Athletics Department | 7/15/2024 11:30:00 AM

MOORHEAD, Minn. -- MSU Moorhead athletics is excited to announce the 2024 Dragon Athletic Hall of Fame inductees. Six individuals and two teams highlight the yearly selections as the group will be honored at a ceremony on Friday, October 11. 

"I am excited to add these exceptional Dragons to our Hall of Fame," said MSUM athletics director Chad Markuson. "With our rich history in athletics, it is always remarkable to learn about these teams and individuals  and their successes as Dragons. I am looking forward to celebrating with them in October."

2024 Dragon Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees

Laquone Robinson, Track & Field (2009-13)
 
The list of accolades and accomplishments on the resume of Laquone Robinson is nearly endless. He enjoyed one of the greatest individual careers in MSUM athletics history during his tenure with the track & field program from 2009 until 2013. At the time of his induction, Robinson will still possess five school records, some of which may stand for a considerable amount of time. Robinson's first taste of greatness came in his inaugural season with the Dragons, where he claimed an indoor conference title in the 60m hurdles. He would garner NSIC Newcomer of the Year honors thanks to the performance. Robinson would win another NSIC title that outdoor season, this time in 110m hurdles. 
 
The NSIC championships continued to mount for Robinson as he would earn an NSIC title in the indoor heptathlon in 2011. During the outdoor season, Robinson was a member of the 4x100m relay team that claimed a conference championship as well. He would win another NSIC title in 110m hurdles that season and was named NSIC Athlete of the Year for his efforts. He helped guide the Dragon men to NSIC team championships during both the indoor and outdoor seasons. 
 
In 2012, Robinson would win his second straight NSIC crown in the indoor heptathlon and would qualify for the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships. Robinson would earn the first All-America nod of his career in the process. On the outdoor side, Robinson earned conference titles in the 110m hurdles and long jump. Thanks to his performance at the conference meet, Robinson and teammate Derek Bredy were the NSIC High Point Scorers for the meet. 
 
Robinson's name is still found throughout the school's record book as he still hangs on to records in the outdoor 100m hurdles (14.04), outdoor 400m hurdles (53.09), indoor 60m hurdles (7.93), outdoor 4x100m and the heptathlon (5093 points). Robinson held the NSIC record for the highest heptathlon score up until this past indoor season. 
 
Tammy Blake, Volleyball (1995-2020)
 
Tammy Blake is long regarded as one of the pillars of coaching at MSU Moorhead. Blake assumed the role of head volleyball coach at MSUM in 1995 and remained in that position until her departure prior to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. In that span of time, Blake would accumulate 398 career wins for the Dragons, the most by any coach in school history. In total, Blake has accounted for nearly 44 percent of MSUM's all-time wins in volleyball. 
 
Among her many accomplishments was earning NSIC Coach of the Year honors in 2000 as the Dragons won the conference behind a 17-1 league record. That year's Dragons went 28-4 overall and etched their first trip to the NCAA Central Region Tournament. Blake was also named Central Region Coach of the Year for her work at MSUM. Blake would guide the Dragons back to the NCAA Tournament in 2004 and 2005. In her tenure, she coached 51 players to All-NSIC distinction as well as numerous All-Region performers. Blake guided two student-athletes to All-America status in her time at MSUM. 
 
Greg Johnson, Football (1986-88)
 
Perhaps the most valuable specialist to cross the gridiron, Greg Johnson was a key cog in the machine that was Dragon football in the 1980s. Under head coach Ross Fortier, the Little Falls, Minn., native came onto the team in 1986 where he would assume place kicking duties. In 1986, Johnson connected on four field goals and 15 PATs for MSUM. However, it was in 1987 where Johnson's game took a massive step forward. He was named a Football Gazette All-America and NAIA Honorable Mention All-America following one of the finest performances by a kicker in school history. Johnson would connect on all 14 of his field goals attempts during the year, led by a 47-yard boot against Minnesota Duluth. The 14 field goals were a new single-season school record. He would also knock in 31 of 34 PATs during the year.
 
As a senior in 1988, Johnson again commanded national and regional attention as he made his first trip to the All-NIC team. Johnson was also a Football Gazette All-America and NAIA Honorable Mention All-America following his senior season. He would make nine of 12 field goal attempts that season as well as 31 of 32 PATs. MSUM bolstered a 9-3 overall record in both 1987 and 1988 with the Dragons making back-to-back NAIA postseason appearances in the process. Johnson still holds the school records for season field goal percentage (14-14), as well as career field goals made (27) and career field goal percentage (27-36). 
 
Bobby Olson, Wrestling (1989-94)
 
Known for his pin prowess, Bobby Olson was a stalwart at 190 pounds under head coach John Sterner. A native of Glyndon, Minn., Olson came to MSUM as a true freshman in 1989-90 and immediately made an impact. He would collect a 4-5 dual record as a true freshman but would lead the Dragons with 11 pinfall victories. Even as a freshman, Olson placed third at 190 pounds at the 1990 NAIA Bi-District Tournament. Olson would take a year off from wrestling in 1990-91.
 
As a sophomore in 1991-92, Olson would begin to showcase his true ability on the mat, building a 25-14 overall record and a second-place finish at 190 pounds at the NSIC Championships. The biggest victory for Olson that season came at the NAIA Area IV Championships, where he would win a regional title and advance to the NAIA National Championships. 
 
