2015 MSUB Cross Country Media Guide @MSUBXCTF #MSUBXCTF @MSUBXCTF | www.msubsports.com | #MSUBXC | 2015 Media Guide | 1
Montana State University Billings Cross Country 2015 Quick Facts University Information
Location: Billings, MT Address: 1500 University Drive 59101 Established: 1927 Enrollment: 5,000 Chancellor: Dr. Mark Nook University Website: www.msubillings.edu
Yellowjacket Athletics Information
Affiliation: NCAA Division II Conference: Great Northwest Athletic Conference Colors: Navy, Gold Nickname: Yellowjackets Faculty Athletic Representative: Dr. Scott Harris Athletic Director/SWA: Krista Montague Sports Information Contact: Birgitta Gray Phone: 406-896-5917 Email: birgitta.gray@msubillings.edu Athletics Website: www.msubsports.com MSUB Sports on Twitter: @MSUBSports MSUB Sports on Facebook: MSUB Sports MSUB Sports on Instagram: MSUB Sports MSUB Sports on YouTube: MSUB Sports
MSUB Cross Country Staff
Head Coach: Dave Coppock, 26th year Phone: 406-591-9598 Email: dcoppock@msubillings.edu Volunteer Assistant Coach: Mark Bolt Athletic Trainer: Tom Ebel Phone: 406-657-2375 Email: tebel@msubillings.edu
Contents Montana State Billings Cross Country About MSUB.................................................................3 2015 Schedule...............................................................4 About MSUB Athletics................................................5 Community Service.....................................................7 Letter from AD Krista Montague...............................8 2015 Team Head Coach Dave Coppock.......................................9 Roster.......................................................................... 10 Feature Story: 2014 Senior Renae Hepfner............ 11 2015 Women’s Season Preview................................ 15 2015 Men’s Season Preview...................................... 17 Runner Profiles.......................................................... 19 Cross Country Program History Record Book............................................................... 35 Awards & Honors...................................................... 36 About MSUB Hall of Fame............................................................... 37 MSUB Athletic Administration............................... 38 MSUB Athletic Staff.................................................. 39 NCAA Division II Statement................................... 40
MSUB Cross Country History First Year of cross country: 1989 NCAA appearances Men: 1 Women: 0
MSUB Cross Country Team Information Home Course: Amend Park Returners/Lost Men: 5/0 Women: 5/4 Newcomers Men: 3 Women: 4 Redshirts Men: 1 Women: 0 Facebook: MSUBDistance Twitter: MSUBXCTF
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About MSUB Montana State University Billings is a comprehensive public four-year higher education institution located in Montana's largest population center, whose faculty is actively engaged in teaching, research, creative endeavors and public service. The University opened in 1927 and was initially called Eastern Montana State Normal School at Billings and was established to prepare teachers for elementary schools in Eastern Montana. MSU Billings has grown, with the city of Billings and Yellowstone County, into the major urban comprehensive higher education center of south central Montana. The University consists of five colleges on two campuses: the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Business, the College of Education, the College of Allied Health Professions and City College, which serves the comprehensive two-year mission of the University on a campus seven miles west of the University Campus. MSU Billings offers a full complement of one- and two-year certificate programs, associate degrees, and bachelor and master degrees, as well as pre-professional academic offerings in nearly 100 academic areas; and features 23 programs that are totally available online. Several academic programs are unique to the Montana University System. MSU Billings Extended Campus also maintains a presence in Downtown Billings through outreach education to underserved populations, GED preparation, summer programs for children and short-term training/conference space. MSU Billings is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges & Universities. The MSU Billings College of Business is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, whose standards are used as the basis to evaluate a business school’s mission, operations, faculty qualifications and contributions, programs, and other critical areas. The MSU Billings College of Education is accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education for preparing elementary and secondary teachers and school counselors through the Bachelor of Science and Master of Education degrees, and the Master of Science in Special Education degree. MSU Billings is also accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music, the National Association of Schools of Art and Design, the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education, and the Council on Rehabilitation Education. City College programs are approved by the National Institute for Automotive Excellence and the Montana Board of Nursing.
Public service is integral to the mission of the University. Its two primary public service entities are KEMC/Yellowstone Public Radio and the Montana Center for Inclusive Education, a comprehensive education, rehabilitation, and diagnostic center serving Montanans with disabilities.
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2015 MSUB Cross Country Schedule 2015 MSUB Men’s & Women’s Cross Country Schedule Day Date Event Location Time (Local) Friday Sept. 4 Alaska Fairbanks Invitational Fairbanks, AK 10 a.m. Saturday Sept. 19 Montana State Invitational Bozeman, MT 9 a.m. Saturday Sept. 26 Roy Griak Invitational Minneapolis, MN 10 a.m. Friday Oct. 9 Yellowjacket Invitational Billings, MT 10 a.m. Saturday Oct. 24 GNAC Championships Bellingham, WA 10 a.m. Saturday Nov. 7 NCAA West Region Championship Monmouth, OR 11 a.m. Saturday Nov. 21 NCAA National Championship Joplin, MO 11 a.m. Home meet in bold at Amend Park.
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About Yellowjacket Athletics Home of the Yellowjackets, the Montana State University Billings department of intercollegiate athletics supports 15 men’s and women’s varsity sports which compete in the NCAA at the Division II level. MSUB is one of 11 full-time members of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, which features 11 championships throughout each academic year. More than 250 student-athletes compete on MSUB’s teams, and members of Yellowjacket teams posted a collective 3.15 grade point average during the 2014-15 academic year. MSUB-sponsored varsity sports include men’s and women’s teams in basketball, cheer/stunt, cross-country, golf, soccer, indoor and outdoor track & field, as well as baseball, softball, and women’s volleyball. 2014-15 marked a historic year for Yellowjacket Athletics, as MSUB hosted three conference championship events and an NCAA Division II West Region Championship for the first time ever. The ‘Jackets welcomed more than 30 teams to Billings on Nov. 22, 2014 for the NCAA Division II West Region Championships at Amend Park, hosted the 2014-15 Men’s and Women’s GNAC Basketball Championships from March 4-7, 2015 at Alterowitz Gym, and capped off the year by hosting the 2015 GNAC Baseball Championships from May 7-8 at Dehler Park. MSUB also serves as the host of the largest NCAA Division II softball tournament, the Desert Stinger Classic, which was played for the sixth year in a row from Feb. 12-14, 2015 at Majestic Park in Las Vegas. The 2014-15 year also featured three All-American athletes from MSUB, including senior Kayleen Goggins (women’s basketball), junior Robert Peterson (men’s indoor track & field), and senior Brody Miller (baseball). Miller was also selected as the 2014-15 GNAC Male Athlete of the Year for all sports, just the second baseball player in the conference’s history to win the award, and the second student-athlete from MSUB to collect the honor as he joined women’s basketball star Bobbi Knudsen (2013-14). Capturing GNAC crowns during the 2014-15 year were MSUB’s baseball and softball teams. The Yellowjackets won the 2015 GNAC Softball Championships and advanced all the way to the semifinals of the NCAA Division II West Region Championships in May.
MSUB Softball, 2015 GNAC Champions & NCAA West Region Runners-Up. @MSUBXCTF | www.msubsports.com | #MSUBXC | 2015 Media Guide | 5
About Yellowjacket Athletics MSUB’s women’s soccer team also competed for a GNAC Championship title, finishing in second place in the conference standings and earning the No. 2 seed into the conference tournament in the fall of 2014. In men’s golf, senior Jake Hedge also represented the ‘Jackets at the NCAA Regional level, competing as an individual in the championships in Monterey Bay, Calif., from May 6-8, 2015. In 2013-14, the MSUB women’s basketball team made history by winning the 2013-14 Great Northwest Athletic Conference regular season title and advancing to the NCAA Division II west regional championship game. MSUB’s 2013-14 women’s basketball team joined the Yellowjackets’ 1998-99 squad as the only two in program history to advance to the NCAA regional title game. The latter continued on to the Elite Eight, marking the furthest-advancing MSUB team in the school’s history. In 2012, the MSUB softball team won the GNAC regular season title with a 32-18 overall record and earned hosting privileges for the 2013 conference softball tournament. The 2012 Yellowjacket men’s basketball team also earned a conference title, defeating the University of Alaska Anchorage 74-70 in the GNAC tournament championship game. Formerly known as Eastern Montana College, MSUB athletics stem back to the 1927-28 season, the year in which the university was founded. The Yellowjackets have competed in a number of different conferences throughout the years, and prior to the 1980-81 season the athletic department transitioned from the NAIA to competing at the NCAA Division II level. The MSUB Hall of Fame and Distinction inducted its inaugural class in 1990 and serves as a tribute towards influential figures on and off the court, in both current and retired sports.
