The 2024 Class of the Butte Sports Hall of Fame will be “Special” in more ways than one this weekend.
Events get started at 1 p.m. Friday with a golf scramble on the Par 3 course at the Highland View Golf Course. Cost is $10 per player, plus green fees for non-members. The scramble will include a hole-in-one contest with a chance to win a 2025 Honda CR-V from Leskovar Honda.
Friday’s Green Jacket Ceremony at the Butte Civic Center will feature Butte Sports Hall of Fame members from past and present. Past inductees will stroll down the aisle before the presentation of Green Jackets to the Class of 2024.
The night will conclude when Ronnie Counts is presented with the first Butte Sports Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award. All local Special Olympians are invited to walk down the aisle and help celebrate “Coach Ron.”
A social hour at 6 p.m. will open the evening, and the ceremony will start at 7. The event is free and open to the public.
Saturday’s induction banquet begins with a 6 p.m. social hour at the Civic Center. Dinner and the ceremony will begin at 7. Cost is $45, and tickets can be purchased at the Civic Center box office or at ButteCivicCenter.com.
Limited tickets could be available at the door, if they are not sold out.
This year, the Hall of Fame will induct 13 individuals and seven teams.
Individuals going into the Hall are Matt Buckley, Dan Lean, Martha (Apoltel) Lonner, Betty Merrifield, Wanda Jean (Matteson) Olson, Linda (Lyons) Paull, Erin Popovich, Ron Richards, John Rickman, Bruce Sayler, Steve Schulte, Kyle Smith, and Don Tamietti. Lean, Olson and Tamietti are being inducted posthumously.
Teams entering are the 1983, 1984 and 1985 Montana Tech men’s basketball teams, the 1989 Butte High boys’ basketball team, the 1992 Butte High wrestling team, the 1996 Butte High softball team and the 1999 Butte Central softball team.
Bios of individuals and teams follow:
Matt Buckley
Matt Buckley was a standout football player at Butte Central and Carroll College in the 1970s. Buckley was a member of three State championship football teams at Butte Central from 1971-73. He played both was as a running back and linebacker on the 1973 state title team.
Following the 1973 season, Buckley was picked first-team all-conference as a linebacker. There was no Class A All-State team picked that year. Buckley played in the 1974 Shrine Game before playing at Carroll College.
Buckley was a four-year starter for the saints at defensive tackle and received post season honors all four years. In his senior year, 1977, Buckley played both defensive tackle and fullback on offense, receiving all-conference and all-district post season honors at both positions. Buckley, an accomplished rodeo cowboy, competed as a steer wrestler and team roper for eight years at rodeos throughout Montana. He was an outstanding boxer at Carroll College, compiling a record of 12-1 in amateur fights over a four- year period. In 1977 he competed in the Montana Golden Gloves tournament reaching the semi-final round in the heavyweight division. In 1991, Buckley won the class B Butte City Handball title. He continues to ride and train young horses. He was/is a true all-around athlete.
Dan Lean
Dan was a long-time coach at Butte High School. He was an assistant football coach for the Bulldogs from 1974 through 1993. He was part of Butte High Class AA State championships in 1977, 1981 and 1991. Lean was on the Bulldog staff when the Bulldogs finished State runners up in 1975, 1975, 1986 and 1987.
Dan was an assistant basketball coach for the Bulldogs from 1976 through 1994, when he took over as head coach for three seasons. He was on the bench as Butte High won the Class AA State basketball championship on St. Patrick’s Day in 1984. He was an assistant on the runner-up teams of 1989 and 1990.
Dan assisted with track at Butte High and helped coordinate and run the Butte track meets for many years. Dan was part of a small group involved in the development of the Butte Softball Association in 1968 and assisted that group as they fostered the success of organized softball in Butte.
Dan also served as a referee as a member of the Montana High School Association from 1967 through 1977.
