Women’s basketball head coach Jeff Graham has been a busy man since the close of the Frontier basketball season.

As Coach Graham prepares for his second season with the Diggs, he is continuing to add depth to the Oredigger bench. Yesterday he added his fifth new player to the roster.

The newest Oredigger is, 6’0” Sophomore, Brooklynn Hankwitz. Brooklyn signed with the Diggs yesterday after a visit to campus. She transfers to Tech from Linn-Benton Community College in Albany, Oregon, where she has played the last two seasons. This year she was the Roadrunners’ leading scorer, averaging 14 points a game, and pulling down 6 rebounds. She led Linn-Benton to a 21-7 record overall, and a birth in the NWAC Women’s Basketball Sweet 16.

Brooklynn Hankwitz signs with Montana Tech (pictured with her father)
Brooklynn Hankwitz signs with Montana Tech (pictured with her father)
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Madison Chappuis joins the Orediggers as a State Champion. Chappuis was part of that outstanding Bigfork Valkyrie team that went undefeated this past season in Class B (and a 3rd place finish the year before) Madison will be a rare two-sport athlete, as she will play basketball, and also join the Montana Tech Track & Field Program.

I mentioned that Madison is a ‘rare two-sport athlete', well here is another one, Taylor Henley. Coach Graham didn’t even have to leave Kelvin Sampson Court to recruit Taylor, as she is a middle blocker for the Oredigger volleyball program. Taylor has had an outstanding career for Coach Solomon in the volleyball program, and entering her senior campaign she will play both volleyball and provide much-needed depth in the block for basketball.

Oredigger Taylor Henley will be a multi-sport athlete her senior year, playing volleyball and basketball. Photo Courtesy of JonWick 5518Designs
Oredigger Taylor Henley will be a multi-sport athlete her senior year, playing volleyball and basketball. Photo Courtesy of JonWick 5518Designs
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The day Coach Graham was introduced as the new head coach at Montana Tech, he loaded up the car and drove directly to the Badovinac house after the press conference and presented his case for Brooke to join the Orediggers. Brooke wrapped up her senior season at Butte Central as the leading scorer in Class A basketball, averaging 23 points a game. In her record-setting junior season, she averaged 23 points a game as well, and finished the year with 671 total points. That 671 points is the most by any Butte player (boy or girl) ever.

Brooke and family- Townsquare media
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That brings us to Chloe Santeford. Chloe is a Washington product, playing her high school ball at Stanwood High School, in Stanwood WA. The Spartan girls finished the season at 17-3, finishing 4th at the 3A Washington State tournament. Chloe is a very active guard, with great defensive capabilities and the quickness and skill to score on the other side of the floor.

Chloe Santeford- townsquare media
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I asked Coach Graham what was next for the Diggs in recruiting,

“We have to find a young big, we are looking for long athletic kids. Kids like Soda (Rice), and Liv (Wangerin), almost copying the Tech men’s style. I'd like to find another shooter."

“I really want to get our bench to 16 girls, and then start getting after this incredible junior class."

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