2014-15 MSUB Hall of Fame Inductees Natalie Bills (left) and Alira Carpenter. 6 | @MSUBXCTF | www.msubsports.com | #MSUBXC | 2015 Media Guide
Community Service Throughout the 2014-15 academic year, the MSUB men’s and women’s cross country teams spent time in the local Billings community. The Yellowjackets recognized the importance of giving back to the community and will continue to support MSUB’s community service and engagement initiatives throughout the 2015-16 season.
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Yellowjacket Athletic Director Krista Montague Krista (Fjelstad) Montague is entering her 13th year of employment at MSU Billings and her third as director of intercollegiate athletics. In 2014-15, MSUB hosted several marquee championship events for the first time ever. In November, MSUB welcomed the 2014 NCAA Division II Cross Country West Region Championships to Billings, which included participation from 32 teams across the region. MSUB also hosted the 2014-15 GNAC Basketball Championships and the 2015 GNAC Baseball Championships during the academic year. MSUB’s softball team advanced to the NCAA Division II West Region Championship game after winning the GNAC Championships title, and the Yellowjackets’ baseball team also claimed a conference title during 2014-15. During her first year at the helm of the athletic department, Montague successfully secured hosting responsibilities for the upcoming 2014 NCAA cross country west regional championships and 2014-15 Great Northwest Athletic Conference men’s and women’s basketball championships. Montague began her employment with MSUB in July of 2002 as the department’s development and marketing director. Shortly after being hired, she was appointed to the position of senior woman administrator, making her the highest-ranking female administrator in the athletic department. When Montana State University Billings announced the hiring of Montague as its new athletic director on May 10, 2013, it became the first NCAA institution in Montana to have a female athletic director. In 2005, the titles of assistant AD and NCAA compliance coordinator were added to her duties, while she still managed the corporate partnership program and special events for the department. In 2009, Montague was promoted to associate AD. As associate AD, her primary responsibilities included overseeing and managing NCAA II compliance for each of the 17 sports and co-ed cheer, as well serving as a crucial member of the athletics administration team and academic liaison between the different campus constituencies and athletics. Montague, a native of Eastern Montana, received her undergraduate degree in business administration with an option in marketing in 1999 from MSU Billings. Montague was a four-year letterwinner for the MSUB women’s basketball team and left the program with the school record for career free-throw percentage. As a senior, Montague helped MSU Billings to the West Region Championship and the program's first and only Elite Eight appearance in women’s basketball. Montague is a member of NACDA (National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics) and NACWAA (National Association of Collegiate Women Athletics Administrators), as well as various other state and local organizations. In 2011-12, she served on NACWAA’s Legislation & Governance Committee, and also served as a member of the NCAA II Softball West Regional Advisory Committee in 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011. Before joining the MSU Billings athletic staff full time, Montague was the athletic department’s part-time corporate partnership director and held various positions for DD Marketing (Pueblo, Colo.), Norwest Bank, and Billings Clinic. Montague is currently pursuing a master's degree in public relations at MSU Billings. She lives in West Billings with her husband Brent and two daughters Shayla (14) and Allie (12). 8 | @MSUBXCTF | www.msubsports.com | #MSUBXC | 2015 Media Guide
Coaching Staff
Head Coach Dave Coppock 27th season
Dave Coppock is entering his 27th season as head coach of both Yellowjacket cross-country teams and is entering his seventh as the MSUB track and field head coach since the program returned during the 2008-2009 season. A former cross-country and track runner at the University of Northern Iowa and University of Montana, Coppock has produced 27 all-conference (track & field) and five NCAA all-region runners in cross-country. He has coached 16 NCAA DII National Track & Field Championships provisional qualifiers with two automatic qualifiers and two NCAA appearances. From his track and field teams, he has produced eight champions, including three last season (Peterson, men’s indoor 1500m, Robinson, men’s outdoor 1500m, and Holm, women’s discus). He has also had multiple NCAA DII all-region track performers, including six last season alone (Indoor: Buehler, Campbell, Peterson and Montanez; Outdoor: Holm, Montanez). In distance running, Coppock has coached two former cross-country runners (Sarah Graves and Heidi Reider Schuette) who became U.S. Olympic marathon trials qualifiers. Under Coppock’s guidance in 2014-15, junior Robert Peterson became the first-ever Yellowjacket to earn a spot in the NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships. He also earned USTFCCCA All-American honors after finishing 10th in the mile at the 2015 Indoor Championships. The Yellowjackets also hosted the 2014 NCAA Division II Cross Country West Region Championships at Amend Park in Billings in Nov., 2014. More than 30 teams from across the region competed in the event, which will be held at the same course again during the 2016 season. In 2013-14, under Coach Coppock’s direction, the men’s and women’s track and field teams produced a record number of all-conference and GNAC champions. At the GNAC Indoor Championships, sophomore Robert Peterson ran a meet record in the men’s 1500m to win the conference title. At the GNAC Outdoor Championships, it was senior Chase Robinson who took the men’s 1500 title, with Peterson .37 second behind. Corrie Holm was a conference champion for the women’s track and field team. She won the conference title at the GNAC Outdoor Championships in the women’s discus. In 2006, the Yellowjacket women won the Heartland Conference Championships and four men and women were named to the all-conference teams. The 2006 women were also ranked as high as 10th in the NCAA South Central Region. His teams over the years have placed as high as second in the Pacific West Conference (twice) and fifth in the NCAA West Region. Under Coppock’s guidance, the Yellowjackets have also been ranked as high as No. 16 in the nation. In addition to the success Coppock’s teams have had on the course, they have also been among the most successful teams in the nation in the classroom. Both the women’s and men’s programs have perennially been named to the NCAA Division II Cross Country Coaches Association All-Academic teams and have maintained one of the highest team grade point averages in the nation. A 1979 graduate of Montana with a degree in geology, Coppock still runs competitively. He was named the 2006 Heartland Conference Women’s Coach of the Year and has been named the Montana USATF Road Racer of the Year two times. @MSUBXCTF | www.msubsports.com | #MSUBXC | 2015 Media Guide | 9
Roster 2015-16 MSUB Yellowjackets Men’s Cross Country Roster Name Ivan Colmenero Jorey Egeland Mark Hovland Padon Little Garrett Love Liam McKay Robert Peterson Matt Winter
Cl. Fr. So. So. Fr. Jr. So. Sr. Sr.
Exp. HS 1V 1V HS 2V 1V 3V TR
Hometown (Previous School) Manhattan, MT (Manhattan) Billings, MT (Billings Senior) Billings, MT (Billings West) Columbus, MT (Columbus) Billings, MT (Billings West) Surrey, BC (Lord Tweedsmuir Secondary) Billings, MT (Skyview) Billings, MT (Montana)
Head Coach – Dave Coppock. Volunteer Assistant Coach – Mark Bolt. Pronunciation Guide Jorey Egeland – JOR-ee EGG-el-und Mark Hovland – HUV-lind Liam McKay – LEE-um Dave Coppock – COP-ick 2015-16 MSUB Yellowjackets Women’s Cross Country Roster Name Sarah Beatty Bailey Bomar Taylor Condon Brielle Davis Rio Frame Cate Klaudt Devin McDonald Josey Smiedala Nikki Terkildsen Jinise Trueblood
Cl. Fr. So. Sr. Sr. Jr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Sr.
