Tom Skelly graduated from Jim Thorpe Area High School in 1990.

During his high school career, Skelly excelled in two varsity sports. He captained the varsity football team in both 1989 and 1990 and, as a senior, was rated as the No. 1 middle linebacker in the Mid-Penn Conference and also was named to the First Team Mid-Penn Conference All-Star team.As a varsity wrestler, he won a total of 68 matches in his career. In 1989 he had 22 victories and during his senior year, he had 29 wins. He was named captain of the wrestling team in both his junior and senior years and also was elected MVP by his teammates in both years. In his senior year, he finished in third in the District 11 Wrestling Tournament Championship, fourth in the Schuylkill League meet and sixth in the Regional Tournament.Skelly started powerlifting in 1990 as a senior and still continues to powerlift today. He has established many records since then culminating in 2012 when he was ranked in the top 25 of the United States by Powerlifting Watch in the following categories:ranked 24th in the top 25 for the squat lift with 639 pounds.ranked eighth in the top 25 for the bench press with 562 pounds.ranked 24th in the top 25 in total pounds lifted with 1702 pounds.He also finished in first place in his weight class in the 2012 USAPL Fast Gym Classic.He presently serves as assistant powerlifting coach at Jim Thorpe Area High School along with John McGowan, who is also a 2006 Jim Thorpe Area Sports Hall of Fame inductee.The Jim Thorpe Area Sports Hall of Fame banquet will be held on Saturday, Aug. 18 at the Jim Thorpe Memorial Hall. Cocktail hour will begin at 5 p.m. with dinner starting at 6 p.m. The induction ceremony is scheduled to start at 7:15 p.m. and entertainment will follow at 8:30 p.m. Tickets for the induction ceremonies and the entire evening can be obtained by calling Craig Zurn at 570-325-3855/3363, Wilmer Redline at 570-325-3073, Ron Sheehan at 570-325-4244 or Jack Kmetz at 570-325-4923.The Class of 2012 includes Skelly, the 1935 Mauch Chunk Catholic High School football team, Jason Figura, Jacob Heydt, Aaron Smith and Derick Reis.During the next few weeks, the TIMES NEWS will be featuring highlights of the careers of each inductee leading up to the banquet.