Six inducted to BHS 'Wall of Fame' at awards dinner

By FAITH MOLDAN/Bigfork Eagle

A year of ups and downs, improvement and success, in Bigfork High School athletics and activities culminated in six Wall of Fame inductees at the 2008 All Sports Banquet, a record number for the school.

Held May 29 at the BHS gymnasium, the banquet recognized parents, coaches, boosters, fans and players for the choices, purpose and passion they demonstrated during the past year. Keynote speaker Wayne Tinkle, head men's basketball coach at the University of Montana, touched on those topics in his speech.

Wall of Fame inductees must meet one of the following criteria in order to be inducted: being named first-team all-state, winning a state championship, named a National Merit finalist, competing in a state or all-star game or tournament or being selected to all-state choir or band. All but one of this year's honorees is a senior.

Logun Koch, a sophomore, was an all-state selection in girls soccer. The team finished the season 3-9 under fourth-year coach Steve Koch.

Roland Benedict was also an all-state soccer selection. He also won the Class A State triple jump championship. Benedict and the rest of the Viking soccer team notched a 3-7-1 record with second-year coach Keith Koslosky at the helm.

Alyssa Fierro's all-state basketball and all-state volleyball honors qualified her for the wall for the second straight year. Bigfork's volleyball team earned an 11-7 record with first-year coach Kelsey Jensen. The girls basketball team won the Northwestern A Divisional title and remained undefeated at home.

Abby Rundle and Kendra Brook earned Wall of Fame honors with their state champion impromptu speaking and state champion humorous solo titles. The two were part of a successful and growing team under the guidance of second-year head coach Charlie Appleby.

Hadley Vandiver, a National Merit finalist, was also inducted into the Wall of Fame. She received the student fan of the year award, along with co-recipient Brad Bell. Vandiver, a cheerleader for four years, said she loves watching her friends compete athletically and cheering them on.

Bill and Mary Knoll won the Boosters/adult fan of the year award for their continuous support of BHS and BHS activities.

Three of the night's biggest awards went to boys basketball coach Jim Epperly and seniors Charlene Miller and Benedict.

Miller, whose basketball season was cut short by a knee injury, was presented with the Valkyrie of the Year award for her toughness and work ethic. Other nominees for the award included Fierro, Hattie Bowen, Avery Vogel, Kelsey Smith and Vandiver.

A three-sport athlete this year, Benedict received post-season honors and recognition in all of them — soccer, basketball and track and field. He thanked his coaches, among others, for sticking through rough seasons after receiving the Viking of the Year award.

Epperly, head boys basketball coach for seven years, received Coach of the Year honors for his dedication to the basketball program.

"He improved in every area," emcee and BHS activities director Shannon Smith said. Epperly's players said he always kept things fun and intense. After an 0-20 season in 2006-2007, Epperly said he was proud of the Vikes who stuck with the program and worked hard during the summer months. When the Vikes won their first game of the season, Epperly said he "cried like a baby" afterwards because he was so happy to see the players rewarded for their effort.

"This is your award too," he told them.