Martha (Apostel) Lonner
Martha was an outstanding skier for Butte High School in the early 1960s. It was acclaimed by one of her coaches that the Butte High ski team had a prodigy among them with Martha, as she demonstrated exceptional talent and skill on the mountain. She was the first female athlete awarded a varsity letter for skiing or any other varsity sport for girls at Butte High School four years in row, making her a pioneer for women to join the ranks of varsity athletes.
She was on three straight State championship teams in 1960, 1961 and 1962 and was often the winner in most of the ski meets before the annual state championship meet. She was the leading scorer for girls at the 1962 and 1963 annual state high school finals. During her senior year in 1963, Martha went through the season undefeated in the slalom, giant slalom and downhill. Lonner was awarded the Butte Athletic Council’s outstanding skier award twice. She was selected as a member of the Northern Rocky Mountain Ski Association (NRMSA) Team and successfully competed in the annual Junior National Ski Championships throughout the United States four years in a row.
Betty Merrifield
Betty Merrifield spent her career as a teacher and administrator in the Butte School District, and while she retired in 2002, her involvement with kids and athletics in our community continued. Betty was instrumental in starting the Butte Track Club in the late 1960’s and she continues to serve as Club President today. She served on the Board of Directors of AAU Montana and USATF Montana, both national organizations for youth track & field over the years.
Since the 1960s, Betty has worked Butte track meets, whether grade school, middle school, high school, or club meets. There is an entire Butte generation living within earshot of Bulldog Memorial Stadium that has grown up listening to her voice. Many have commented over the years that hearing Betty’s voice over the loudspeakers is a sure sign that it is track season in Butte.
Away from the track, Betty has timed countless road races, cross country and speedskating meets over the years. She has served as Chief of Protocol for world and national speedskating competitions with overall responsibility for the integrity of competition results.
Betty embodies the spirit of a true contributor to Butte Sports. Her involvement spans decades and she takes great pride in whatever role she plays helping our community earn its well-deserved reputation for hosting quality athletic competitions.
Wanda Jean (Matteson) Olson
Wanda Jean (Matteson) Olson was an outstanding runner at Butte High and Flathead Valley Community College. In 1977, she won three national titles in one day at the National Junior Collegiate Athletic Association. Her effort led the Mountainettes to the team championship.
Wanda won the 440-yard dash before anchoring championship runs in the 880-yard medley relay and mile relay.
Before that, Matteson was Butte High’s middle-distance juggernaut of the Western AA division. Wanda won the Western AA divisional in the 440 three times during her career as a Bulldog, 1975. She finished second at the State AA meet as a senior and fourth as a junior and was awarded Butte High’s prestigious Bill Hawke Award both years as the school’s top girls track athlete.
Matteson passed away at her home surrounded by her loved ones in Roundup on October 9, 2022, after a long battle with Multiple System Atrophy and a short battle with cancer. Wanda will be remembered as one of the greatest girls’ middle-distance runners in Butte history.
Linda (Lyons) Paull
Linda (Lyons) Paull was a dynamic, versatile athlete in four sports wrapped in a 5 foot nothing package. At Butte High School in the 1970’s, she earned seven varsity letters in her three year high school career, (3) track, (2) gymnastics and (2) basketball. Paull was the first female to earn seven varsity letters earning the first Big “B” Award. Linda played summer league softball for years and in 1976 her team won the State A championship, she was named to the all-star team. Paull earned three state tournament All-Star selections in the 70’s, moving to Helena, she was a member of four different teams, three of which qualified for regionals.
Linda took her gymnastics talent to Montana State. She competed for four years qualifying for regionals each year. Following her college career, Paull began her coaching career in Helena coaching gymnastics, track, and cross country. She is the only Helena High girls coach to capture state championships in two different sports. Paull guided Bengal gymnastics team from 1980-89, with a state title in 1988. In track, Linda served as the head coach from 1993-2000, with a state title in 2000. She concluded her head coaching career at HHS girls’ cross country from 2008-2019, collecting the programs first state trophy in 34 years. Previous induction, Montana Coaches Hall of Fame 2018 and Helena Sports Hall of Fame 2022.
