Montana State Billings Enshrines 2009 Athletics Hall of Fame and Distinction Class

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BILLINGS, Mont. – The 1998-99 Montana State Billings Elite Eight women’s basketball team as well as four outstanding former athletes and coaches highlighted the 2009 Yellowjacket Athletics Hall of Fame and Distinction class.  The 20th annual ceremony took place Friday, Feb. 20, 2009, at the Hilton Garden Inn located at 2465 Grant Road in Billings.

In addition to the Elite Eight team, Gina Langer (Volleyball, ’00), Greg Anderson (Gymnastics, ’86), Roy McPipe (Men’s Basketball, ’74) and Mike Conroy as Coach of the Year (’68), increased the MSUB Hall of Fame and Distinction to a total of 126 inductees since it was created in 1990.

The 1998-99 Elite Eight women’s basketball team at MSUB was one of the best teams in school history as it compiled a 25-6 overall record and a 12-2 record in the Pacific West Conference and a divisional crown. The Yellowjackets then went on to win the Pac West Tournament as they defeated Alaska Fairbanks and Western Washington.  From there, MSUB defeated Western Washington again and UC Davis to win its first NCAA Division II West Region Championship. 

Not only did the team set the school record for winning percentage in a season (.833), the team also had a number of outstanding individual performances as Frank McCarthy was named Far West Coach of the Year as well as landing two players on the All-West Region second team in Codi Schmitz and Amy Winslow.  Both Schmitz and Winslow were all-Pac West Academic and first team selections.  Winslow also set school records in assists (183) and steals (112).

Anderson, probably the most decorated gymnast in school history, was an All-America selection on the rings and parallel bars in 1986 and was an Academic All-America selection as well.  He holds the school record for best average on the rings in both a season and career.  Anderson ranks among the top three nationally on the rings all four years he was a Yellowjacket. 

Not only did he excel on the mat, he also was a two-time President of the Student Government and was President of the Montana Associated Students.  After he graduated, he was an assistant coach for the Yellowjackets as well as coaching at Wisconsin-La Crosse.

Conroy graduated in 1968 and went on to teach at Grass Range, Richey and Whitewater High Schools for 35 years where he coached basketball and track.  While at Whitewater High School, he led the girls team to an impressive 167-33 record and led Whitewater to the Class C State Championship game in 1994 and 1995.

One of the most prolific volleyball members at MSUB was Langer as she is the all-time leader in games played with 462.  In addition, Langer leads the school annals in assists (4354), digs (1530) and service aces with 178. 

She holds the school record for assists in a season with 1330 in 1996.  Langer was an all-Pac West second team selection in 1997 and recorded 72 assists against Montana Western (Sept. 20, 1996) that remained a school record for 12 years.  She is the only player to record 70-plus assists in a match twice.

McPipe is the all-time leading scorer in men’s basketball with 1883 points and in field goals made with 740 as well as field goals attempted with 1686.  He is fourth in career free throws made (403) and attempts (554).  He is fifth in the school annals in rebounds with 772.

During the 1972-73 season, he set the school record with 850 points, 346 field goals made and 774 attempts.  McPipe was a three time NAIA all-America selection and was a three time NAIA all-district honoree.  He was a three time first team all-conference selection and two time Frontier Conference Player of the Year.

Drafted in the eighth round of the 1973 NBA draft by the Los Angeles Lakers, McPipe decided to return to school where he was then drafted in the sixth round by the Washington Bullets and he played with the Utah Stars of the ABA in 1974-75.