Exp. HS 1V 1V 1V 2V HS HS HS HS 3V
Hometown (Previous School) Billings, MT (Billings West) Billings, MT (Billings West) Laurel, MT (Black Hills State) Billings, MT (Gillette College) Glendive, MT (Dawson County) Billings, MT (Billings Central) Billings, MT (Billings Senior) Helena, MT (Helena) Billings, MT (Skyview) Columbia Falls, MT (Columbia Falls)
Head Coach – Dave Coppock. Volunteer Assistant Coach – Mark Bolt. Pronunciation Guide Sarah Beatty – BEAT-ee Bailey Bomar – BOE-mar Dave Coppock – COP-ick
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Feature Story: 2015 Graduate Renae Hepfner
Hepfner races into Med School with NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship April 2, 2015 Renae Hepfner prepares to get started on her education towards becoming an osteologist, after receiving the prestigious NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship last month. MSUB SPORTS – During her senior year at Belt High School, Renae Hepfner was all set on one day becoming an elementary school teacher. The dual-sport standout had developed into a starting guard for the Huskies girls basketball team, and also ran cross country and track mainly to keep in shape during the offseason. Bringing her career on the hardwood to an abrupt halt however, was a devastating injury that ultimately shifted Hepfner’s perspective both athletically and academically. After blowing her knee out midway through the season, Hepfner spent the next several months in close company with doctors and physical therapists. She quickly became fascinated by the level of intricacy involved in reconstructing and healing her knee, and found herself learning more than ever as she had piqued a new interest. Jump ahead four years and Hepfner is a newly-minted graduate of Montana State University Billings, where she competed in cross country and track and field for the Yellowjackets and received her bachelor’s degree in biology in December. In March, Hepfner became a distinct recipient of the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship, a hyper-competitive award that is granted by the NCAA to student-athletes who have just completed their collegiate careers. Across all divisions, 29 women are awarded the scholarship for fall sports, which deduces an odds figure of around 1 in 700. @MSUBXCTF | www.msubsports.com | #MSUBXC | 2015 Media Guide | 11
Feature Story: 2015 Graduate Renae Hepfner
“This is a big deal,” commented Dr. Scott Harris, MSUB faculty athletic representative and the liaison between the scholarship program and student-athletes aspiring to pursue their education beyond their bachelor’s degree. “The list of universities whose students win this award includes the likes of Yale and MIT. To have one of our students recognized is a tribute to both our students and the university for making sure our students receive a world-class education and the opportunities that come with that.” “Our number one goal as a department is to ensure the academic success of our student-athletes, and to see Renae receive this scholarship makes us truly proud,” commented MSUB director of athletics Krista Montague. “Renae served as an ambassador for Yellowjacket Athletics during her time in the program and we have full confidence that she will make the most of this opportunity as she pursues her career as a doctor.” Recently having been accepted into medical school at Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences in Yakima, Wash., Hepfner will begin the next chapter in her race towards becoming a doctor on Aug. 17 as she starts the process of being a new student all over again. For the Belt, Mont., native who grew up in a town of 600 people and without a single red light to disrupt the flow of traffic, the move out west will be the biggest yet of her ambitious, young life. OVERVIEW ON OSTEOPATHY “The man who developed Osteopathy, A.T. Still, wanted to work on a more preventative approach to medicine,” Hepfner said. “He developed these manipulations that stem from bones because everything connects to them. He figured that if you could manipulate your body’s bones to relieve pressure, it could improve your overall health.” Her response alone when asked what exactly the word ‘osteo’ meant was enough to explain why she stood out from the vast field of candidates for the recent scholarship she was awarded. Not only does Hepfner have the exact type of medicine she would like to study already within her crosshairs, but she has a comprehensive understanding of its origin and a specific belief in its fundamental tenets that has driven her to pursue osteopathy. “With osteopathy you look at treating a person in a more holistic view,” Hepfner said. “You treat the person rather than the disease.” In other words, the focus of the particular branch of medicine is to provide care for an individual based on his or her unique physical makeup rather than prescribe a uniform medicine or treatment depending on the nature of an injury. The ultimate title of Doctor of Osteopathy is what Hepfner has her sights set on, but the path to get there is far from straight-and-narrow. The first two years of schooling with an 8-5 daily schedule are accompanied by 40 hours worth of studying per week. Then it is on to situational experiences with patients and learning the various osteopathic manipulative methods. 12 | @MSUBXCTF | www.msubsports.com | #MSUBXC | 2015 Media Guide
Feature Story: 2015 Graduate Renae Hepfner “In the fourth year you start studying for boards and figuring out where you want to be placed for residency,” said Hepfner, a three-time Great Northwest Athletic Conference academic all-conference selection. “After that you are placed under a doctor for anywhere from three to five years before you can start working on your own.” All told the process from first-year student at Pacific Northwest to full-on osteopathist ranges from 8 to 10 years. With a rigorous curriculum and the furthest move away from home she will have ever made in front of her, Hepfner is confident that her time spent as a student and an athlete at MSUB has prepared her well for her next adventure. RUNNING THE COURSE With the knee injury effectively ending her basketball career, Hepfner still wanted to pursue athletics at the collegiate level. After redshirting her freshman year in cross country, Hepfner was healthy enough by the spring to participate in track and field as she slowly began to increase the mileage on her repaired knee. “I love the team aspect in sports and running definitely fulfilled that for me,” Hepfner said. “The team at MSUB is like my family away from home, and it was great to be able to continue that team aspect throughout my college career.” As Hepfner developed close bonds with her teammates and used running as an avenue of escape from her classwork, her passion for the course of study she had chosen grew stronger every semester. “Renae’s dedication to her academics is obvious,” commented Dr. Carl Castles, an assistant professor of biology and one of Hepfner’s instructors. “The fact that the only Bs in her college career were earned in her very first semester speaks to that. Everything since has been As, despite her being involved in athletics since her arrival.” “Doctor Castles and doctor Kurt Toenjes were both very supportive and very good teachers,” Hepfner said. “The fact that they took the time to offer extra upper-division classes exposed me to a lot more information than I got in regular undergraduate classes. That really helped me learn what my interests were more.” In addition to excelling with her course work, Hepfner developed into a strong distance runner for the Yellowjackets. “Renae was a great role model in helping to establish our team culture, where the expectation is to balance academic and athletic success,” commented MSUB head coach Dave Coppock. “Renae was always willing to help other athletes on the team with studying, and you could always find her studying on the bus or early mornings in hotel lobbies when we were traveling.” “Student-athletes often travel at various times during the semester, and that makes it difficult to stay on top of their classes,” Dr. Castles said. “Yet like many of our student-athletes, Renae found a way to make it work.” Hepfner credited Coppock with making competitive running fun and always stressing to his team the importance of their studies. “Dave is one of the best coaches I’ve ever had,” Hepfner said. “He makes runny way more enjoyable, and it doesn’t feel like a chore. That helps a lot.”
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Feature Story: 2015 Graduate Renae Hepfner Running is something Hepfner will never give up, as she finds time to log miles in between her 8:30-5 schedule at the Billings Clinic and time at a local nursing home in Billings on the weekends. Currently serving as a medical assistant in the rehabilitation department, Hepfner has spent the months since her graduation gaining valuable experience as she prepares to venture to Washington to begin school at the end of the summer. ‘DO’ING BIG THINGS For physicians, any given combination of alphabet soup directly proceeds their name describing their particular specialization. Among doctors, it is a unique code representing which chapters were read in their medical textbooks and which wing of the hospital their clinical hours were spent in. More often than not, M.D. are the trailing letters, representing successful completion in the course of study for a doctor of medicine. Hepfner will one day proudly boast the letters D.O., a unique title signifying her doctorate in osteopathy. “Renae’s successful academic career was not just limited to her degree and her stellar GPA,” Dr. Castles said. “She was very active on campus participating in clubs, working as a tutor and a laboratory teaching assistant, and even serving as a student member on committees for the Department of Biological and Physical Sciences. We are all looking forward to seeing where her next journey takes her.” While Hepfner has carved her own path towards a future that she is passionate about, behind her the whole way has been a strong support system in her parents and family. “My dad is actually the one who told me I should try running in college,” Hepfner said. “I didn’t think I was good enough but he convinced me to at least try it. My family has been a huge part of my life at home as well as here at college.” Hepfner’s 11-year-old brother Cole is her biggest inspiration, as she has been driven to set a good example and be a good role model for her younger sibling. “I know Cole looks up to me and he is probably my favorite person in the world,” Hepfner said. “I would not be where I am today without my family, they are very supportive of everything that I do.” Ultimately, Hepfner maximized her experience at MSUB, dually representing her university running with the Yellowjackets as well as competing with top students across the country academically. The recent scholarship she received serves as the latest reminder of her excellence as a student-athlete, and suggests that she is well on her way to positively influencing others for years to come as a doctor.
