The Tamaqua Area High School Athletic Hall of Fame Committee will induct its 20th class into the Hall of Fame which will include seven new individuals.

The induction ceremony will take place tonight at approximately 6:40 p.m. prior to the Jim Thorpe-Tamaqua football game at the Tamaqua High School StadiumMembers of this year's class include: Herb Welsh, Class of 1956; Howie Miller, Class of 1984; Jennifer Kromer, Class of 1994; Eileen Gurcsik-Pinkey, Class of 2005; Andrew Snyder, Class of 2006; Jim Gurcsik, Class of 2007; Katelin Hummel, Class of 2010.The inductees will receive a plaque and also have their name prominently displayed on a plaque in the high school which has all Hall of Fame members' names and dates of induction on it.Following is biographical information on this year's class.HERB WELSH*Herb was a two year member of the football program, four years on the Blue Raider basketball squad and four years with the track and field team. Additionally, he was the class of 1956 president for three years.*After high school he attended Stevens Technical Institute where he played basketball for three years. He was also the class president at Stevens for three years.*Mr. Welsh is most known for his years of service to the Schuylkill League, District XI and the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA). Herb was a PIAA basketball and football official for 42 years. He officiated numerous basketball and football playoff games including the 1986-87 PIAA State basketball playoffs.*Herb also officiated collegiate basketball for 25 years.*His service to District XI includes 25 years as a District XI officials' representative, a position he currently holds. Mr. Welsh is also currently the chairman for the District XI Cross Country and Track and Field championships, another position he has held for numerous years.*Mr. Welsh has been a member of the District XI committee for 25 years and has served two terms on the PIAA Board of Directors.*Herb was inducted into both the Carbon and Lehigh County Hall of Fames.*He is the husband of Annetta Welsh, a 1958 graduate of Tamaqua High School, and has a daughter, Michelle Stelmack, husband of Mark. He has two grandsons, Kyle and Tyler Stelmack and both attend the University of Pittsburgh. Herb is employed by EIC insulation for the past 52 years and resides in New Ringgold.HOWIE MILLER*Howie was a two sport athlete for Tamaqua Area before graduating in 1984. He was a three year starter in basketball and a two year starter in football for the Blue Raiders.*In basketball as a sophomore, Howie played for Robert Fulton and was routinely tasked with defending the opponents leading scorer. He developed into a scorer in his junior and senior seasons scoring 951 career points which currently ranks him 14th on our all-time scoring chart.*As a junior, Howie was a key member and starter for the 82-83 District XI, Eastern Conference championship team, and PIAA state runner-up. That team, coached by Ed Wise, and all its members have already been inducted to the Tamaqua HOF in 2003. That team won 22-straight games heading into the state championship, which they lost 71-64 to Sto-Rox.*As a senior, he led the team in steals and assists. He was voted AP All-State honorable mention along with second team Standard Speaker 1984 all area team. He played in the ninth annual Schuylkill Boys Senior Charity Bowl all-star game.*In football, Howie was a two year starter for the Blue Raiders where he was a two-way starter playing quarterback and safety for head coach Tom Bonner. Howie also handled the kicking and punting duties leading the area in punting average. He was voted to All-Anthracite team and selected to the Schuylkill County All-Star team where he played in the North/South Dream game.*Howie went on to Brown University to play football after graduation.*He is still involved in local sports as a volunteer in youth baseball and soccer. He is a member of the chain gang working the sidelines for every home Tamaqua varsity football game.*Howie is a project manager for Clear Channel Airports and currently lives in Tamaqua with his wife Corinne (Marchetti) and three children, Dair, Tucker, and Kendle. He is the son of the late Howard F. & Donna L. Miller.JENNIFER KROMER*Jennifer is a member of the class of 1994 where she was a three sport standout in volleyball, basketball, and track and field.