Olson would capture his first NSIC title as a junior in 1992-93 and would follow that up with another NAIA Area IV title at 190 pounds. He collected a 24-7 record in 1992-93 and led the team with 12 pins. Olson would earn his first All-America nod that year after a fourth-place finish at the NAIA National Championships. Olson would wrap his career in style 1993-94, earning a 24-8 record with eight pins. He was again the NSIC's champion at 190 pounds and would earn another All-America distinction, finishing fourth at the NAIA National Championships. 
 
Calla Oftedahl, Volleyball (2005-08)
 
One of the top defensive specialists in school history, Calla Oftedahl's name is still found throughout the volleyball record books. The Apple Valley, Minn., native still holds the school record for career digs (2,331) as she is one of only two players in program history to accrue 2,000 or more digs. As a true freshman in 2005, Oftedahl helped lead the Dragons to a 25-6 overall record with 583 digs that year. MSUM qualified for the NCAA Central Region Tournament and Oftedahl was named the NSIC's Freshman of the Year. Oftedahl was an All-NSIC Honorable Mention in 2005. 
 
As a junior in 2007, Oftedahl once again found her way to the All-NSIC team as an honorable mention selection. She led the Dragons on the defensive end again, tallying 688 digs to lead the team. MSUM would finish the season 19-10 in 2007 as Oftedahl was an All-Central Region honoree. In her senior season, Oftedahl was named an All-NSIC First Team performer with 588 digs and a team-best 22 service aces. The Dragons never had a record below .500 in Oftedahl's time on campus as she was a part of 77 total wins. 
 
Meghan Rettke, Women's Basketball (2005-10)
 
Another great in the long line of stellar Dragon posts, Meghan Rettke was perhaps one of the most consistent performers in Dragon basketball history. Throughout her career, she tallied a total of 1,018 career points as well as 832 rebounds and 109 blocked shots. Her career rebound and block totals are still in the top four in program history. Her 23-rebound performance against Minnesota Crookston on January 7, 2009, is still the single-game school record. 
 
Rettke would see time off the bench in her freshman season of 2005-06, playing in 29 games for MSUM and scoring 101 total points. She would again come off the bench as a sophomore in 2006-07, scoring a total of 134 points to go along with 64 rebounds. Rettke connected on 40 percent of her field goals as a sophomore. 
 
After taking a medical redshirt year in 2007-08, Rettke returned to the floor to earn All-NSIC First Team honors in 2008-09. She would average 13.5 points and 9.7 rebounds a contest for MSUM while shooting 46.5 percent from the field. She was also named an All-Region performer in 2008-09. In her final season in 2009-10, Rettke was again named an All-NSIC performer behind 13.5 points and 9.5 rebounds a game. She was named a Daktronics All-American for her efforts that season.
 

2024 Hall of Champion Inductees

 
1975 Men's Cross Country
 
The 1975 men's cross country team only continued to cement MSU Moorhead as a distance powerhouse. Led by head coach Ken Bladow, the Dragons collected their second consecutive NIC championship in 1975 behind a stirring performance at the conference meet. MSUM won the meet by a 23-point margin, with the Dragons claiming seven top-ten finishes. The Dragons were led at the conference meet by Gary Nordlund, who placed fifth with Linc Woodbury, Paul Carter, Don Kleumpke, Dave Chilko, Pat Hanlon and Rich Cellette finishing in places five through 10. 
 
The success only continued from there as MSUM would claim an NAIA District 13 championship on November 1, 1975. The Dragons claimed the team victory by a 47-point margin and featured seven top ten finishers. Woodbury led the way with a third-place run with Chilko, Hanlon and Carter earning the four through six spots. Nordlund and Kluempke would place ninth and tenth respectively. To close the season, MSUM would earn a ninth-place finish as a team at the NAIA Cross Country Championships with 314 points. Chilko led the Dragons on that day with a 35^th-place finish. 
 
2000 Volleyball
 
The 2000 Dragon volleyball team continues to be heralded as the best the program has ever fielded. Guided by the aforementioned Tammy Blake, MSUM would collect a 28-4 overall record in 2000, an NCAA Division II school record that still stands today. What was more impressive was the Dragon prowess against NSIC competition as MSUM would register a 17-1 mark in conference competition, Their lone loss came to Minnesota Duluth early in the conference slate. 
 
Following the loss to the Bulldogs, MSUM would rattle off a 17-match winning streak to close the season, culminating in an NSIC championship. The Dragons featured five players with over 200 kills in 2000 led by Kelly Newman's 312. As a team, MSUM would stamp an impressive .253 hitting percentage in 2000 while holding opponents to just a .163 success rate on attacks. The Dragon defensive effort was guided by Renee Cerar, who led the conference with 222 digs in league play. Jill Dixon (1.57) and Amy Weinzierl (1.31) finished the season with the number one and two blocks per set mark in the NSIC. Jessica Bruns led the league in assists per set, dishing out 11.93 assists per game. 
 
Bruns, Dixon and Weinzierl were all named to the All-NSIC team. Bruns became the first player in program history to be named an NCAA All-Central Regional performer. For her efforts along the sideline, Blake was named NSIC Coach of the Year. MSUM's season was ended at the NCAA Central Region Tournament in a four-set loss to Nebraska-Omaha.