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2015 Women’s Season Preview
BILLINGS, Mont. – After a sixth place finish for the MSU Billings women’s cross country team last season at the conference championships, the Yellowjackets are looking to build on the quality team momentum generated last year. Slated to finish seventh in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference coaches’ poll released last week, MSUB head coach Dave Coppock sees a lot of room to move up from last year. “We had a very good season last year,” Coach Coppock said. “I think the women’s team has the potential to repeat our 2014 conference performances, but also could move up a spot.” MSU Billings returns top runner junior Rio Frame, seniors Brielle Davis, Taylor Condon, and Jinise Trueblood (formerly Osborne), and sophomore Bailey Bomar. Joining the squad this season are freshmen Josey Smiedala, Sarah Beatty, Cate Klaudt, and Devin McDonald. Frame finished in third or better in every race last season for the ‘Jackets. She had two top-5 finishes last year and was the runner-up at the Black Hills State Invite behind her sister Nocona, crossing the tape in 20:04.2. She helped the team to first-place finishes at both the Yellowjacket Invitational and the BHSU Invite. At the GNAC Championships, Frame placed 22nd (21:48.0), but has the goal of being top-15 this season. “I had a great summer where I did some easy training at the beginning, but then progressed and I am now at 50 miles a week,” Frame said on her training. “My goal coming into this season is I want to be top-15 at the conference race.”
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2015 Women’s Season Preview Davis finished last Friday’s time trials behind Frame in second place. The Skyview High School graduate came out for her inaugural race in a Yellowjacket uniform with an 11th-place finish at the Carroll College Invite last season in 15:43.53. After a very successful two years at Gillette College in Wyoming, Davis transferred to MSUB last season joining the team as a junior. “We do have a pretty young team,” Frame commented on the 2015 roster. “I feel very confident in the returners, they are going to have a really good season. The new members are going to do good too. They just have to keep working at it, but I know once the end of the season comes around they will do really well.” Joining Frame and Davis as returners are Condon, Trueblood, and Bomar. Seniors Condon and Trueblood finished just behind Frame and Davis in the preseason team race at Riverfront Park on Friday. Condon competed in all seven races for MSUB last season with an eighth-place finish at Black Hills in 15:40.98. Trueblood was part of the 1-2-3-4 finish for MSUB last year at Black Hills, coming in fourth in 20:44.86. Like Frame, Trueblood is listed in the MSUB record book, holding the sixth-best time at MSUB in the 6,000m with a finish of 22:11. Bomar is coming off a freshman campaign with a top-10 finish for MSUB. She was 10th at the BHSU Invite with a time of 21:29.96. “I am looking for some runners to move up to fill in behind last year’s seniors Nocona Frame and Renae Hepfner,” Coppock said. “They were consistently our number 1 and 2 runners last season but I know we have some talent that could help us this season.” The new talent includes four freshmen, three from Billings and one new athlete from Helena, Mont. Beatty is following her teammate from Billings West from last season in Bomar. McDonald competed for Billings Senior, Klaudt is from Billings Central, while Smiedala comes to MSUB from Helena High. Klaudt and Beatty made the cut and are traveling to the team’s opening meet in Alaska. Coach Coppock knows the opening two races will be a big test for the team. “The opener at Alaska Fairbanks is a great chance to see how we stack up against a couple of other conference schools,” Coppock commented. The MSU Billings women’s team opens its season with two meets in Fairbanks, Alaska. The Yellowjackets’ first competition will be against both Alaska and Seattle Pacific who will also be at the meet. The team will start with a 6K on Thursday, Sept. 3 at 3:45 p.m. Alaska time followed by a 5K on Saturday, Sept. 5 at 9 a.m. Both races will be held at the Westridge Trails, a Nordic ski complex in Fairbanks. “We have quite a few different people running this year,” Coppock said. “Rio Frame looks to be in great shape and will lead the women.” The team has two more meets in September with the Montana State Invite on the 19th and the Roy Griak on the 26th. The team then hosts two meets at home in October. On the ninth is the annual Yellowjacket Invitational which will be run on last year’s NCAA west region course at Amend Park. Oct. 15th will feature a dual meet between the Yellowjackets and the Rocky Mountain College Battlin’ Bears at 4 p.m. on the course at Riverfront Park. This year’s GNAC Championships will be hosted by Western Washington University on Oct. 24th followed by the west region championships this year on Nov. 7th at the Ash Creek Preserve hosted by Western Oregon University.
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2015 Men’s Season Preview Similar to MSUB’s women’s team, the Yellowjacket men will look to build on a strong 2015 season with key veterans providing essential leadership. “We had a very good season last year for both teams highlighted by a fourth place finish at the conference championships,” MSUB head coach Dave Coppock said. “Also, Robert Peterson advancing and competing at the NCAA National Championship was a program first for us.” This season the MSUB men’s cross team was selected to finish fifth in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference preseason coaches’ poll released last week. The Yellowjackets placed fourth last year at the conference meet led by a third-place finish by Peterson. Peterson was the standout story from last year’s team as the then-junior became the first Yellowjacket in the history of the program to advance to the NCAA national race. The Skyview High School graduate punched his ticket to Louisville, Ky., last season with a 13th-place overall finish at the west region race held in Billings at Amend Park. “He’s progressed really well over the years he’s been here. He’s put in the mileage and the work that it takes to get to that level. He’s really established himself as a top-tier runner in the GNAC and now he’s able to compete at a national level,” Coppock said on Peterson. “It’s also really helped our team by changing our focus as to what is possible out there.” “Right now it looks like we are in pretty good shape,” Peterson said on the start of the season for the Yellowjackets. “Last year we had a lot of younger athletes, but they worked hard over the summer, and look pretty good this fall.” Returning for the Yellowjackets this season are Peterson, junior Garrett Love, sophomores Jorey Egeland, Mark Hovland, and Liam McKay. Joining them on the roster are senior Matt Winter and freshmen Padon Little and Ivan Colmenero.
Sophomores Liam McKay (from left), Mark Hovland, and Jorey Egeland. @MSUBXCTF | www.msubsports.com | #MSUBXC | 2015 Media Guide | 17
2015 Men’s Season Preview Love had two top-10 places last season and finished second for MSUB at the west region meet last year, crossing the tape in 33:14.8. McKay turned in an impressive freshman campaign culminating in a second-place result for the team at the conference championships. Egeland, from Billings Senior, and Hovland, from Billings West, made big strides last year. Egeland placed ninth twice as a freshman, first at the Carroll College Invite and then at the Yellowjacket Invitational in 26:48.88. Hovland’s best finish was an 11th-place result, turned in at the Yellowjacket Invitational in 27:28.25. Winter, a graduate of Billings Central, is a transfer from the University of Montana and has one year of eligibility left. Newcomers Little (Columbus, Mont.) and Colmenero (Manhattan, Mont.) are also natives of Montana. “Our men really haven’t lost anyone out of our top-5 last from year’s fourth-place GNAC team with the exception of Josh Panasuk, who will be redshirting this fall,” Coppock said. “It’s a long season and the key is always to keep everyone healthy and injury-free, but Robert Peterson looks stronger than last year, followed by Liam McKay, Mark Hovland, Garrett Love, transfer Matt Winter, Jorey Egeland and Ivan Colmenero.” The MSU Billings men’s cross country team opens its season with two races in Fairbanks, Alaska. On Thursday, Sept. 3, the team will run an 8K starting at 3 p.m. Alaska time, followed by a 5K on Saturday, Sept. 5 starting at 9:45 a.m. “The team swept the 8K there two years ago and got off to a great start that season,” Coppock said on the team’s competition in 2013. “We’ll just see how everyone has progressed since last year. Coming off an early time trial this first week of practice, I can tell that the returners really put in a solid summer of training and our sophomore men have progressed a lot over their freshman season a year ago.” Returning to the Roy Griak Invitional in Minnesota this year will be another big highlight for the team. “That will give us a sense of how we stack up against several top, Division II schools from other regions as well as giving us the big meet experience we’ll need to compete well at our own West Region Championships in November,” Coppock said. “We’ll run up against around 38 teams in the Division II race in which there will be a lot of schools representing the Central and North Central Regions of NCAA DII. Robert Peterson took 3rd overall last year in a photo finish for the two and three spots, so we’re hoping for an exciting meet for him this year. “Griak is pretty hilly, but the competition is crazy; there are so many teams, the atmosphere is really fun. I also think it’s a really good point in the season to see where our team is,” Peterson said on the Griak. “We can compare ourselves to other teams because there are a lot of nationally-ranked teams that go to that meet.” The GNAC Championships this year will be hosted by Western Washington University on Oct. 24 followed by the NCAA west region meet on Nov. 7. On the west region being held at the Ash Creek Preserve on the campus of Western Oregon University, both Peterson and Coppock are looking forward to the familiar territory. “This will be my fourth year racing there,” Peterson said. “So, I am really familiar with the course and every year we have proven that we are competitive at that course so I think it will be really good for the Yellowjackets.” This year’s NCAA national race will be hosted by Missouri Southern State University in Joplin, Mo., on Nov. 21. “I am actually really excited,” Peterson said on the national meet. “Last year was fun because it was a championship year, so four different sports were there, but it will be nice to have it earlier this year.” 18 | @MSUBXCTF | www.msubsports.com | #MSUBXC | 2015 Media Guide
Runner Profiles Brielle Davis
Class: Senior Hometown: Billings, Montana Previous School: Skyview High School Major: Occupational Therapy 2014: Came out her inagural race as a Yellowjacket at the Carroll College Invitational with her best finish of the season, placing 11th crossing the tape in 15:43.53... ran in six races for MSUB her junior campaign...three top-20 finishes for the ‘Jackets during the 2014 season...at the GNAC Championships, placed 68th, finishing the race in 23:27.8. Gillette College: Very successful two-year career...in cross country Gillette College placed 3rd at Nationals and individually finished 18th overall...four-time national qualifier in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Championships in Indoor and Outdoor Track...six-time NJCAA All-American in Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field...2013 finished in 6th place in the 4x800m relay at the Indoor Track and Field NJCAA Championships...also in 2013, was on the Outdoor team that placed 5th at the National Championships... In 2014, placed 8th in the women’s mile and was a member of the 4x800 team that placed 3rd at the Indoor NJCAA Championships...at the Outdoor Championships, was 8th overall in the women’s steeplechase and had another 3rd-place finish in the 4x800m relay...was also the Region XI NJCAA Indoor champion in the women’s 1000m... 2013 Academic All-American in women’s cross country with a cumulative GPA of 4.00. Skyview High School: Competed on the varisty track and field team all four years in middle distances...was a two-year varsity cross country runner...team captain on the cross country team....Falcon Award recepient from her coaches...member of the National Honor Society.