Erin Popovich
Erin Popovich, a 2003 Butte Central graduate, represented the United States in swimming at three Paralympic Games and, in 2019, became just the second Paralympic swimmer to be inducted into the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame.
Competing for her country at the 2000, 2004 and 2008 Paralympic Games, Popovich’s historic career includes 19 medals, 14 of which were gold. She broke numerous world records in the process. In four world championships appearances, she secured 25 medals.
After winning six medals — three gold and three silver — and setting four world records in her Paralympic debut in Sydney, Popovich dominated the Athens 2004 Games, topping the podium seven times in seven races. Her performance in Athens was highlighted by three world records and four meet records.
Her lengthy list of accolades in the pool propelled Popovich to two ESPY Awards for Best Female Athlete with a Disability. She was also named the Women’s Sports Foundation’s Sportswoman of the Year in 2005.
Popovich attended Colorado State University, where she swam at the NCAA Division I level against able-bodied athletes while completing a degree in health and exercise science.
Following her retirement from competition, she continues to be involved with Para swimming supporting future generations of swimmers.
Ron Richards
Ron Richards was a standout as a player and a coach. He was the anchor of the offensive and defensive lines for two State championship teams at Butte High — in 1967 and 1968. He was voted first-team All-State following each season. He was a unanimous All-State pick on both sides of the ball in 1968. Richards was a captain for the Bulldogs, and he played in the 1969 Montana East-West Shrine Game. In 1999, Richards was named to Butte High’s All-Century Football Team.
Richards went on to become an All-Big Sky Conference player at the University of Montana, playing guard and tackle for the Grizzlies. In 1972, Richards was awarded team MVP honors as well as UM’s Paul Westcamp Award.
Coach Richards began coaching as an assistant with the Grizzlies in 1973. The next year he started coaching at Butte High, where he stayed until moving to Montana Tech in 1985. Coach Richards served as offensive coordinator at Butte High and Tech. He was part of state championships at Butte High in 1977 and 1981. At Montana Tech, his offenses routinely led the Frontier Conference in rushing. He served a stint as head coach at South Dakota Tech and as offensive coordinator at the University of Montana.
John Rickman
John Rickman was a standout basketball player for Butte Central in the late 1950s. Rickman was a starter for the Maroons in 1958 and 1959, and he led the Class AA in scoring during the 1959 regular season. He averaged 19.0 a game during the season on his way to 458 points. John made 140 field goals and 177 free throws. The free throw mark set a new school record. Rickman scored in double figures in 23 of the 24 games he played in during the year. He tallied 20 or more points in 10 games and 15 or more points in 18 of 24 contests. During the 1959 state tournament in Butte, Rickman led the Maroons to an 80-64 opening game win over Kalispell. John pumped in 37 points in the victory. At the time that set the school record for points in a game. The next night he had 28 points in a 70-58 semifinal loss to eventual state champion Butte High. He tallied 78 points in three tournament games. Rickman was named to the All-Tournament and All-State team. He was also named to the Scholastic Magazine’s All-Rocky Mountain team and the Catholic High School All-American team. John went on to play basketball at Gonzaga. In 1999, John was selected to the Butte Central All-Century basketball team.
Bruce Sayler
Bruce Sayler was a longtime sports writer for The Montana Standard newspaper. The Missoula native was hired at the local paper in 1978, after stints working at The Montana Kaimin, The Missoulian and in Burley, Idaho. Bruce wrote for the Butte paper until 2012. His game stories, columns and feature stories brought the athletes to life on the pages of the newspaper. He covered champions and teams that didn’t win a game, always treating every game like it was the biggest game. He covered state champions in the six different decades.
In addition to high school and college teams, Bruce covered professional basketball and baseball in Butte. He excelled covering boxing, and he is well known as one of the great wrestling writers.
Bruce served as sports editor for the final decade and a half of his run at the Standard, and he was a leader in making sure the paper covered every sport for every team in the readership area — including the girls. He was a pioneer in this regard.
