TMU inducts Hall of Honor Class of 2022

Erin Perperoglou (Buescher) Hall of Honor Video

Emily Pedersen (Bruton) Hall of Honor Video

Ryan Zamroz Hall of Honor Video

Former Mustang student-athletes Erin Perperoglou (Buescher), Ryan Zamroz and Emily Pedersen (Bruton) received the highest Master’s athletic honor on Saturday, when the trio was inducted into the TMU Hall of Honor as part of the Class of 2022.

The inductees were recognized for both their athletic accomplishments and their commitment to Christ and Scripture.

“Erin, Ryan and Emily are incredibly deserving of this honor,” Master’s Athletic Director Kelvin Starr said. “Not only did they achieve tremendous success athletically, but they’ve embodied The Master’s Way and have represented what The Master’s University is all about.”

Erin Perperoglou (Buescher) – Women’s Basketball (2000-01)

The former TMU Women’s Basketball standout officially became the shortest-tenured Mustang to be inducted into the TMU Hall of Honor, having only played one season at Master’s.

In 2000-01, she became the first Mustang in program history to earn NAIA First Team All-American honors, leading the team to its longest-winning streak in program history (24) and second-ever NAIA National Tournament appearance.

Perperoglou was surprised on Friday when she met with the team and saw her jersey No. 22 hanging up on the wall of The MacArthur Center. She is the first TMU Women’s Basketball player to have her jersey retired and second Mustang basketball player overall, joining Mike Penberthy.

“It was a surprise and I wasn’t expecting it,” Perperoglou said. “It just filled my heart with gratitude and humility. I’m humbled at the honor and still consider it such a great privilege to have been on the team and here at Master’s. I’m very thankful.”

Before coming to Master’s, Perperoglou was a three-time Big West Conference Player of the Year at NCAA Division I UC Santa Barbara.

Despite all her accolades earned for her play on the court, she wanted to pursue something that runs deeper than basketball – even if it risked her opportunity to play professionally.

“I knew that even if you have outward success, the inner longings of the Spirit can still be untouched,” Perperoglou said on her decision to transfer to Master’s for her senior year. “I knew I didn’t care so much about basketball anymore and needed to fill my soul.

“I had complete trust and confidence that the Lord was going to accomplish what He wanted me to do and if it didn’t have to do with playing professionally, I had zero problem with that.”

After her one season at Master’s, her professional dreams indeed became a reality when she was drafted 23rd overall in the 2001 WNBA Draft. She then embarked on a successful eight-year career in the WNBA, winning the 2005 WNBA Championship with the Sacramento Monarchs.

Ryan Zamroz – Men’s Basketball (2005-09)

From 2005-09, Zamroz made a name for himself as one of the sharpest shooters in program history.

He ranks fourth in both 3-point field goals made (222) and free throws made (378), as well as seventh in both points (1,862) and 3-point shooting % (.406).

“I’m just thankful,” Zamroz said of being inducted into the TMU Athletics Hall of Honor. “As an athlete it’s nice to be recognized and many of us thrive off of that success. But I was talking with Pastor Harry Walls [about how] Master’s defines success differently.

“What that represents is a group of people who honored the Lord first and foremost, so I’m just humbled by that.”

Zamroz’ on-court success with the Mustangs included twice being named to the All-Golden State Athletic Conference Team while also twice earning NAIA All-American honors, including in 2008 when he was selected as a Second Team All-American.

However, what stands out to Zamroz about his time as a Mustang is the camaraderie with his teammates.

“We were working toward not only excellence on the basketball court, but also trying to grow in our walks with the Lord together, which is a unique thing that we have here,” Zamroz said. “Many of our discussions were theological, talking about what we were learning in our classes and then talking hoops.

“We still challenge each other in the Lord and encourage and admonish each other. That’s a super sweet thing.”

After a stellar TMU Men’s Basketball career, Zamroz went on to play six professional seasons overseas, in five different countries. He has since returned to his alma mater, serving as the director of TMU’s Office of Development.

Emily Pedersen (Bruton) – Women’s Soccer (2007-10)

The arrival of Pedersen to Master’s began the upswing of the TMU Women’s Soccer program.

After a two-win season as a freshman, her goal scoring ability led the Mustangs to average 15 wins a season over the next three years, winning the 2009 National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) national title and making the program’s first-ever NAIA National Tournament appearance in 2010.

Pedersen scored 44 goals and accrued 100 points during her TMU career, which both rank second in program history.

“You have to want to put the ball in the back of the net,” Pedersen said on what it takes to score goals consistently. “You have to be on a team with people who know how to get you the ball in the right way. I played with girls who were much better ballhandlers than me.

“A large part of being at Master’s was figuring out where my weaknesses were and where my strengths were. Your team then has to know how to utilize those strengths and then you have to improve your weaknesses.”

As a senior in 2010 she became the first Mustang to earn two separate honors, Golden State Athletic Conference Player of the Year and NAIA First Team All-American, capping off an impressive four-year transition for TMU Women’s Soccer.

“In the back of my mind, I knew it wasn’t just the end of soccer at Master’s, but it was the end of soccer (for me). I think I had a pretty good idea that I wouldn’t be playing after, so I wanted it to be very special.

“At that point, we knew we were finally good enough to be there with the best.”

For the full list of TMU Hall of Honor inductees, visit: GoMustangs.com/hall-of-honor.