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Runner Profiles Jinise Trueblood
Class: Senior Hometown: Columbia Falls, Montana Previous School: Columbia Falls High School Major: Health and Human Performance
academic all-GNAC.
Academic All-GNAC | 2013-14
2014: Competed in all seven races for MSUB...top finish of the season was fourth at the Black Hills State Invitational where MSUB placed runners 1-2-3-4...at the BHSU Invite, ran the race in 20:44.86...had a top-10 finish at the Yellowjacket Invitational, placing 10th in 24:07.19...at the GNAC Championships, placed 50th in 22:46.8...at the NCAA Division II west region, placed 81st, completing the course in 23:27.8...holds sixth best time at MSUB in the 6,000m with a finish of 22:11...
2013: Finished first or second in every race for the Yellowjackets last season...finished in first place for MSUB at the home Yellowjacket Invitional, and fourth overall with a time of 18:23.4...at the conference championsips last season, finished second on the team with a time of 22:11.39...academic all-conference last season with a team-leading 4.00 GPA. Columbia Falls High School: Participant for all four years on the cross country and track and field teams...alltime school record holder in cross-country (19:19)....school record in the 3,200 for track and field.
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Runner Profiles Rio Frame
Class: Junior Hometown: Glendive, Montana Previous School: Dawson County High School Major: English
Academic All-Region | 2014 Academic All-GNAC | 2014
2014: Continued to build on her opening year, turning in two top-5 finishes as a Yellowjacket...her second season in a MSUB uniform, was the number 3 runner for the ‘Jackets for most of the year... runner-up at the Black Hills State Invitational placing second in 20:04.2...fourth at the Yellowjacket Invitational in 23:32.02... helped the Yellowjackets place 1st at both the BHSU Invite and the MSUB home-hosted event...at the GNAC Championships, finished in 22nd overall, crossing the tape in 21:48.0...at the NCAA west region, was 59th overall finishing the race in 23:04.7...holds the No. 4 spot all-time at MSUB in the 6,000m with a time of 21:48...academic all-GNAC. 2013: Turned in a very impressive freshman season...consistent member of both cross country and track and field members...as a freshman set MSUB school record in women’s indoor track and field 3000m with time of 10:39 and outdoor women’s track and field record 5000m with time of 18:09...named Freshman of the Year at the second annual Buzzie awards last spring. Dawson County High School: Named Montana Class A All-State in 2011 and 2012...finished 10th in her junior season and 14th last season...on the track, she was All-State for the 3,200 meters, as well as Divisional Champion in both the 1,600 and 3,200 meters...ran a 15:50 during her senior season at the Scottie Invitational, which was the 16th best time in the state last year...despite battling through a knee injury suffered during her basketball season, and missing several meets during her senior year, earned All-State honors...ran the threemile course in 19:59.9.
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Runner Profiles Bailey Bomar
Class: Sophomore Hometown: Billings, Montana Previous School: Billings West High School Major: Psychology/Criminal Justice 2014: As a true freshman, participated in six cross country races for the Yellowjackets last year...best finish was 10th at the Black Hills State invitational where she finished in 21:29.96...at the GNAC Championships, placed 75th finishing in 24:31.1. Billings West High School: Will join the MSUB women’s cross country and track and field teams. ..comes to the Yellowjackets a three-year letter winner in track and four year in cross country... at Billings West placed second at the AA girl’s state cross country meet in 2011 and 2012, and was fourth in 2013...Freshman of the Year at West in 2010 for cross country, won the Golden Bear Award in and Most Improved in 2012, and received the Captain’s Award for cross country in 2013...honor roll student-athlete and member of the National Honor Society at West High School.
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Runner Profiles Sarah Beatty
Class: Freshman Hometown: Billings, Montana Previous School: Billings West High School Major: Undecided Billings West High School: Joins the Yellowjacket program a four year student-athlete ...will run cross country in the fall and also be a member of the track and field team for MSU Billings...for the Golden Bears, was awarded Most Inspirational, and earned academic all-state honors during her high school career.
Cate Klaudt
Class: Freshman Hometown: Billings, Montana Previous School: Billings Central High School Major: Business Management Billings Central High School: Joining the Yellowjacket program on both the cross country and track and field teams...three sport stand-out athlete...played three years on the soccer team, was a two-year participant and letter-winner on the swim team, and was a member of the cross country team for one year...helped the Billings Central cross country team to a third place finish at the Montana state meet...member of the swim team that won the Montana state meet in 2010 and 2013...four-year member of the National Honor Society.
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Runner Profiles Devin McDonald
Class: Freshman Hometown: Billings, Montana Previous School: Billings Central High School Major: Radiology Billings Senior High School: Three-sport standout athlete for the Broncs...fouryear participant on the track and field team and two years on both the volleyball and cross country teams...two-year letterwinner...under head coach Sarah Lord was a member of the third place team at the “AA� Montana state meet...2013 Season Most Outstanding Newcomer...Academic All State 2013 and 2014.
Josey Smiedala
Class: Freshman Hometown: Helena, Montana Previous School: Helena High School Major: Nursing/Education Helena High School: Four-year participant and three-year letter-winner on the cross country and track and field teams...team-captain...named all-state in both cross country and track and field for the Bengals.
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Runner Profiles Nikki Terkildsen
Class: Freshman Hometown: Billings, Montana Previous School: Skyview High School Major: Spanish Skyview High School: Spent two years on the cross country team for the Falcons under Coach Khuns.
2015 Yellowjacket Freshman Class (L to R): Nikki Terkildsen, Josey Smiedala, Cate Klaudt, Devin McDonald, and Sarah Beatty.
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Runner Profiles Jacob Marshall
Class: Senior Hometown: Seward, Alaska Previous School: Seward High School Major: History Education
35:05.9.
2014: Competed in seven races for MSUB his junior campaign...placed 25th twice during the year...at the Yellowjacket Invitational, placed 25th in 28:17.79...a week later at the Black Hills State Invitational, was also 25th, completing the course in 30:36.92...at the GNAC Championships, placed 80th, finishing the race in 29:04.1... at the NCAA Division II west region competition, placed 142nd with a time of
2013: At last season’s Yellowjackets Invitational finished with a time of 28.39.7. 2012: Ran a season-best 29:26 in the MSUB Yellowjacket Invitational.
