Hall of Fame inductees honored

Three legends of Bulldog athletics entered into the Whitefish High School Hall of Fame Saturday evening as family, friends and other hall of fame members gathered to honor their achievements.

Tennis champion

Jimmy Cripe dominated the state tennis circuit in the late 1980s, capturing state singles tennis titles in 1988 and 1989. Cripe was voted All-State three years and helped guide the Bulldogs to a pair of team state tennis titles.

He went on to play tennis at Montana State University where he was a four-year letter winner and team captain in 1992. He later became a tennis teaching professional.

“Jimmy was one of the most dominate tennis players in the state,” classmate Coby Grove said at Saturday’s ceremony. “He was a fierce competitor on the court — just relentless. He had no weaknesses.”

Cripe joins his brother Andy Cripe in the Hall of Fame. They are the second set of brothers to be inducted into the hall.

All-around athlete

John Bartlett succeeded at nearly every sport he played, whether it was tennis, basketball or soccer. He was even a standout in the high school pep band.

Bartlett was named Whitefish’s best male athlete in 1994, was a four-year letter winner in tennis, and three-year winner in basketball and soccer.

On the hardwood, Bartlett helped Whitefish win conference championships from 1992-94.

Former Bulldog basketball coach Julio Delgado praised Bartlett as the best point guard to ever don the green and gold.

“We’ve had numerous All-State point guards, but John belongs at the top,” Delgado said at Saturday’s ceremony. “He was smart and knew the game well. It was like having a second coach on the floor.”

With the game on the line, Bartlett wanted the ball in his hands, Delgado said.

“He never played scared,” he said. “He hated to lose.”

“He bought into the ‘we not me’ philosophy,” Delgado added.

Legendary coach

Lady Bulldog soccer wouldn’t be where it is today without Lini Reading. The legendary coach helped launch girls soccer in Whitefish and eventually took it to the highest level.

As head coach from 1994-2008, Reading tallied an impressive 135-52-20 overall record while picking up state Class A titles in 2001 and 2006. She was named state and regional coach of the year twice, and was twice a national coach of the year finalist.

Former player Jenny Yeats reminisced about Reading in the early years of Whitefish soccer and described her competitive spirit on the pitch.

“She could outrun most girls on the team, despite being twice their age,” Yeats said.

But it was her commitment to building each girl’s character and confidence that set Reading apart.

“It’s impossible to predict how many young women were influenced by Lini,” Yeats said. “She understood that there’s more to life than soccer and helped build in her girls character and a sense of community.”