Michigan Tech Names 2011 Sports Hall of Fame Class

Michigan Tech Names 2011 Sports Hall of Fame Class

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.