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Runner Profiles Josh Panasuk
Class: Senior Hometown: Butte, Montana Previous School: Butte High School Major: Outdoor Adventure Leadership 2014: Turned in three top-20 finishes his junior campaign as a Yellowjacket... best finish came at the Yellowjacket Invitational where he placed eighth overall in 26:33.39, helping MSUB win their home event...at the Black Hills State Invitational, Panasuk placed 10th in 28:17.64 and at the first race of the season, the Carroll College Invitational, 13th overall in 20:17.06...at the GNAC Championships, was third on the Yellowjacket squad and 35th overall in 26:11.9....at the NCAA Division II west region event, finished 108th overall in 34:05.9. 2013: In the Yellowjacket Invitiaional finished with a time of 26:00.6...finished in seventh place overall at the first race of the season in Alaska (University of Alaska Fairbanks Invitational, 8k) with a time of 27:00. 2012: Ran all four of his races with sub-28 minute times ... best time 26:28 in the MSUB Yellowjacket Invitational ... placed 48th in the GNAC Championships with a time of 26:51. Butte High School: Lettered in both cross country and track for four years respectively ... while competing in his senior year for Butte, he had a season-best time of 15:50 in the three mile and his best time of 2:00.4 in the 800m came during his junior campaign.
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Runner Profiles Robert Peterson
Class: Senior Hometown: Billings, Montana Previous School: Skyview High School Major: Chemistry
All-Region | 2014 1st-Team All-GNAC | 2014 GNAC Freshman of the Year | 2012
2014: Turned in the best season in the history of the Yellowjacket program... two first place finishes, a runner-up result, was third overall at the Griak, and was fourth at the conference championships...began his season with a win at the Carroll College Invitational, finishing the course in 18:52.07...at the Griak Invitational, photo-finish for third overall with a time of 25:43....won the Yellowjacket Invitational in 25:18.83...runner-up at the Black Hills State Invitational, finishing the course in 26:18.44...at the GNAC Championships, finished fourth overall in 24:59.7....during the regular season, No. 1 runner for the ‘Jackets in every race during the year...helped MSUB to three team wins and a runner-up finish, as well as a fourth place team result at the conference championships...at the NCAA Division II west region race in Billings, placed 13th overall (31:29.5), earning a spot at the NCAA Division II Championships...first Yellowjacket student-athlete to qualify for the national event, completed the course in 32:27.5 for a 100th place overall finish. 2013: Was the leader in the MSUB men’s cross country sweep during the first race of last season, the Alaska Fairbanks Invitational (8k) with a time of 26:12.8...first place finisher at the second race of the season with a time of 12:40.9 (4k)...led the team to a first-place finish at the home Yellowjacket Invitational, and fourth place overall, with a new MSUB course record of 24:53.6...finished second on the team and 23rd overall at the GNAC Championships last season with a time of 25:49.02...was the 2013-14 recipient of both the Male Cross Country Athlete of the Year, and the Male Athlete of the Year at MSUB. 2012: His best time was 25:48 at the GNAC Championships... placed 15th in the event... named the GNAC Freshman of the Year...ran a 25:51 in the MSUB Yellowjacket Invitational, placing 17th. 2011: Redshirted. Skyview High School: Two-time reigning city champion in the one- and two-mile track events (2010-11) and was the 2009 three-mile city champion...three-time letter winner in cross country and a two-time letter winner in track and field, he was the 2011 Eastern Divisional Champion in the two-mile race...member of the 2010 state champion track and field team and his 2008 cross country squad placed third in the state cross country meet...personal bests include a 15:44 in the three-mile, 9:52 in the twomile, 4:26 in the one-mile and 2:01 in the 800 meter.
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Runner Profiles Garrett Love
Class: Junior Hometown: Billings, Montana Previous School: Billings West High School Major: Health and Human Performance 2014: Had two top-10 finishes his sophomore season for the Yellowjackets...was part of the MSUB team that finished 1-2-3-4 at the Yellowjacket Invitational, finishing in fourth place with a time of 26:15.19...at the Black Hills State Invitational, was seventh, completing the course in 27:46.91...at the GNAC Championships, placed 51st in 26:52.4...at the NCAA Division II west region, was 78th - holding the second best finish in the Yellowjacket squad, with a time of 33:14.8. 2013: Finished last season at the GNAC cross country championships with a time of 27:46.72. Billings West High School: Competed for three years on the West High cross country team and two years on the track and field team...hissophomore year was named the Most Improved...was the first recipient of the Golden Bear award at West his senior year on the track and field team...three year Honor Roll student.
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Runner Profiles Jorey Egeland
Class: Sophomore Hometown: Billings, Montana Previous School: Billings Senior High School Major: Health and Human Performance 2014: Competed in six events his freshman season as a Yelllowjacket...placed ninth in two races...at the Carroll College Invite, was ninth in 20:04.55 and at the Yellowjacket Invitational placed ninth in 26:48.88...at the GNAC Championships, finished 56th, completing the conference race in 27:06.9...at the NCAA Division II west region in Billings, placed 137th, finishing in 35:30.8. Billings Senior High School: Joins the Yellowjackets after being a mulit-sport athlete at Billings Senior High School...competed in basketball, cross country, and track and field for the Broncs...was a freshman when Billings Senior won the state AA track and field championship in 2011... in 2013 finished 9th at the Montana State AA track and field meet in the 800m...in 2014 placed 9th in the 1600m run and 10th in the 800m at the state meet...was the top finisher for the Senior High cross country team at the state AA cross country meet in 2012... seven-time academic all-state selection, and in 2013 he finished in 10th place at the Montana Class AA Championships.
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Runner Profiles Mark Hovland
Class: Sophomore Hometown: Billings, Montana Previous School: Billings West High School Major: Health and Human Performance 2014: As a true freshman, competed in seven races for MSUB...best finish was placing 11th at the Yellowjacket Invitational, crossing the tape in 27:28.25...also had two top-30 finishes during the season...at the Carroll College Invite he placed 22nd (20:48.98), and at the Black Hills State Invitational, Hovland placed 24th (30:33.89)...at the GNAC Championships, placed 60th in 27:18.8...at the NCAA Division II west region, finished in 119th place in 34:34.3. Billings West High School: Four-year letterwinner in cross country and track and field...at West High, was a member of the 2011-12 divisional and state champion teams...was on the 2012-13 cross country third place team, the 2012-13 track and field third place team and the 2012-13 track and field divisional champion team... in 2011, was the USATF cross country athlete of the year (Intermediate Boys), he was the 2013-14 West High MVP in cross country and he received the Iron Bear Award for track and field...at the state meet this year, placed sixth in the 800m run and was 14th at the state cross country meet...member of the National Honor Society and an academic all-state selection all four years from 2010-14.
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Runner Profiles Liam McKay
Class: Sophomore Hometown: Surrey, British Columbia Previous School: Lord Tweedsmuir Secondary Major: Undecided 2014: Turned in an impressive first season as a Yellowjacket, culminating with a second-place finish for the MSUB team at the conference championships...as a true freshman, had two top-15 performaces...at the Yellowjacket Invitational, placed 13th in 27:33.69 and at the Black Hills State Invitational, was also 13th, completing the course in 28:24.12...at the GNAC Championships, placed 31st overall in 26:07.5, finishing as he Yellowjackets’ No. 2 runner on the course. Lord Tweedsmuir Secondary School: Four-year member of the cross country and track and field teams... honor roll student for 2013-14.
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Runner Profiles Matt Winter
Class: Senior Hometown: Billings, Montana Previous School: University of Montana Major: Communication University of Montana: Ran cross country and track and field for three years as a Grizzly...personal best in the 8k is 25:27...personal best in the 10k is 32:08. Billings Central High School: Was a member of the 2001 Class A cross country team that placed first...runner-up at state in 2001...champion in 2002 in 15:17 at the state meet while helping the Rams finish second as a team.
