Release courtesy of Wes Frahm, Director of Athletic Communications and Marketing, Michigan Technological University
HOUGHTON, Mich. -- Michigan Tech will induct
seven new members into its Sports Hall of Fame during induction
ceremonies scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 8.
The induction class of 2011 includes former men’s basketball
player Jeff Boinski, former hockey player and assistant coach Dan
Farrell, former women’s basketball player and coach Darla
(Innes) Olson, former football player Jeremy Monroe, former
men’s tennis player Steve Nykerk, former hockey player Bill
Terry and former volleyball player and coach Krista Valdivia.
The seven inductees will join the 186 members already in the
Michigan Tech Sports Hall of Fame, which was started in 1985.
Below is a brief biography of each of the seven inductees.
JEFF BOINSKI
Boinski led the Michigan Tech men’s basketball team in
scoring all four of his seasons from 1995-99. The Milwaukee, Wis.,
native posted 2,089 career points (second all-time at Tech) and was
a three-time All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
selection. Boinski helped the Huskies to their first ever GLIAC
men’s basketball title in 1997-98. His career shooting
percentage of 56.9 is second best in school history, while his 659
career rebounds rank 10th. Boinski, a two-time team most valuable
player, averaged 18.2 points per game for his career. He graduated
with a degree in business administration in 1999.
DAN FARRELL
Farrell played hockey for the Huskies from 1958-60 then returned
to serve as assistant hockey coach from 1968-73. As a player,
Farrell tallied 19 goals and 11 assists for 30 points in 84 career
games. He was a member of the Huskies’ 1960 national
runner-up team. He earned a degree in geology from Michigan Tech in
1960. As assistant coach, Farrell helped the Huskies compile a
105-57-9 record, two trips to the NCAA Tournament and a Western
Collegiate Hockey Association title. He left in 1973 to become the
head coach at Michigan, where he compiled a 51.1 winning percentage
in six seasons.
DARLA (INNES) OLSON
Olson helped the Michigan Tech women’s basketball team to a
combined 219-75 record (74.5 winning percentage) in five seasons as
a player and five more as its head coach. Olson played for the
Huskies from 1988-93, helping the program to its first three NCAA
Tournament berths and a national third-place finish in 1993. She
posted 858 points and 625 rebounds in 124 career games. The Saxon,
Wis., native ranked third in rebounding and first in games
played upon completion of her playing career. She graduated with a
degree in biological sciences in 1993. Olson returned to Tech to
become head coach in 1998, and helped the Black and Gold compile a
111-37 record (.750) in five seasons. She was named GLIAC Coach of
the Year in both 1999 and 2001 and won league titles in 1999, 2000
and 2001.
JEREMY MONROE
Monroe, who played football from 1990-93, was one of the finest
running backs in Michigan Tech’s history. He led the Huskies
in rushing each of his four seasons en route to amassing 4,695
career yards—second most in school history. Monroe posted 70
touchdowns for 420 total points and averaged 7.0 yards per
carry—all Tech records. The Nevada City, Calif., native
earned All-America third team accolades in 1992 and was All-America
honorable mention each of his other three seasons. Monroe was a
part of four straight winning seasons including a
school-record-tying nine-win campaign in 1991. He earned a degree
in business administration in 1994.
STEVE NYKERK
Nykerk played tennis at Michigan Tech from 1990-93. He earned the
Verdie Cox Award as the team’s most valuable player following
all four of his seasons. The Traverse City, Mich., native compiled
46 singles wins and 45 doubles wins during his Husky
career—both marks ranking among Tech’s top 10. Nykerk,
who spent all four of his seasons playing No. 1 singles, owns a
school-record for wins at the position at 43. Nykerk earned a
mechanical engineering degree in 1993.
BILL TERRY
Terry wore a Huskies hockey sweater from 1980-84 and was one of
the top scorers in Michigan Tech history. The forward tallied 91
goals and 89 assists in 152 career games. His mark of 180 career
points ranks him sixth in program history. Terry, who tallied seven
career hat tricks as a Husky, served as team captain each of his
final two seasons. He was the Merv Youngs Award winner as team most
valuable player in 1983-84 and played on the Western Senior
All-Star Team. Terry, who earned a business administration degree
in 1984, went on to a four-year professional career that included a
brief stop with the National Hockey League’s Minnesota North
Stars.
KRISTA VALDIVIA
Valdivia was a part of Michigan Tech volleyball for 16 straight
seasons—four as a player, two as assistant coach and 10 more
as head coach. Her standout playing career from 1993-96 included
four consecutive All-GLIAC accolades and a selection to the 1994
All-America First Team. The setter set the school records for
assists in a season (1,421) and career (5,093). She led the Huskies
to the best season in school history in 1994 with a 30-3 record and
a GLIAC title. The Reno, Nev., native earned a degree in biological
sciences in 1997. As head coach from 1999-2008, Valdivia compiled a
137-165 record. She guided the Huskies to NCAA Tournament
appearances in 2006 and 2008.