The Tamaqua Area High School Athletic Hall of Fame Committee will induct its 29th class into the Hall of Fame on Friday before the Pottsville at Tamaqua football game.

Four individuals — Nate Boyle, Brayden Knoblauch, Emma Kuczynski and Bronson Strouse — along with the 1980 4x100 Meter track and field relay team will be honored at that time.

Individual inductees will receive a plaque with their name, year of graduation, some biographical information along with a photograph of their choice on it. The team will receive a plaque recognizing its induction.

The following is biographical information regarding the newest class into the Tamaqua Area High School Athletic Hall of Fame.

NATE BOYLE

Class of 2020

• Nate is a 2020 graduate of Tamaqua Area High School, where he was a three-sport athlete, excelling in football, basketball, and baseball. During his high school career, he played a key role in leading Tamaqua to District 11 Championships in football during his senior year, and in baseball as a freshman.

• In football, Nate set several school records. He is the all-time career leader in rushing yards with 4,088 and total touchdowns with 79. He also holds the single-season records for rushing yards with 1,896, and rushing touchdowns with 30, as well as the single-game record with 391 rushing yards. Additionally, Nate is Tamaqua’s career leader in points scored, with 580. His performance earned him All-State honors, recognition as a WNEP Dream Team running back, and T-102 high school football player of the year in both his junior and senior seasons.

• Following high school, Nate attended Moravian University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Management. He continued his football career at the collegiate level, finishing seventh all-time in career rushing yards at Moravian with 2,317, and third in career rushing yards per game, averaging 82.8.

• Today, Nate is an Area Manager for Amazon and resides in Hamlin.

BRAYDEN KNOBLAUCH

Class of 2020

• Brayden is a 2020 graduate of Tamaqua High School. During his time at Tamaqua, he was a distinguished athlete in football, basketball and baseball earning varsity letters in all three sports, all four years. He is a District 11 champion for football his senior year, and baseball his freshman year. He is a career record holder in passing yards with 4,609, and passing touchdowns with 42. He is the season record holder in passing yards with 2,121 yds, 138 completions, and 18 passing touchdowns. At the end of his senior season, he was named to the Class 3A All State football team & selected as a WNEP Dream Team Quarterback.

• In basketball, he finished sixth on the school’s all time scoring list with 1,330 points, and holds the record for career three-pointers with 223. He also holds the record for most three-pointers in a season with 79. Brayden was also a captain of the 2019-2020 basketball team which made the state quarterfinals, but was unable to complete the season due to COVID.

• Brayden was selected Pottsville Republican & Herald Rookie of the Year for basketball his freshman year, and Standard Speaker Male Athlete of the Year his senior year.

• After high school, Brayden attended Susquehanna University where he obtained a Bachelors degree in Business Management. Brayden was also a member of the Susquehanna University football team where they won two conference championships in the Centennial conference and Landmark conference.

• Currently, Brayden works as a Clients Service Manager for 365 Health Services and resides in Manayunk, Philadelphia County.

EMMA KUCZYNSKI

Class of 2020

• Emma is a 2020 graduate of Tamaqua High school. During her time at Tamaqua she was a distinguished athlete in basketball and soccer. She is third on the school’s all-time goals list for soccer. She was named the Republican & Herald Girls Rookie Basketball Player of the Year as a freshman, and finished her basketball career third on the school’s all-time scoring list with 2,010 points. She was named to the All-State girl’s basketball and soccer teams her senior year.

• After high school, Emma attended Thomas Jefferson University where she obtained her Bachelors Degree in Health Sciences and her MBA. She was also a member of the Jefferson Women’s Basketball Division II team, which won the CACC Championship during the 2023-2024 seasons. While on the team she was named to the CACC All-Tournament Team, the CACC Academic Team, CACC Academic All-District Team, the Academic Honor Roll - FAR Award of Distinction, and the CACC Academic Honor Roll - Presidents’ Level. In her final season, she was named the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association Division II Player of the week and scored her 1,000th point. She ended her collegiate basketball career with 1,063 points.

• Currently, Emma is pursuing her Doctorate degree in Physical Therapy at Thomas Jefferson University’s Center City campus. She currently resides in Manayunk, Philadelphia County.

BRONSON STROUSE

Class of 2020

• Bronson Strouse is a 2020 Tamaqua graduate, where he wrestled and played football all four years of his high school career. Bronson overcame a diagnosis of Type‑1 diabetes at the age 14, learning to manage his health with discipline and precision.

• In wrestling, Bronson currently ranks second on the all-time wins list with 143 victories. He was a two-time Schuylkill League champion (2018 and 2020). He was awarded most outstanding wrestler in 2020. He was a three-time state qualifier during his sophomore, junior and senior years, and a state place winner his senior year. As a freshman (2016-17), Bronson had 28 wins and placed third at the District 11 championship. In the 2017-18 season, he had 40 wins, with a second-place finish in the District 11 Championship, and a sixth-place finish at the Southeast Regionals, which secured his spot at states in Hershey as a sophomore.

• During the 2018-19 season, he had 37 wins, including a first-place finish in the District 11 championship, third place in Southeast Regionals, and another trip to the PIAA State Championships. In his senior season (2019-20), Bronson had 38 wins, with a first-place finish in both the District 11 heavyweight championship and Southeast Regionals. Bronson’s season concluded with a sixth-place state finish at Hershey, making him the first heavyweight in Tamaqua history to medal at the PIAA State Championship. Bronson was named the 2020 Times News Wrestler of the Year, along with the most outstanding Wrestler at the Schuylkill League Championship.

• In football, Bronson was a four-year letterman. He was part of the 2019-2020 District 11 Championship team, which led to a state semi-finalist appearance. Along with this, he was named to the 2019 PA Football Class 3A All-State team.

Bronson continued his football career for two years following high school at Bloomsburg University, until attending the Northwest Lineman College and graduating from there in June of 2023.

• Bronson is currently an apprentice lineman for the local 1319 Electrical Union, and hopes to continue his apprenticeship to one day become a Journeyman Lineman.

THE 1980 4X100 METER TRACK AND FIELD TEAM

• The 1980 4x100 meter relay team won a District 11 championship. Team members included Joe Lakitsky, Ted Keich, Steve Comisac and Mark McCarroll. This team went on to place fourth at the PIAA State Championships.

• They broke the existing school record on May 13, 1980 with a time of 44.4 seconds, which was also a county record at the time. The team also held the county 4x200 relay record at that time which they set at the Pottsville Relays. On May 23, 1980 in the preliminary round of the state championships, they once again broke the school record with a time of 43.77, which allowed them to advance to the finals. In the finals, where they finished fourth, they had a time of 44.02.

Other footnotes in addition to the above of each individual include:

• Joe Lakitsky: School record holder in the 100m and 200m accomplished in the 1980 season. 1980 District 11 Gold medals in 100m and 200m run and state qualifier in both events. Member of 1979 Schuylkill League and District 11 4x100 Gold medal team and state qualifier.

• Ted Keich: 200m school record holder in 1981, gold medal in District 11 200 meter race and state qualifier in this event. Member of 1979 4x400, and held the school record for this event and District 11 Gold medal and state qualifier in this event. Member of 1981 4x100 District 11 silver medal and state qualifier. Member of 1979 District 11 4x100 Gold medal team and state qualifier.

• Steve Comisac: Member of 1981 4x100 District 11 silver medal and state qualifier.

• Mark McCarroll: 400 meter school record holder with a time of 50.83 in 1981, Gold medal in the District 11 Triple Jump in 1981 and state qualifier, had second longest jump in school history. Member of 1981 4x100 District 11 silver medal and state qualifier.