Homecoming is always a special week for high school athletes, coaches and alumni, an opportunity to recognize past and current teams that have represented their school with spirit and determination.
Last week was Homecoming Week at C.M. Russell High, and the Rustlers showcased the athletes who currently compete in football, volleyball, golf, cross country and soccer. But perhaps even more importantly, the Rustlers last week had the rare opportunity to showcase the athletes – as well as coaches and support staff – who have been representing CMR athletics since the school opened back in 1965.
That’s almost 60 years of competition against the largest high schools in Montana, and for most of those six decades, the Rustlers have exhibited a standard of excellence that’s been the envy of many of their Treasure State rivals. Several of the best of the best-ever Rustlers were honored Thursday as CMR inducted its second group of Rustler Legends.
Twelve former CMR standouts were collectively recognized in the morning at a student assembly, then were honored again at night by fans and townspeople at a special ceremony at CMR Fieldhouse, where their pictures will be permanently exhibited.
This was the second installment of Rustler Legends. The inaugural class was inducted in 2023 and included 30 individuals, including such luminaries such as longtime football coach Jack Johnson, Rustler quarterback Dave Dickenson and three-sport standout Lindsey Graham Gustafson, widely considered the finest female athlete in school history.
Johnson, of course, is the all-time Montana leader in prep football victories with 340 wins during his 41-year career, which led to him into the National High School Association Hall of Fame.
Dickenson went on to star at both the college and professional levels. Dave enjoyed a brilliant career at the University of Montana before a long and successful career in the Canadian Football League, where he currently coaches the Calgary Stampeders.
Lindsey won four state titles in softball at CMR while playing for her parents, coaches Terry and Julie Graham. She also won a state championship in volleyball for coach Paula Olsen, and starred on the basketball court. After an All-American collegiate softball career in North Dakota, she returned home to teach and coach at her alma mater, where she guided CMR to two more state softball crowns.
Lindsey was chosen to welcome the fans Thursday night and offered a simple message as she stood on a green-and-gold stage.
“This is what it means to be a Rustler,” she told the audience, which included her parents, her husband and her three young children.
“These are the memories you created for all of us.”
Nate Achenbach, Associate Principal at CMR and a member of the committee that formed Rustler Legends, said some of this year’s second class should have been included a year ago.
“We obviously bypassed a few people we could have or should have picked a year ago,” he said. “And the criterion for selection changes a little from year to year. So this year’s class addresses some of those changes.”
The latest version of Rustlers Legends includes Jim Bergene, the first Principal of CMR and a solid athletics supporter; Jim Grant, the Athletic Director for Great Falls Public Schools for 28 years who started every female sports program at CMR except for track and cross country; and Wiley Kendle, a highly respected sports trainer at Russell for more than 30 years.
Athletes recognized this week were football star Paul Schafer and distance runner Michele Buresh Chalmers, along with Wanda Jewell and Patrick Dwyer. Jewell was an Olympic rifle shooter, while Dwyer played in the National Hockey League for seven seasons.
Coaches recognized were Branch Brady (track and cross country), Terry Graham (softball), Jerry Kuntz (golf) and Sparky Kottke and Gary Lowry (both football).
Eight of the celebrated dozen were able to participate in the festivities. Bergene and Schafer are deceased, and Dwyer was busy coaching a pro hockey team. Chalmers was represented by a family member.
Achenbach said there’s no guarantee a similar ceremony will occur anytime soon.
“It’s hard to get in and we might wait until we have a few more people before we do it again,” he said.
Author: Staff
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