HOUGHTON, Mich. — The Michigan Tech Sports Hall of Fame formally inducted seven new members during a ceremony tonight at the University's Memorial Union Ballroom. Kim Hoppes (1991-94; volleyball and women's basketball), Don Lehman (1959-62; football), Al McLeod (1968-71; hockey), Jerry Muff (1968-71; men's basketball), Carie Pejka (Tull) (1988-92; women's basketball), Mike Usitalo (1970-74; hockey) and John Young (1989-93; hockey) joined a group of more than 150 of Tech's greatest student-athletes and supporters.

All seven inductees — one from as far as Finland — were in attendance for the event, which took place between the Huskies' football and hockey games during Hall of Fame Day. The induction ceremony included many stories from the inductees' teammates and friends as well as remarks from each of the inductees themselves.

Brief profiles of each of the inductees follows. A full list of Michigan Tech Sports Hall of Fame members can be found by clicking here.

KIM HOPPES
Kim Hoppes, who was a volleyball standout from 1991-94, was one of the best female student-athletes to don a Huskies uniform in any sport. A two-time All-American and three-time All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference selection, Hoppes helped the Huskies to their first GLIAC volleyball title in 1994. Michigan Tech was a combined 56-10 in 1993 and 1994 with two trips to the NCAA Great Lakes Regional Championship match. Hoppes ranks first all-time at Tech in hitting percentage (33.8) and second in both kills (1,545) and blocks (437). She also played basketball for three seasons, earning GLIAC All-Defensive Team accolades her senior year. Following her collegiate career, Hoppes played volleyball professionally in Finland from 1996-2004. She continues to reside in Finland.

DON LEHMAN
Don Lehman has made an impact on the Tech football program as both a player and alum. He lettered four times from 1959-62 and was a part of the Huskies first football conference championship squad in 1959. He claimed the team’s most valuable player award as a senior in 1962. Lehman has remained involved with Tech football since his graduation. He was an inaugural member of the football advisory council and is a major contributor to the program. Lehman currently lives in Davison, Mich.

AL MCLEOD
Al McLeod was a member of some of the most successful teams in Michigan Tech hockey history. He lettered three times from 1968-71 as the Huskies compiled a 65-27-7 record and two Western Collegiate Hockey Association titles. McLeod recorded 29 goals, 46 assists and 75 total points in 89 career games. Following his career, McLeod played professionally for nine years. He has served as a member of the hockey advisory council. He is also a member of the University’s President’s Club. The president and owner of Champion Sales and Service Company, McLeod resides in Phoenix, Ariz.

JERRY MUFF
Former men’s basketball player Jerry Muff was one of the most prolific rebounders in school history. A four-year letterwinner from 1968-72 and one of the first minorities in the men’s basketball program at Tech, Muff finished his career with a then-school record 760 rebounds. He averaged a double-double of 11.0 points and 11.0 rebounds in 1969-70 and tallied career averages of 8.2 points and 8.6 rebounds. In the current record book, Muff ranks third in both career rebounds and season rebounds (265). He resides in Ft. Wayne, Ind.

DR. CARIE PEJKA (TULL)
Carie Pejka (married name Tull) was a standout women’s basketball player at Michigan Tech from 1988-92, helping start a great era for the program. Her teams posted four straight years of winning records and began a streak of winning seasons that has grown to 20 consecutive years through 2007-08. Pejka was the most valuable player on Tech’s first two GLIAC Championship teams in 1991 and 1992 and helped the Huskies to the NCAA Great Lakes Regional semifinal each of those years. She finished her career with 1,199 points and 228 career assists, marks that were the second-best in school history at the time of her graduation. Pejka was named All-GLIAC First Team and was Tech’s Raymond L. Smith Award winner as the school’s top female senior student-athlete in 1991-92. She was also a three-time GLIAC All-Defensive Team selection. Pejka, now Tull, is a podiatrist in Hayward, Wis.

MIKE USITALO
Mike Usitalo had a stellar hockey career both at Michigan Tech and beyond. He was named the WCHA Freshman of the Year in 1970-71 after leading the team in scoring with 28 goals and 45 total points. The forward went on to tally 71 goals and 61 assists for 132 total points in 109 career games while helping the Huskies to two WCHA titles and a national runner-up finish in 1973-74. Following his career at Tech, Usitalo led the U.S. National Team to a gold medal at the 1974 World Hockey Championship where he was the tournament’s third-leading scorer. Professionally, Usitalo was selected in the sixth round of the 1972 National Hockey League draft. He spent three years in the Los Angeles Kings organization and was the Springfield Indians Rookie of the Year in 1975. Usitalo currently resides in Hancock.

JOHN YOUNG
Of all the great players in Michigan Tech hockey history, only three tallied more points than John Young. Young, who played for the Huskies from 1989-93, scored 61 goals and tallied 149 assists for 210 career points in 155 career games. The forward was named All-WCHA Second Team in both 1990-91 and 1992-93 and was also selected as the team’s most valuable player twice. He was the Winter Carnival MVP twice as well. Young participated in the U.S. Olympic Festival in both 1990 and 1991 while a student-athlete at Tech. Following his graduation in 1993, Young played professional ice hockey for two seasons, spending time with four different minor league clubs. Young now works as an accountant and resides in South St. Paul, Minn.