In 2012, Sayler started working for ButteSports.com, where his career continues into his 70s. He has written about sports for more than 50 school years. He has been a Heisman Trophy voter for the last quarter of a century.
Steve Schulte
Steve “Coachie” Schulte was an outstanding athlete at Butte Central in the 1970s, competing in football, basketball, and track. Schulte averaged 6.7 yards per carry, scored 31 touchdowns, and racked up 2,762 total yards. As a running back, his 2,683 career rushing yards from 1976-1978 still stands as the best in BC history. He ran for 368 yards against Livingston in 1976 and still holds the Butte Central individual single game rushing record. He was named All-State in 1976 and 1978; and played in the 1979 Montana East-West Shrine Game. Schulte was a member of the 1978 Butte Central State Championship basketball team, which was selected the “Team of the Century.” He took his talents to Carroll College where he played football from 1979 to 1982. Schulte has also left his mark as a coach. After turning around a nearly defunct program in Browning where he earned his nickname “Coachie,” Schulte returned to Butte. He went on to assist coaching the 1996 Montana Tech Football Team, which played in the National Championship game. Schulte became the head coach of the Butte High Bulldogs football team in1997 and was at the helm until 2001. He was an assistant coach on Butte High’s 2012 State Championship football team and the 2011 Girls’ State Championship softball team.
Kyle Smith
Kyle Smith was a three-time state champion wrestler at Butte High and a two-time NCAA All-American. The1998 graduate’s dominating career helped the Bulldogs win two state titles in the 1990s. In four years for the Bulldogs, Smith compiled an incredible 148-8 record for a Butte High team that also placed third at state in 1996 and second in 1998.
After placing second at state at 145 pounds as a freshman, Smith won the state title at 152 pounds. He won the 171-pound title as a junior before claiming 189-pound title as a senior.
Smith went on to a stellar career at the University of Michigan. In 2002 and 2003 he qualified for the NCAA Tournament, placing seventh at 197 pounds both times. He was named All-American both of those seasons.
In football, Smith was a two-year starter for Butte High at linebacker. Following his senior season, Smith was named first-team All-State.
Don Tamietti
Don Tamietti was a youth sports contributing legend in the Mining City. During his lifetime, Tamietti’s passion for sports and his contributions are many. From skiing to rodeos to speedskating and finally wrestling, he gave his all. He organized many events on his own to include bringing the district High School Rodeo to Butte in 1975 and 1976.
Wrestling was his greatest joy and his passion. Having started out coaching his grandchildren, he soon expanded to many more individuals. He spent countless hours training and mentoring many young men who went on to become high school champions.
As a proud member of the Butte Wrestling Club, Tamietti worked to organize and run many tournaments and matches at the Civic Center and other venues. The Joe McCarthy tournament, the NAIA tournament, and the Mining City Duals are just a few that my Tamietti organized or helped organize. The Cyclops Memorial Tournament was named in his honor.
During his years in the Butte Wrestling Club, Tamietti did everything from going out to recruit sponsors for programs to selling 50/50 tickets to coaching the wrestlers. Tamietti would often travel out of town to events, usually taking wrestlers with him. He took teams to Fresno, California and Waterloo, Iowa for tournaments.
Coach Ron Counts
The first Butte Sports Hall of Fame Special Olympics Achievement Award goes to a true Mining City sports legend. Coach Ron Counts has done it all on so many levels. He has always been a model of class and sportsmanship, setting a shining example of just how great sports can be. He has served as the water boy for the Butte Central Maroons for decades. He has also coached with Butte High, Montana Tech, the Butte Miners and Muckers, countless Little League teams and, of course, the Maroons. It is hard to imagine a Butte Central game without Coach Ron on the sideline or bench. Coach Ron has even drawn up winning plays for the Dillon Beavers in the Class A State Championship basketball game, making him coach Craig Finberg’s favorite assistant.
