BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State University Billings Athletics Hall of Fame and Distinction is set to grow its ranks once more, with six new inductees set to be inducted this winter, announced the athletic department this Monday.
Baseball standout Adam Cox, volleyball great Devon Crotteau, cross country star Whitney Mickelson, softball All-American Heather Tracy, and distinguished donors Jim and Jo Elyn Swain are set to become the newest additions to the hall of fame. The ceremony is set for Friday, February 2 at 5 pm, with the event located at the Billings Depot. The inductees will also be honored at halftime of the women’s basketball game on February 3.
“The Hall of Fame Ceremony is one of my favorite events,” said MSUB athletic director Michael Bazemore. “It gives us a chance to reflect and celebrate some of our most accomplished student-athletes, coaches, supporters of the program, etc. This year’s class is well rounded and has contributed immensely to our programs and department in whole, I’m looking forward to being a part of honoring our Jackets.”
A two-time All-West Region selection, Cox became the first Yellowjacket in program history to be selected in the MLB Draft, when he was selected in the 25th round in 2018 by the Philadelphia Phillies. Cox holds the program record for saves, collecting 15 in 52 appearances, also collecting ten wins in 80.2 career innings, finishing with a 3.24 career ERA. Cox also flashed his ability with the bat in his career, finishing with a career .333 batting average in 264 at bats, hitting 11 home runs and 67 RBIs. Cox finished his MSUB career with a Second Team All-GNAC selection in 2016, and a First Team All-GNAC selection in 2018. Cox played an important role in building the Yellowjacket’s dominant run from 2015-2018, where the team was the GNAC Regular Season Champions three times in four years.
The first MSUB volleyball player to ever earn AVCA All-America honors, Crotteau played three seasons with MSUB, and currently sits fourth on the all-time kills list with 1351 in her career., Her .243 career hitting percentage ranks fifth in Yellowjacket history. Crotteau still holds the mark for most individual kills in a match in program history with 34 against Rocky in 2008. She holds three marks in the top ten in program history for most kills in a season, with her top total of 478 in 2009 sitting as the second most of any player. In addition to her All-America selection, Crotteau also earned All-West Region selections in 2009, along with two All-GNAC First Team selections, and one Second Team honor.
One of the top runners in program history, Mickelsen ranks as the top women’s cross-country runner in program history, with her best mark of 18:04 in 2012 being the fastest 5000m time in program history. Mickelsen also earned the third fastest 6000m time with a time of 21:31. She earned NCAA DII All-West Region honors in 2011, earning All-GNAC honors the same year while also picking up a GNAC Newcomer of the Year Award in 2010. Mickelsen was also a top performer in track and field for the ‘Jackets, where her name is still found in the top ten for the 800m, 1500m, 5000m, 10000m, and 4X400 relay records. In addition to her accomplishments as a runner, Mickelsen also participated in two seasons of volleyball at MSUB.
Tracy finished her Yellowjacket softball career with her name pasted all over MSUB’s record books. The outfielder finished with the most games played (192), highest batting average (.426), hits (270), triples (10), and stolen bases (61), while also standing second in runs scored, fifth in RBIs, and 11th in home runs. Tracy also helped lead MSUB to a GNAC Tournament Championship in 2015, the first in program history. In four seasons with the ‘Jackets, Tracy earned All-GNAC First Team honors three times, and was the GNAC Player of the Year in 2018, where she hit .488 on the season with five homers, 29 RBI’s, 49 runs, and 22 steals. Tracy also earned a NCAA DII All-West Region First Team selection in 2018, following two second team selections the following seasons, and was a 2018 D2CCA All-American.
Longtime contributors to the MSUB Athletic Department, Jim and Jo Elyn Swain have been supporters for more than two decades, primarily involved with women’s basketball. The two started a scholarship in Jo’s parents name, which is awarded to a women’s basketball player majoring in education. The two have been longtime members of MSUB booster clubs, serving as committee members for the Courtside Club, and are longtime donors to the Yellowjacket Athletics Halloween Scholarship Auction. In addition to their financial contributions, Jim has spent years volunteering as a member of the bench crew at home MSUB basketball games.
To purchase tickets for the induction ceremony, please contact Hollie West at hollie.west@msubillings.edu, or by calling 406-896-5934.