2015 Seniors Robert Peterson (left) and Matt Winter. @MSUBXCTF | www.msubsports.com | #MSUBXC | 2015 Media Guide | 33
Runner Profiles Ivan Colmenero
Class: Freshman Hometown: Manhattan, Montana Previous School: Manhattan High School Major: Elementary Education Manhattan High School: Ran cross country and participated in track and field for the Tigers...while particpated just a single year in high school, made a big impact in two sports...awared Most Improved Runner and Most Valuable Runner in cross country...track and field was honored as All-State in the mile and was the Division meet runner-up...received Coaches Award.
Padon Little
Class: Freshman Hometown: Columbus, Montana Previous School: Columbus High School Major: Criminal Justice Columbus High School: Four-year member of the cross country and track and field teams...earned letters in all four years of participation...recognition in the classroom with four years of academic honors...awarded top Male Runner of the Year...cross country record holder at 17:15.
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Montana State Billings Cross Country Record Book Men’s XC 8000 Meters (Top - 10) 1. Robert Peterson 2. Michael Luhr 3. Robert Peterson 4. Jamon Rodrigues 5. Clint Choquette 6. Brian Potter 7. Brian Potter 8. Michael Luhr 9. Chase Robinson 10. Daniel Lombardi
24:53 24:56 24:59 25:01 25:11 25:20 25:21 25:22 25:31 25:33
2013 2013 2014 2013 2012 2011 2011 2012 2012 2010
10,000 Meters (Top - 10) 1. Robert Peterson 2. Robert Peterson 3. Brian Potter 4. Daniel Lombardi 5. Chase Robinson 6. Garrett Love 7. Jamon Rodrigues 8. Michael Luhr 9. Ronn Smith 10. Robert Peterson
31:29 32:27 32:28 32:53 33:11 33:14 33:17 33:20 33:21 33:39
2014 2014 2011 2011 2013 2014 2013 2013 1998 2013
20:58 21:27 21:31 21:48 22:11 22:11 22:12 22:19 22:21 22:26
2014 2014 2012 2014 2013 2013 2011 2011 2007 1998
Women’s XC 5000 Meters (Top - 10) 1. Whitney Mickelsen 2. Whitney Mickelsen 3. Laura Swogger 4. Whitney Mickelsen 5. Katie Thiel 6. Renae Hepfner 7. Mary Owen 8. Laura Swogger 9. Christy Cormier 10. Laura Swogger
18:04 18:05 18:12 18:15 18:24 18:33 18:36 18:43 18:46 18:47
2012 2011 1997 2010 2010 2012 2012 199 1997 1997
6000 Meters (Top - 10) 1. Nocona Frame 2. Renae Hepfner 3. Whitney Mickelsen 4. Rio Frame 5. Renae Hepfner 6. Jinise Osborne 7. Whitney Mickelsen 8. Whitney Mickelsen 9. Dianna Stanley 10. Laura Swogger
BOLD - Indicates currently on roster.
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MEN’S AWARDS NCAA Post Graduate Scholarship 2014-15 Renae Hepfner 2007-08 Jarred Rensvold CoSIDA Academic All-District 2006-07 Jarred Rensvold 2nd
NCAA DII All-Region 1998 Ronn Smith 2014 Robert Peterson
1999 1998 1995 1994
All-Pac West Ronn Smith Ronn Smith Brian Kinsey Kevin Koch
All-Heartland Conference 2006 Jared Rensvold Matt Roseberry 2005 Sam Hartpence Matt Roseberry Jarred Rensvold
All-GNAC 2014 Robert Peterson
GNAC Newcomer of the Year 2012 Clint Choquette
GNAC Freshman of the Year 2012 Robert Peterson
Academic All-GNAC (Great Northwest Athletic Conference) 2013 Robert Peterson Chase Robinson 2012 Tyson Vanderby Daniel Lombardi 2011 Travis Hutchinson Daniel Lombardi Chase Robinson 2007 Jarred Rensvold
WOMEN’S AWARDS
2013 Jinise Osborne Renae Hepfner NCAA DII All-Region Elizabeth Brown 2011 Whitney Mickelsen Keri Clump 2004 Heidi Robertson Blanca Perez 1998 Laura Swogger Alex McBroom 1997 Christy Cormier 2012 Renase Hepfner Sarah Graves Mary Owen Laura Swogger Elizabeth Brown 1996 Christy Cormier Alex McBroom 1994 Michelle Taylor-Lipp Katelyn Meyer 1989 Sue Vogel Melanie Bock 2011 Melanie Bock CoSIDA Academic All-District Keri Clump 2004-05 Sarah Lord 1st Mary Owen 2010 Sarah Jackson USTFCCCA All-Academic Mary Owen 2010 Sarah Jackson Katie Thiel Katie Thiel 2009 Sarah Jackson 2009 Lisa Minnehan Katie Thiel Malori Woodford All-Pac West 2008 Cierra Dornfeld 2004 Sarah Lord Erin Gannon Chelsea Lynnes Sarah Jackson Heidi Robertson (2nd) Dianna Stanley 2003 Anjel Hoff Katie Thiel 2002 Chelsea Lynnes Malori Woodford Ellen Swogger 2007 Colleen Dalimata 2001 Chelsea Lynnes Cierra Dornfeld 1998 Christy Cormier Erin Gannon Sarah Graves Kym Island Laura Swogger 1997 Christy Cormier Sarah Graves Laura Swogger (2nd) 1996 Christy Cormier Sarah Graves 1995 Michelle Taylor-Lipp 1994 Heidi Rieder Michelle Taylor-Lipp All-Heartland Conference 2006 Teri McCormick Crystal Roseberry 2005 Susan Kocab
GNAC Newcomer of the Year 2010 Whitney Mickelsen
All-GNAC 2011 Whitney Mickelsen 2014 Nocona Frame
Academic All-GNAC 2014 Jinise Osborne Renae Hepfner Nocona Frame Rio Frame Theresa Lombardi
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MSUB Hall of Fame
Name Sport/Affiliation Ind. Year Natalie Bills Women’s Volleyball 2015 Alira Carpenter Women’s Basketball 2015 Dr. Megan (Plank) Holden Women’s Soccer 2014 Dr. Jim Elliot Service & Distinction 2014 Heidi Lehman Women’s Tennis 2014 Pryor Orser Coach (MBB) 2014 Jeff Andresen Gymnastics 2013 Theresa Campbell Softball 2013 Alicia Cazemier Volleyball 2013 Markus Hallgrimson Men’s Basketball 2013 Ally Stroup Women’s Soccer 2013 Michelle (Lieber) Rodgers Women’s Basketball 2012 Jeff Aumend Coach (Softball) 2012 Gary Monahan Football 2012 Cameron Munoz Men’s Basketball 2012 Joey (Ehnes) Egan Softball 2011 Robyn (Milne) Blindwoman Women’s Basketball 2011 Mike Mullowney Football 2011 Dennis Whitmore Service & Distinction 2011 Margot (Merrill) Johnson Women’s Soccer 2010 Natalie Visger Women’s Basketball 2010 Dominic Washington Men’s Basketball 2010 Henry “Charley” Williams Football 2010 Greg Anderson Gymnastics 2009 Mike Conroy Coach (MBB) 2009 Gina Langer Volleyball 2009 Roy McPipe Men’s Basketball 2009 1998-99 Women’s Basketball Team 2009 Abby (Farmer) Wright Women’s Soccer 2008 Codi (Schmitz) Austreim Women’s Basketball 2008 Bart Bauer Men’s Basketball 2008 John Kramer Gymnastics 2008 Jamie Stevens Men’s Basketball 2008 Titus Warmsley Men’s Basketball 2008 Jeff Andrade Men’s Basketball 2007 Hal Halvorson Gymnastics 2007 Kamee Love Softball 2007 1986-87 Men’s Basketball Team 2007 Alicia (Cahill) Hutzenbiler Women’s Basketball 2006 Iona (Fortier) Stookey Volleyball 2006 Ted Anderson Coach (WBB) 2006 Mark Hamilton Men’s Basketball 2006 Ray C. Shaffer Men’s Basketball 2006 Lori (Fries) Henrickson Women’s Basketball 2005 Amy (Winslow) Pfeifle Women’s Basketball 2005 Robert Anderson Gymnastics 2005 Robert Barber Men’s Volleyball 2005 Fred Harrison Men’s Basketball 2005 Frank McCarthy Coach (WBB) 2005 Michelle (Taylor) Lipp Cross Country 2004 Dr. Rick Billstein Baseball 2004 Cal Crawley Gymnastics 2004 Megan Dickerson Women’s Basketball 2004 Dr. Ronald Sexton Baseball 2004 Heather (Reiter) Elkin Women’s Basketball 2003 Wayne Beddow Baseball 2003 Bob Deming Baseball 2003 David S. Harness Gymnastics 2003 Rishay Vollertsen Men’s Volleyball 2003 Deb (Dianda) Bradburn Women’s Basketball 2002 Brandy (Hamblin) Hansen Women’s Basketball 2002 Curt Brott Men’s Basketball 2002 Dave Klarich Tennis 2002 Brent Montague Men’s Basketball 2002 Bob Uffelman Wrestling 2002 Tera (Silvius) Morton Women’s Basketball 2001 Gary Gray Men’s Volleyball 2001 Jim Haugen Service & Distinction 2001 Dan Korber Football 2001 Leo Lapito Gymnastics 2001 Harold Miller Men’s Basketball 2001 Colleen (Day) Wiechman Women’s Basketball 2000 Dave Blair Men’s Volleyball 2000 Don James Service & Distinction 2000