Coach Ron has also been a long-time participant in the Montana Special Olympics. During the Opening Ceremony for the 2019 Montana Special Olympics State tournament in Butte, former NFL player Colt Anderson singled out Coach Ron as his all-time favorite coach.
Thank you, Coach Ron, for all you have done for the sports scene in the Mining City. You are a true Butte sports legend.
1982-83 Montana Tech men’s basketball
Led by Head Coach Kelvin Sampson, the Orediggers captured the Frontier Conference tournament title and made a run to the District 12 Championship game, falling 88-78 to Northern State of Aberdeen, South Dakota at the HPER Complex. Tech completed the season with a 22-9 overall record. The Orediggers went 10-5 in Frontier Conference play, unseating back-to-back champion College of Great Falls for the crown.
Craig Russell and Cevin Johnson were selected first-team all-conference, and Johnson was selected to the All-District 12 team. Terran Carter, Steve Seaman and Kent Andre rounded out the starting lineup for the Orediggers, who got hot late in the season to start an exciting three-year run by the Orediggers. Joe Puckett, Craig Padbury, Artie McDuffie, Dan Trudnowski, Kevin Hennessy, Joe McClafferty and Glenn Anderson contributed off the bench.
Sampson was named Frontier Conference Coach of the Year. He was assisted by John Thatcher and Mark Watts.
1983-84 Montana Tech men’s basketball
The Orediggers defended their Frontier Conference regular-season and tournament titles, rolling to a 22-7 overall record. That included an 11-4 conference campaign. For the second year, Tech advanced to the District 12 Championship game, this time falling to Northern State 60-59 in Aberdeen, South Dakota.
Cevin Johnson again earned first-team all-conference accolades to go along with an All-District 12 honor. Freshman “Flyin’” Brian Vaughns was named second team all-conference along with teammates Kent Andre and Terran Carter.
Joe Puckett rounded out the starting lineup. Reserve players included Andy Cook, Darryl Luoma, Dan Trudnowski, Kevin Hennessy, Roy Peterson, Rob Peterson and Joe McClafferty. McClafferty was lost late in the season to a severe knee injury.
Head Coach Kelvin Sampson was again assisted by John Thatcher and Mark Watts.
1984-85 Montana Tech men’s basketball
The Orediggers won the Frontier Conference regular-season and tournament titles for the second straight year. They won the league tournament title for the third time in three years. Head Coach Kelvin Sampson’s Orediggers compiled a 22-6 regular-season record. Tech went 12-3 in the Frontier, while routinely playing in front of a packed house at the HPER Complex.
Tech fell to Rocky Mountain College, 60-56, in a District 12 playoff game in Butte, ending the Oredigger run. Tech had beaten the Battlin’ Bears all three times the teams previously that season.
“Flyin’” Brian Vaughns took home first-team all-conference and second-team All-District 12 honors. Robert Montague was selected first-team all-conference, and Ron Atkinson took home second-team all-confernece honors. Andy Cook and Darryl Luoma rounded out the starting lineup for the Orediggers. Brian McCormick, Kevin Hennessy, and Howard Batie came off the bench.
Sampson, who was assisted by John Thatcher and Mark Watts, was named Frontier Conference Coach of the Year.
1988-89 Butte High boys’ basketball
The Butte High boys’ basketball team might be the best Montana team to not win the state championship. Even without a title, they are in the conversation as being the best high school basketball team the Mining City has ever seen.
The 1988-89 Bulldogs won the Western AA Divisional title and took a 19-0 record into the state tournament. Kalispell, which fell to Butte High twice in the regular season and in the divisional title game, shocked Butte High 53-50 in the championship game.
Butte High entered the state tournament with three players averaging in double figures. Gary Kane averaged 22.3 points, while fellow seniors Jasson McNallie averaged 13.8 and Todd Ericson averaged 11.4 points. Senior Scott Hemmert and junior Corey Dunstan rounded out the starting lineup for Coach Pat Foley’s team.