*In volleyball she was named the 1993 Times News Player of the Year. The 1993 team qualified for the "AAA" District XI championships, the first time since 1981 Tamaqua qualified for the post season. She was named a District XI "AAA" honorable mention all-star. She was also a Division 1 Schuylkill Volleyball League All-Star and also on the league's overall squad. In her last game of the regular season Jennifer recorded 10 consecutive points including five aces and contributed four kills which earned the team a berth in Districts.*She played basketball for one season, her senior year.*In track and field in her junior year, she qualified for the District XI AA Championships in high jump and 400 meter relay. As a senior she qualified for the District championships in the high jump, triple jump, and 400 meter relay. The girls team was also tri-champions of the Schuylkill League.*She went on to Lehigh Carbon Community College where she excelled in volleyball. She was inducted into the LCCC Inaugural Hall of Fame Class of 2002 for her contribution for the 1994 and 1995 volleyball seasons. In 1994, she was named to the National Junior College Athletic Association All Region X1X - First team and Eastern PA Collegiate Conference - All-Conference team. In 1995, she earned Eastern PA Collegiate Conference - All conference, All tournament, MVP All-Tournament teams. In both '94 and '95 she earned Pennsylvania Collegiate Athletic Association - All State Honors.*She graduated from LCCC with an Associates of Arts degree.*Jennifer is the daughter of LeRoy and Regina Kromer of Andreas and granddaughter of Nicolas and Margaret Butrie of Lansford.*She resides on a farmette in Andreas, along with her significant other Rob. She is employed at Infinera in Allentown working in the fiber optic industry.EILEEN GURCSIK-PINKEY*Eileen is a member of the class of 2005 and was a four year letter winner in volleyball, swimming, and track and field.*In volleyball, she was a member of a District 11 qualifying squad and captain her senior year.*She excelled in the pool where she was a 1,000 point scorer, holding numerous school records upon her graduation. She still holds the school record in the 200 IM (2:18.59). She was a captain and Times News Swimmer of the Year in both her junior and senior years.*She earned a number of league and district medals including a District Championship as a member of the 200 medley relay team; a District silver in the 100 free style, 200 medley relay, 50 free style, 200 IM, and 200 free relay; District bronze in 200 free relay and 100 free style. Eileen was a PIAA State qualifier in 50 free, 100 free, 200 and 400 free relay teams.*In track and field her teams went undefeated all four years in dual meets. She earned District XI silver medals in both the 100 M and 200 M and was a PIAA state qualifier.*She was also a member of the Blue Raider Marching Band.*After graduation, Eileen attended Kutztown University where she graduated cum laude in 2009 with a BSBA in Management. She is currently working towards an MBA from DeSales University and will graduate next summer.*Eileen has also volunteered her time as a coach with the Tamaqua High School swimming program.*Eileen resides in Upper Macungie with her husband Joe Pinkey and is a customer service team leader at Uline in Breinigsville, PA.JIM GURCSIK*Jim is a member of the class of 2007 and competed as both a swimmer and diver for four years, earning eight varsity letters for the program. He was a three year member of the varsity football program and a one year member of the track and field program.*In swimming and diving, Jim set seven Tamaqua school swimming records, two Panther Valley pool swimming records, and one Blue Mountain pool diving record. He currently still owns five Tamaqua school records in the 200 IM (2:09.40), 50 Free (22.78), 100 fly (57.51), 100 free (49.57), and 100 back (58.00).*Jim was a District XI diving champion, and the Pottsville Republican Swimmer of the Year, Pottsville Republican Diver of the Year and Times News All-Star Swimmer and Diver. He was the only Tamaqua swimmer to ever compete at the state level for swimming and diving simultaneously. He also was a District silver medalist as a member of the 200 medley relay team and also in the 100 free which qualified him for the PIAA State Championships. He also qualified for the state championships in diving with a second place finish at Districts. He placed 28th in the 100 and 13th in diving at states his senior season.*Jim is a three year varsity letter winner in football where he also marched at half-time for the Blue Raider marching band.*Jim also attended Vo-Tech for one year and received the top Vo-Tech student award. Additionally, he earned Eagle Scout and continued to earn five ranks above Eagle Scout.*Jim graduated from The Culinary Institute of America in 2010 with High Honors with a bachelors in Hotel and Restaurant Management.