MOORHEAD, Minn. -- The Minnesota State University Moorhead athletic department has announced the 2013 Dragon Hall of Fame class. Eight individuals and four teams have been selected for induction, with the ceremony set to be held on Friday, Sept. 27 at the Comstock Memorial Union Ballroom on the MSUM campus.
"The successful history of Dragon Athletics is front and center with this Hall of Fame Induction Class," MSUM athletic director Doug Peters said. "I am especially excited to see our first women's soccer player inducted at the same time we are recognizing teams coached by Larry MacLeod, Ross Fortier and Ron Masanz. It's a great blend of our proud Dragon History."
Here is a list of the 2013 inductees:
RANDY BJORKLUND (FOOTBALL)
Product of Battle Lake, Minn., four-year football letterman, fixture in the Dragon starting lineup at fullback for three years. . . Co-captain of the 1981 Dragons, largely regarded as MSUM's greatest team. . . Helped Moorhead State finish 10-1-1 overall, capture the NIC title, become the first Dragon football team to advance to post-season play and finish number one on the NAIA Division I regular season final poll. . .Teacher, coach and athletic administrator at South St. Paul public schools.
BOB BRAKKE (FOOTBALL)
Native of Los Alamitos, Calif...Little big man in Dragon football lineup for four years, fixture at middle linebacker. . . Named second team FOOTBALL GAZETTE All-American, first team All-NIC and winner of the Vincent Yatchak Award as the club MVP in 1989. . . Elected co-captain in 1988…currently assistant principal and activities director at Alexandria (Minn.) High School.
GAIL GRIEME (WOMEN'S TRACK AND CROSS COUNTRY)
Native of Slayton, Minn.. . . Charted remarkable career in both track and cross-country, helped lift Dragon women to a regional and national power. . . Two-time All-American, helped Dragons claim two-mile relay championship at the 1982 AIAW Outdoor and second in the two-mile relay at the 1981 AIAW National Outdoor. . . Named to All-Northern Sun Conference team in 1982. . . Still owns best indoor mark of 2:545.9 in the 1000 meters set in 1982, and ranks fourth in 15000 meters indoors, 4:47.4, and fifth in the 800, 2:15.38.
JOEL JORGENSON (MEN'S TRACK AND CROSS COUNTRY)
Redwood Falls, Minn., native. . . Major contributor to Dragon cross-country and track success story. . . Two-time NAIA All-American. . . Finished second in the mile at the 1980 NAIA Outdoor Track and Field Championships and sixth in the distance medley relay. . . Voted Dragons' Most Valuable Trackman in 1980 as a senior. . . Ranked firsts in the MSU all-time honor roll in the 4 X 1600 meter relay and the mile and third in the outdoor 1,500 meters.
TRACY (SIBELL) GOULD (WOMEN'S SOCCER)
Native of Rapid City, S.D., largely regarded as the greatest player in the history of women's soccer at MSU Moorhead. . . Named to the All-NSIC and All-NSCAA honor teams in 1996, helped Dragons finish 12-4-0 and capture first conference title with a 4-1-0 record. . . Second team CoSIDA All-American, honorable mention NSCAA/UMBRO All-American pick. . . Owns MSUM game record with four goals scored, career records for goals (37) and shots (118), and single season marks for goals (25) and (79).
KRISTIE STANGL (WOMEN'S BASKETBALL)
Four-year fixture in the Dragon starting lineup. . . Exited in style as a senior, named to SUCCESSFUL FARMING All-American team. . . Three-time All-NSIC selection, first team pick as a sophomore and junior. . . Voted Most Valuable Player as a senior . . Reached career high of 26 points with 11 rebounds against Minnesota-Duluth. . . Ranks seventh in career scoring, 1236. . . Native of Manning, Iowa. . . Pursued post-graduate career in Pharmacy.
CHARLIE WILLIAMS (MEN'S BASKETBALL)
A native of Augusta, Ga., who was a top contributor for the Dragon men as a forward from 1970-72…he played a key role in Dragons' 24-2 season in 1970-71 when he was named to the All-NIC first team…followed up that season by helping Dragons to 19-7 mark in 1971-72…earned all-conference honors for a second straight season and also earned NAIA All-American honorable mention status…also served as student coach at MSUM…now retired after career in energy field.
GREG ZAHALKA (MEN'S TRACK AND CROSS COUNTRY)
Aberdeen, S.D., native. . . Long distance legend, made significant contribution in both track and cross-country. . . Captured NSIC individual cross-country title in 1991, two-time All-NSIC selection. . . Earned All-American honors as a senior in 1992. . . Co-winner of 1992 NSIC Outdoor Athlete of the Year. . . Set existing Ron Masanz Track record of 30:20.0. . . Still holds Dragons' 5,000 meter indoor record of 14:22.10, set in 1992, and outdoor standards of 14:21.17 in the 5,000 and 30:20.0 in the 10,000, both set in 1992.
1964-65 MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM
Co-champions of the NIC and the first Dragon basketball team to reach post-season play, Moorhead State capped a rewarding season with an appearance at the 1965 NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Championships in Grand Forks, ND. MSC seized the moment with a 75-73 upset of Colorado State College in the opening round but fell to mighty UND 83-57, a victory that dispatched the Sioux to the national tournament and ended a remarkable 21-4 season for the Dragons. Pete Lysaker led the Dragons in scoring with 19.2 ppg and joined Wally Halbakken, Jim Jahr and Don Wermager on the All-NIC squad while Larry MacLeod was named NIC Coach of the Year.
1970-71 MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM
Arguably the greatest men's basketball team in Dragon history, Moorhead State opened with a 15-game winning streak, including impressive road victories over North Dakota and North Dakota State, and played to fully amped houses in Alex Nemzek Hall all winter. Winona State severed the streak with a 70-68 mid-season win at Winona, but MSC responded with another string of nine straight victories to close the regular season 24-1, including a 11-1 championship mark in the NIC, victories over six conference champions, and a fourth-place ranking on the final NAIA Division I national poll. The magical run ended with a 85-84 NAIA District 13 playoff loss to Augsburg College. Three Dragons---Jerry Barney, Mike Berg and Charlie Williams---were named to the All-NIC team while Berg was named the league's MVP and an honorable mention All-American. Marv Skaar was saluted as NIC Coach of the Year.
1973 MEN'S TRACK AND FIELD TEAM
Coached by Dragon and NSIC Hall of Famer Ron Masanz, the Dragons swept both NSIC Indoor and Outdoor Championships…won NSIC Indoor title, which was part of a streak of eight consecutive indoor titles for the Dragons…also won outdoor conference title, which was second in a string of seven straight for Moorhead State…Dale Robley earned NAIA All-American honors in shot put in both indoors and outdoors…Pete Lapka earned NAIA All-American honors indoors in 880 meters.
1973 FOOTBALL TEAM
Won second NIC title in three years under MSUM and NSIC Hall of Fame Coach Ross Fortier…finished with 5-1 mark in NSIC and 7-3 mark overall…running back George Spanish earned NSIC Player of the Year honors and was also named NAIA All-American honorable mention…Spanish, wide receiver Rick Manke, offensive lineman Steve Johnson, defensive back Craig Haukedahl and linebacker Mike Reem all named to All-NIC team.