Name Sport/Affiliation Ind. Year Tom Osborne Men’s Basketball 2000 Greg Schamens Gymnastics 2000 Sherry (McQuinn) Breidenbach Women’s Basketball 1999 Don Blankenship Cross Country/ Track 1999 Blase Dilulo Football 1999 Pat Douglas Coach 1999 Larry Noonan Football 1999 Allen Rohrback Gymnastics 1999 Terri (Wiederrick) Hein Women’s Basketball 1998 Pete Conway Men’s Basketball 1998 James Dow Football 1998 Elwood “Woody” Hahn Service & Distinction 1998 Ron Osborne Men’s Basketball 1998 James Polich Coach (Baseball) 1998 Shelly (Altrogge) Emerson Women’s Basketball 1997 Lynn Ahrens Football 1997 Freeman Blade Men’s Basketball 1997 Jim Downs Cross Country/ Track 1997 Delmar Fried Coach 1997 Jeffrey L. Griffeth Gymnastics 1997 Bill Hill Football 1997 Russ Powers Men’s Basketball 1997 Laura Sundheim Coach 1997 Randal J. Ecker Football 1996 Gene Espeland Coach 1996 Patti Jo Eubank Women’s Basketball 1996 Dr. Richard Gruber Service & Distinction 1996 Stephanie Hannah Volleyball 1996 Darrell W. Hill Men’s Basketball 1996 Kas Ione Men’s Basketball 1996 Douglas Linehan Football 1996 Dr. Harold “Shorty” Alterowitz Coach (MBB) 1995 Thomas Downey Service & Distinction 1995 Ernie Fortney Men’s Basketball 1995 Evonne Goroski-Bird Women’s Basketball 1995 James N. Noennig Men’s Basketball 1995 Theresa O’Donnell-Ulrich Women’s Basketball 1995 Jay Shaw Coach (Gymnastics) 1995 John Patrick Smith Coach (Football) 1995 John Strange Baseball 1995 William “Wondo” Wondolowski Football 1995 Kelli (Kenyon) Stone Women’s Basketball 1994 William “Billy” Foster Men’s Basketball 1994 Reid Hagen Service & Distinction 1994 Larry Hanft Football 1994 William “Bill” Hilton Football 1994 Robert E. Lee Coach 1994 Harvey Munford Men’s Basketball 1994 John Polich Coach 1994 Deb Prevost Women’s Basketball 1994 Joe Rinella Men’s Basketball 1994 Jim Soft Men’s Basketball 1994 Oscar Wirtala Men’s Basketball 1994 Darcy Conway Women’s Basketball 1993 Dennis Maggert Football/Baseball 1993 James C. Michel Football/Baseball 1993 Gordon Real Bird Coach 1993 Vic Uffelman Wrestling 1993 Nels Christiansen Coach 1992 Larry Jordan Football/Rodeo 1992 Ron Kowalski Coach 1992 John Navasio Football 1992 Paul Carpenter Track & Field 1991 Paul Champlin Football 1991 Kelly Crisp Gymnastics 1991 Harry L. “Mike” Harkins Coach (MBB) 1991 Alice Ritzman Women’s Basketball 1991 Al Walker Men’s Basketball 1991 Oscar Bjorgum Sr. Coach (MBB) 1990 Gene Brosovich Football 1990 Ronald E. Ewing Football 1990 Richard M. Harkins Football 1990 Les Heins Men’s Basketball 1990 Loren L. Soft Football 1990 Bart Templeman Football 1990
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MSUB Athletic Department Administration
Krista Montague Director of Intercollegiate Athletics/ SWA 13th year, 3rd as AD
Denise Wynia Administrative Assistant 13th year
Brent Montague Director of Development 9th year
Michael Bazemore Director of Compliance/ Internal Operations 3rd year
Dr. Scott Harris Faculty Athletic Representative
Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications 2nd year
Birgitta Gray Assistant Director of Communications 3rd year
James Catlin Operations Coordinator 3rd year
Bekah Gasner NCAA Compliance Coordinator 3rd year
Gina Herbert Accountant 8th year
Tom Ebel Head Athletic Trainer 4th year
Lindsay Sullivan Assistant Athletic Trainer 4th year
Patrick Behre Grad. Assistant Athletic Trainer 1st year
Dr. James Elliot Team Doctor/ Orthopedic Surgeon
Nich Pertuit Head Strength & Conditioning Coach 2nd year
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MSUB Athletic Department Coaches
Lisa Axel Head Volleyball
Alex Balog Head Men’s Soccer
Rob Bishop Head Baseball
Stephen Cavallo A. Women’s Soccer
Thomas Chameraud A. Men’s Soccer
Mariah Cleveland A. Women’s Golf
Dave Coppock Head Track/XC
Marcus Drange A. Men’s Golf
Kyle Emerick A. Men’s Soccer
Jessica Hart Head Cheer
Jenny Heringer A. Women’s BBall
Rhett Hightower A. Golf
Wojtek Krakowiak Head W. Soccer
Parker Kruckenberg A. Baseball
Mandy Morales A. W. Basketball
Shawn O’Brien Head Golf
Austin Rue A. Baseball
Brad Schmit A. Men’s BBall
Jamie Stevens Head Men’s BBall
Lianne Vicchio A. Volleyball
Kevin Woodin Head W. BBall
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DII FACTS AND FIGURES
Life in the Balance Higher educa�on has las�ng importance on an individual’s future success. For this reason, the emphasis on the student‐athlete experience in Division II is a comprehen‐ sive program of learning and development in a personal se�ng. The Division II approach provides growth opportuni�es through academic achievement, learning in high‐level athle�cs compe��on and development of posi�ve societal a�tudes in service to community. The balance and integra�on of these different areas of learning opportunity provide Division II student‐athletes a path to gradua�on, while cul�va�ng a variety of skills and knowledge for life ahead. Enrollment at DII active members:
292 Ac�ve members
2.1% (6 ins�tu�ons) 15,000 and above 11.3% (33 ins�tu�ons) 7,500‐14,900
45.5 % (133 ins�tu�ons)
9
Less than 2,499
Schools in provisional year
(41.1% (120 ins�tu�ons) 2,500‐7,499
8 Schools in candidacy year two
5
4,209 Average enrollment
Schools in candidacy year one
Average number of student-athletes:
50/50 Percentage of public vs. private (ac�ve members only)
421
264
(265 men; 156 women) Schools with football
(136 men ; 128 women) Schools without football
Undergraduate enrollment:
546, 255
Median Total Expenses by Quartile
Men—(44 percent)
708,108 Women—(56 percent) Number of student-athletes:
64,109 Men—(59 percent)
44,961 Women—(41 percent) Sports sponsorship average:
6.9 Men’s
7.9
Women’s
Number of DII championships:
12 Men (7,932 par�cipants)
13
With Football
Without Football
1st Quar�le of Schools
$8,024,000
$6,814,000
2nd Quar�le of Schools
$5,976,000
$4,466,000
3rd Quar�le of Schools
$4,766,000
$3,478,000
4th Quar�le of Schools
$3,196,000
$2,432,000
Overall Median
$5,260,000
$4,014,000
Average Division II Federal Graduation Rates vs. Academic Success Rates (2003-06 Entering Cohorts) Student Body Federal Rate 48%
Student‐Athlete Federal Rate ASR 54% 71%
Women (7,981 par�cipants)
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