*He is married to the former Amy Kupres and they have two kids; Selina and Eli and reside in Tamaqua. He is currently working on his Master's degree in career and technical education at Temple University.KATELIN HUMMEL*Katelin is a 2010 graduate and was a three sport standout in soccer, diving, and track and field.*In soccer, she was a member of the Lady Raiders team that made school history by winning the Schuylkill League Championship title in 2007 along with the District XI championship teams in 2008 and 2009. Over her four years of starting varsity, Katie achieved the following accolades: 2009 PA All State Player-1st team; Pottsville Republican Co-Player of the Year 2009; Pottsville Republican All Area -1st team - 2006 through 2009. Better known on the field as "Freddie", she was co-captain her senior year and was well known throughout the district as one of the best defenders.*Katie also made her mark on the diving team for four years. She was Rookie Diver of the Year in her freshman year. She competed in the District XI Championships all four years. In her junior and senior year she won the title of Schuylkill League Diving Champion.*A four year track participant, Katie was a member of the 4X100 and 4X400 teams, 400 meters and pole vaulting. She was a state qualifier 2007-2008-2009.*After graduation, Katie attended Alvernia University in Reading where she obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Forensics Science. Katie continued her soccer career at Alvernia leading them to break all school records and changing the school's history for the women's soccer program. She was a four year starter playing center back. Her senior class the "winningest class in school history" at Alvernia. The Alvernia Crusaders set numerous records for the Commonwealth conference with the most shut-outs and goals against scoring average. Three of the four years, the defense lead the Crusaders into the Commonwealth semi-finals along with two of the four years into the ECAC semi-finals. She received the 2nd team All Commonwealth award and Coaches award in her freshman year. She was also Commonwealth MVP player in numerous tournaments throughout her Crusader career.*She is currently enlisted as a cadet at the PA State Police Academy, Class 143. Upon graduation in December, she will become a PA State Trooper. She currently resides in Andreas, PA.ANDREW SNYDER*Andy is a member of the class of 2006 where he was a standout wrestler and baseball player. He was a captain of the wrestling team his junior and senior years and of the baseball team as a senior.*Andy is one of the best wrestlers to come out of Tamaqua ending his wrestling career with 99 wins, good for 10th on our all-time wrestling wins chart. His career record was 99-37. In his senior year, he was a PIAA State "AA" medal winner finishing in 8th place in the 140 pound weight class. He finished that season with a 36-8 record including, Southeast region - 5th place, District XI - 3rd place, and Schuylkill League Champion in addition to his state medal. The 36 wins in a season ranks him 6th on the all-time Tamaqua list for number of wins in a season.*In his junior season in the 135 pound weight class he finished with a 24-5 record along with a runner up performance at the Sch. League Championships.*Andy finished with a 23-10 record as a sophomore placing second at the league championships and sixth at the District XI Championships in the 125 pound weight class.*His freshman year he was 16-14 in the 119 pound weight class finishing sixth at both the League and District Championships.*Andy was a four-time Schuylkill League medal winner - one of only nine Tamaqua wrestlers in school history to accomplish that feat.*Andy was also a member of the National Honor Society and German National Honor Society along with being an Eagle Scout and private pilot.*After high school, Andy entered the Coast Guard Academy and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering in 2011. He also continued his wrestling career. He was a two-time New England Wrestling Association place winner and All Academy Tournament place winner. He served as the 2010-11 Captain of the wrestling team. He was also named two time team MVP and CGA 2010-2011 Winter Male Athlete.*Andy is currently an Active Duty Lieutenant (O-3) in the Coast Guard Air Station in New Orleans - which is the Coast Guard's busiest all rotary wing search and rescue unit. He is a MH65-D Pilot*He is the son of Burdell and Francine Snyder and has a sister, Sheri. He is married to Emily Snyder and currently resides in New Orleans, LA.