Other team members included seniors Fritz Daily, Marc Kelly and Dave Chamberlin and juniors Curtis Smith, Jason Booth, Gary Burt, Corey Dunstan and Brian Michelotti, and sophomores Rusty Cash, Hal Hunsaker, Scott Johns and Dan Walsh.
The 1988-89 Bulldogs’ 21-1 record is the best record in school history.
1991-92 State champion Butte High wrestling team
Legendary Coach Jim Street’s Bulldogs capped their run of 13 straight Class AA State titles in February of 1992 in Billings.
The Bulldogs scored 180 ½ points for the title. Billings West finished second at 164 ½, and Bozeman placed third at 156. Brodie Cooney at 98 pounds, Brent Choquette at 130, and Jason Street at 171 won individual titles to lead the Bulldogs to yet another championship. Choquette finished the season unbeaten.
In all, 10 Bulldogs placed in the top six. That includes Brian Church, who placed second at 135 pounds. Butte High got third-place finishes from John Burke at 105 pounds and Robin Moodry at 140. Dean Beckman placed fourth at 145, Brad Salvani took fifth at 119 pounds, Randy Riley placed fifth at 189, and Chuck Hazlett finished fifth at heavyweight.
Other letterwinners from the team include Jeremy Bassett, Shawn Graham, Brian Seymour, Sean Smitham, Josh Vincent, Jeremy Whitlock, Brett Heard, Keith Meagor, Brandon Queer, Jeremy Webster, Jeremy Tafelmeyer, Joe Burke, Jake Kovensky, Gino Liva, David Liva and Mike Reilly.
1996 Butte High softball team
These Bulldogs prove that you don’t have to have a banner to be champions. Butte High captured the Western AA crown in 1996, but they were robbed of a chance to play for a state championship by heavy rain in Billings.
Butte High went 15-4 and finished the conference schedule undefeated, and the Bulldogs were ready to take the state by storm at the Class AA State tournament in Billings. The storm, however, struck first.
Junior Jori Petersen led the 1996 Bulldogs from the pitcher’s circle, posting a 12-0 record with a 1.57 ERA. Petersen had a stellar defense behind her, and the Bulldogs were a wrecking crew at the plate
Keli Renz led the offense with a .488 batting average. Jennifer Hope (.471), Beth Toivonen (.438) and Misty Balentine (.432) all batted over .400. Mandi Ueland (.393), Shannon Crowley (.324), Heidi McCarthy (.323), Amanda Evans (.314) and Kristen Uggetti (.275) were also forces in the box for the Bulldogs. Chrissy Leathers was a standout before suffering a season-ending injury late in the campaign.
Other letterwinners include Mindy Balentine, Wendy de Barathy, Amber Lienemann, Kris Phillips, Marissa Richards, Julie Redekopp, Anjie Lacey, Molly Pahut and Melissa Maddock.
1999 State Champion Butte Central softball team
The Butte Central Maroons made history on a rainy diamond in Anaconda. Mother Nature forced the Class A State softball tournament to be moved from Butte to Anaconda for the final day, and BC knocked off Polson 7-2 before clobbering Laurel 13-1 in the championship game to complete the perfect season.
The Mighty Maroons became the first girls’ team in school history to post an undefeated season. They also became Montana’s first undefeated high school softball team.
Anjie Lacey pitched both those games to run her record to 15-0. Alicia Wheeler went 11-0 on the season. The offense was powered by Heather Ryan, Jackie Hogart, Bryn Olson, Kacie Briney, J.J. Hogart, Melissa Brophy, Wheeler, Kaci Regan, Kate VanDaveer and Kelsey Orizotti. Sarah Thatcher was a standout outfielder, and Meghan Foley, Cianna Roeber, Jessie VanDaveer, Erica “Bubba” Mahoney also saw action for the champs.
The title was Central’s second title in three seasons. The Maroons also won the 1997 state championship — one year after they were on track to win it all before rain canceled the State tournament in 1996.
The ButteCast with Bill Foley 