WHS Athletic Hall of Fame Announces Induction Ceremony of the 2019, 2020 and 2021 Classes; In Search of Venue

The Whitehall High School Athletic Hall of Fame will hold their semi-annual induction ceremony on Saturday, July 24th at a venue to be determined. With the current COVID-19 restrictions, the HOF board is in search of a venue (either indoor or outdoor) that will hold up to 150 people. If anyone is able to host the event, please contact Mike Hedegaard at chairmanwhshof@gmail.com or Shane Shaw at joelshw@msn.com or by phone at (406) 439-6179. There will not be a meal served this year as part of the event. Doors open at 2:45pm and the program begins at 3pm.

This year’s induction ceremony features the 2019, 2020 and 2021 classes. The 2019 class highlights the accomplishments of Tia Kober (contributor), Vince Arkell (athlete), Brent Mabbott (coach) and the 1960 Football team.

The 2020 class honors two girls teams and two female athletes from last decade. In the 2020 class, the 2007 Girls Track team and the 2008 Girls Basketball team were both elected into the Hall as State Class B runners-up, with many of the same star athletes on both teams. Track and Basketball stand-outs Cassidy Wendell and Kellee Glaus anchored both teams and were both elected into the Hall in 2020 as individual athletes.

The 2021 class includes track and cross-country sisters Hilary and Chloe Palakovich.

The three classes were selected by a special committee, comprised of an eight-person board of directors as well as all individual members previously inducted into the Hall of Fame. These classes of inductees join the first three classes from 2016, 2017, and 2018. All total, the WHS Athletic Hall of Fame has elected 46 members, including four coaches, 24 athletes, three contributors, one administrator, and 14 teams in the first six years. The combined 2016 through 2021 classes represent members who participated in WHS athletics during every decade from the 1930s through 2010.

RSVPs are required for the event for seating. Please reserve seats by contacting Shane Shaw at joelshw@msn.com or by phone at (406) 439-6179.

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. Athletes must have competed in a WHS-sanctioned varsity sport and must have excelled in that 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 leaving 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 https://www.whitehallschools.org/apps/pages/halloffame under the Whitehall Hall of Fame link.

Nominations for the 2022 class must be received no later than April 1st, 2021, with the application packet completed no later than June 1st, 2021.