FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Friday, January 13, 2017 Trio inducted into MSUB Hall of Fame Friday night
Tanya (Petersen) Hauptman, Sam (Boehm) Milroy, and Tom Milroy are inducted into MSUB’s Hall of Fame on Friday night in a ceremony at the Hilton Garden Inn in Billings. BILLINGS, Mont. – Surrounded by family and friends at the 28th Annual Montana State University Billings Athletics Hall of Fame and Distinction induction ceremony Friday night at the Hilton Garden Inn, alumni Tanya (Petersen) Hauptman, Samantha (Boehm) Milroy, and Tom Milroy were each enshrined among the Yellowjackets’ all-time legends. Hauptman, who competed in women’s basketball at MSUB from 2002-06 under her maiden name Tanya Petersen, was the first of the three inducted and was introduced by current Yellowjacket head coach Kevin Woodin. Hauptman was under Woodin’s tutelage from her days at Billings West High School through her four-year career at MSUB, and the latter provoked several memories of the duo’s time together during a heart-felt introduction.
“The opportunity to play basketball at MSU Billings is something I will cherish forever,” said Hauptman. “Thank you to Coach Woodin for always believing in me and always encouraging me to go to MSUB. Once you’re a Yellowjacket, you’re always a Yellowjacket. Thank you all for this ultimate honor, and go ‘Jackets!” Hauptman still stands as No. 3 in MSUB history with 117 career blocks, No. 9 in field-goal percentage (.481) and rebounds (649), and No. 12 in career points with 1,264. She also had 14 career double-doubles, and recorded the seventh-most blocks in singleseason MSUB history with 50 during the 2005-06 season. Returning to Billings for Friday’s ceremony was the university’s all-time wins leader in women’s soccer, Don Trentham, who presided to introduce his former Scholar All-American in Sam Milroy.
MSUB women’s basketball head coach Kevin Woodin poses with 2017 Hall of Fame inductee and former player Tanya (Petersen) Hauptman.
Under her maiden name Sam Boehm, the all-conference center back still stands as one of the finest to ever suit up for the ‘Jackets. Recovering from a knee injury that extended her stay in
Billings to five seasons, Boehm captained the Yellowjackets to their first and only NCAA Division II playoff appearance during the 2010 season, and led the team to a 1-0 win over No. 19 Cal State Los Angeles in the national tournament. “Thank you so much to the university and athletics department, and this is a huge honor to be here with Tanya and my husband Tom,” Sam Milroy said Friday. “After five years, I left Billings knowing that I was meant to be here and met the people I was supposed to meet. It’s incredible to look back on all of the memories, and MSUB is a family that continues to grow.” Sam Milroy remained on stage to introduce her husband Tom, and she was accompanied by a video montage featuring congratulations from many of the defender’s former teammates. Tom Milroy started his very first game as a true freshman and never looked back, still standing in a tie for most career games played – and started – with 72 over his four seasons. He was an all-conference selection all four seasons, and was academic all-league for three years as well. Milroy helped lead the Yellowjackets to what still stands as their best record in program history, when the team went 134-1 during his sophomore season in 2007.
Sam and Tom Milroy display their hall of fame plaques, received Friday night.
“What I remember most are the people, who have become lifelong friends for me and my wife,” Milroy said during his acceptance speech. “Billings will always have a special place in my heart for so many reasons. It is an honor to be inducted into the hall of fame, and it is very special for me to be able to share this with my wife.” Scott Breen, sports director for KTVQ News, served as the evening’s master of ceremonies, and introduced all of the speakers at the event. Senior Alisha Breen of MSUB’s women’s basketball team, and sophomore Jordan Devoto of the Yellowjackets’ women’s soccer team also took a turn at the mic, extending their congratulations as current studentathletes to those who came before them. “It’s so much fun being a current player, and seeing all the people who have had such an impact on our program,” said Devoto, a native of Wilsall, Mont. “Coming from a small town in Montana, I had always dreamed of playing at the college level, and MSUB gave me that opportunity. These inductees show that it was a family back then, and it is still a family here now, and that is really encouraging to see.” Tom Milroy was just the second MSUB men’s soccer player to be inducted, after Sam Charles earned the program’s first honor a year ago. Sam Milroy was the fifth women’s soccer player inducted, and Hauptman was the 24th women’s basketball player to be enshrined. When the legends’ three plaques are added to MSUB’s Hall of Fame wall located in the lobby outside of Alterowitz Gym, it will push the total number to 155 since the inaugural ceremony in 1990. The three will be honored during halftime of Saturday night’s men’s basketball game between MSUB and Alaska, the second game in a doubleheader at Alterowitz Gym that tips off at 5:15 p.m. --@MSUBSports | #JacketNation--