over $81,000 in lifetime giving to BHSU. Ron has also served over 30 years on the BHSU Foundation Board of Directors and he played football for the Yellow Jackets from 1971-74. Julie was an athletic trainer for the Jackets in the early 80s.

Ronal J. Langseth, ’90, Valdez, Alaska, will be inducted as a coach. In more than 25 years of coaching in Alaska, Ron has coached boy’s and girl’s basketball, girl’s volleyball and boy’s and girl’s track and field. His volleyball teams have accumulated an undefeated Aurora Conference record for three years, three conference titles, and two state titles in 2015 and 2017.  He has also helped establish youth basketball programs, supervised hockey, football and volleyball, and incorporated Native Youth Olympic activities in his PE classes. He was Athletic Director at Glennallen School from 1996-2012.