Ohio in October Part 2 - BGSU Hall of Fame Class of 2025 with Betsy Ryan and Others!
- Terri Tomoff
- Oct 16
- 4 min read
Running Into the Past at Bowling Green State University
When the invitation went out a couple of months ago for Bowling Green State University’s Athletic Hall of Fame Dinner and Awards Night, I was all in. Hubby Bill was also interested — a rarity since his blood runs green as an Ohio University Bobcat alum, not orange like a BGSU Falcon! But due to other priorities, Bill couldn’t make the trip, and I, along with several teammates from my era, turned it into a girls’ getaway. And you know what? It ended up being quite magical.
Besides the 1969–1972 Men’s Cross-Country teams receiving the inductee honor — including national record holder Sid Sink (who was also our coach in cross-country) and Gold Medalist Dave Wottle, who famously won the 800-meter run at the Munich Olympics — the night also celebrated the first five All-American Women Swimmers, Quarterback Omar Jacobs, Coach Greg Kampe, Olympic Gold Medal Figure Skater Scott Hamilton, and others like Sue Hagar, Carole Huston, and Leanne Grotke Andreas.
But my reason for being there was simple: I went for Betsy Miller, one of our own. Betsy ran under the AIAW (Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women) that ceased operation in 1983, and then under the NCAA Cross-Country banner in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Seeing her receive this long-overdue recognition was pure joy not only for me, but for the entire crowd. Plus, she knocked us out of the part with her poignant speech.
It was the persistence and heart of the BGSU athletic staff, mentioned above, that finally paved the way for Betsy and the All-American Swimmers to be honored for their talents and contributions during those precarious and, frankly, precious early years of women’s collegiate sports.
In 1972, the landmark federal civil rights law known as Title IX was passed, forever changing the landscape of women’s athletics. Its purpose: to prevent and prohibit sex discrimination in any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance, ensuring that no person is excluded or denied opportunities based on their sex. Title IX opened doors — from classrooms to playing fields — and gave generations of women the chance to compete, grow, and lead. It was (and still is!) a big deal for women’s athletics, and weekends like this one remind me just how powerful that legacy remains.
I’m happy to report that Betsy had the biggest fan club at the Hall of Fame event — Class of 2025! Her cheering section included two of her three children, two grandchildren, her siblings, her significant partner John, and 15 women from our Track & Field and Cross-Country teams spanning the mid-1970s through mid-1980s. We were all bursting with pride to see her up there, shining as she always has. And you know what? She’s still got it — that running bug, that spark, that determination. Living in the Eugene, Oregon, area since 1981 has given her the perfect conditions to keep chasing finish lines, balancing motherhood, and supporting her husband, Kevin, also a talented runner once sponsored by Athletic West back in the day.
What made the weekend even more special was our Friday lunch reunion before the big Hall of Fame dinner. We laughed over “old photos” that Betsy brought to share, pointing and giggling at hairstyles, uniforms, and moments frozen in time. The last time I’d seen Betsy was in 1990 — thank goodness for social media bridging those years in between! On Saturday morning, just like old times, we laced up our shoes for a run (or walk!) around campus, and more fittingly, our cross-country course. The rhythm felt familiar, like muscle memory of both body and heart. So many memories came flooding back: those bus rides up to Oak Openings, races, long practices, and fun days, and the friendships that carried us farther than we ever imagined. I'm so glad these ladies were in the HOF banquet hall with me, honoring Betsy: Jodie Smith, Laura Hennessey, Laura Murphy, Karen Leavitt, Brenda Nicodemus, Connie, Sandra Cook, and the ladies who graduated in the 1970s (did not get all the other ladies' names - they were a hoot!).
As the weekend came to a close, I couldn’t stop smiling. Being surrounded by my fellow Falcons, women who once laced up their shoes beside me and continue to cheer each other on through life’s many races, continues to fill my soul with pure joy. Watching Betsy shine on that stage, knowing the trailblazers who came before and after her, reminded me how far we’ve come since those early days of women’s athletics. From Title IX to this Hall of Fame celebration, progress has been paved with determination, courage, and an amazing community. That is some Manufacturing Sunshine on so many levels!
For me, though, it was more than a reunion; it was a homecoming of the heart like I had when I attended a Homecoming Weekend a few years ago. The laughter, the stories, the familiar rhythm of friendship across decades… it all reminded me that the best finish lines are the ones we cross together. Ain't that the truth?
Photos from the weekend:
bSoleille!
Terri
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