Former Havre great Gary Wagner to be inducted into MHSA Hall of Fame

A pair of local products are about to be the newest members of the Montana High School Association/Wendy's Hall of Fame.

Last week, the MHSA announced its Class of 2022 Hall of Fame inductees, including former Havre High great Gary Wagner, who graduated from Havre High in 2005 and was a three-sport star.

As a starting quarterback, he was 22-2 at Havre High and 27-1 at Carroll College, for a mark of 49-3. At Havre High, Wagner was all-conference and all-state in football both his junior and senior years, and named to the Tribune Super State team. He was selected to the East-West Shrine game and the Mon-Dak All-Star game, where he was named the offensive MVP. Wagner is in the MHSA record book for points scored, passing yards, completion percentage, and TD passes. He was a shooting guard for Havre and the team's defensive MVP in 2005 in basketball. He was part of four straight divisional and state tennis championships from 2002-2005, and is one of the most decorated high school tennis players in the state of Montana. With doubles partner, Marc Mariani, the duo took second place their sophomore year and were undefeated state champs both their junior and senior years.

At Carroll College, Wagner was a three-year starter, but suffered a season ending injury in 2008. He led the Saints to a semifinal season in 2009 (13-1) and an undefeated (14-0) NAIA national championship season in 2010. He was named the offensive MVP of the national title game and co-offensive player of the year in the Frontier Conference. He was also a finalist for the 2010 NAIA Player of the Year. Gary left the NAIA as one of the most efficient passers to play the game. He resides in Helena with his wife, Morgan, and daughter, Harper.

Former KG Cougar Mat Seidensticker will also be inducted this year. He attended Kremlin-Gildford (now North Star) his freshman and sophomore years before finishing high school at Shelby. Mat earned Class B all-state basketball honors his junior and senior years (1994 and 1995). He was selected to the Great Falls Tribune's All-State boys' basketball team, the Montana-Wyoming All-Star game and was a McDonald's All-American nominee his senior year. Mat averaged over 23 points per game, logging more than 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds during his prep basketball career, and his 64 consecutive free throws made over 18 games in 1995 is an MHSA record. After high school, Mat received a scholarship to continue playing basketball at the University of Montana in Missoula. He was a steady contributor in 109 games as a Grizzly, including a 1997 NCAA Tournament appearance. Mat was twice named the team's Outstanding Defensive Player, sharing the award in 1998 (J.R. Camel) and the sole recipient in 1999. He shared the Most Inspirational Player award in 1999 (Mike Warhank). Mat resides in Lolo, Montana, with his partner, Peggy Persico, and his son, Chip.

Billings Central's Christy Otte, CMR's Fred Paroli and Scobey's Spencer Frederick are also being inducted.

The MHSA Executive Board adopted a change in the way inductees are recognized for this prestigious honor.  Previously the MHSA Hall of Fame Banquet was held in conjunction with the MHSA Annual Meeting.  To allow for more friends and family to attend a function to honor the inductees, the Annual Meeting banquet was discontinued.  Now, friends and family can organize a recognition function in the inductee's local community at a time and place more convenient for this function to maximize attendance and support for each new inductee.  Also, a page on the MHSA website at http://mhsa.org is dedicated to all of the inductees.

  The physical location for the MHSA Athletes' Hall of Fame sponsored by Wendy's is at the Fortin Center on the campus of Rocky Mountain College in Billings.  A plaque commemorating each inductee is on display on the second level in the gymnasium.