The Carbon County Hall of Sports Hall of Fame committee will hold its 2026 induction dinner and program on Sunday, May 24, at the Franklin Township Volunteer Fire Company hall.

The ceremony will honor 25 inductees from six Carbon County communities, and Coaldale and Tamaqua, who were selected for the honor by committees representing each of the towns.

The doors will open at 12:30 p.m., and the banquet will commence at 1:45 p.m.

The inductees include:

Coaldale – Christa (Mantz) Evanko, John Molotzak and Dr. Karoline Vavra.

Jim Thorpe – Walt Schlenner, David Reese and Joe Rader.

Lansford – John “Jack” Steber, John Hackash Jr. and Jake Figner.

Lehighton – Glenn Neff, Jacen Nalesnik and Rick Kirkendall.

Nesquehoning – Dr. Mark Makovec, Mike Makovec, Ryan Richards and Mike Lopata.

Palmerton – Geno Roberts, Darryl Roberts and Jerry Snyder.

Summit Hill – Ed Shober Jr., Fred Cinicola and Victor Koshuta.

Tamaqua – Brayden Knoblauch, Emma Kuczynski and Amber Carroll.

Tickets to the event are available from the following: Dan McGinley, 570-325-3550; Vince Spisak, 570-645-4542; Jake Boyer, 610-751-6634; Trevor Lawrence, 570-645-4722; Bill Gardiner, 570-669-6564; Bob Gelatko, 570-645-7565; Evan Evans, 570-645-7716; Jeff Hager, 610-737-2577; and Brandon Heffelfinger, 570-273-5555 or 570-449-6664.

The inductees representing Coaldale are as follows:

Christa (Mantz) Evanko

Christa (Mantz) Evanko, a 2010 Panther Valley High School graduate from Coaldale, was a three-sport athlete who excelled in track and field, swimming and, most notably, volleyball, garnering league and district acclaim as an outside hitter for the Black, Gold and White. Mantz-Evanko also balanced her academics with her athletics, as she was a member of the school’s National Honor Society and earned Distinguished Honors all four years of high school.

During the spring sports season, Mantz-Evanko competed in track and field as a sprinter and jumper. In the winter, she was a key member of the vaunted Lady Panther swim teams that were 2007 Pennsylvania state runners-up, 2008 District 11 gold medalists and 2009 Schuylkill League champions.

It was in the fall, on the volleyball court, where Mantz-Evanko left her mark as an outstanding player in what is historically Panther Valley’s most successful female sport. She broke into the starting varsity lineup as a sophomore and remained a starter through her junior and senior seasons. Along the way, she was a top player and leader for head coach Nancy Filer’s teams, which enjoyed tremendous success. In her four years, the Panthers were 49-18 overall, a winning percentage of .731, and won the Schuylkill League Division 2 championship in her senior year.

Mantz-Evanko’s list of individual accomplishments is impressive. She was named team captain during her junior and senior years. Upon graduation, she held the school record (modern five-set volleyball era) in both kills (525) and aces (199), and was third all-time in digs (438). She currently ranks ninth, fifth and 15th in those respective categories. Her postseason honors include first-team Schuylkill League Division 2 all-star selections in both her junior and senior seasons and a second-team All-District 11 selection as a senior.

Upon graduating, coach Filer remarked, “Christa has always been a dominating force on the court. I believe her presence will be felt at the college level, due to her determination to win and her natural athletic ability.” Those words proved prophetic as Mantz-Evanko moved on to Albright College, where she was an outstanding player for four years before graduating in 2014.

She made an immediate impact, playing in every match as a freshman and recording 118 kills. As a sophomore, her role expanded, and her 234 kills led the team while she also finished second with 273 digs. In her junior year, she totaled 193 kills, 245 digs and 21 aces.

Her senior season was her most well-rounded, as she again surpassed 200 kills with 207 while recording career highs in digs (372) and aces (38). She was named the team’s 2013 MVP. Over four seasons, she totaled 752 kills, 935 digs, 73 blocks and 78 aces.

After college, she remained connected to the sport through coaching, helping develop young athletes with Anthracite Volleyball Academy, Schuylkill Storm and 209 Fusion. She also served as a varsity assistant at Schuylkill Valley (one year), Tamaqua (four years) and Panther Valley (six years). At her alma mater, she was part of Emilie Baker’s staff that won the 2019 District 11 championship and the 2023 Schuylkill League title.

Christa is the daughter of Donald and Mary Mantz. She has a brother, Aaron. She resides in Coaldale and is married to Rich Evanko. Together, they have two children, Bryce, 6, and Chase, 3.

She is employed as an elementary teacher in the Tamaqua Area School District.

John Molotzak

John Molotzak began his football career at Coaldale High School as the starting center on coach Geno Poli’s Tiger teams.

He saw considerable playing time as a freshman, earning a varsity letter, and followed it up as the starting snapper on Coaldale’s undefeated 1962 squad. He continued at center as a junior, and during the “Poli era,” he and his teammates compiled a remarkable 28-5 record.

As a senior, he moved to defensive tackle during the inaugural season of the Panther Valley Jointure. Over his four years, earning four varsity letters, his teams compiled a 35-9 record.

Molotzak went on to Millersville University, where he pursued golf and earned three varsity letters with the Marauders.

After graduation, he was hired as a math teacher in the Allentown School District, teaching at Harrison-Morton Junior High School. In 1971, he became an assistant football coach, and in 1976 was named head coach. He also served as head track coach.

In 1980, he became an assistant football coach at Dieruff High School. He later served as head coach of the girls track team and the boys golf team until his retirement in 2003.

In 2000, he was inducted into the Dieruff High School Sports Hall of Fame. He remains active with the school, serving as the public address announcer for basketball games and wrestling meets.

Molotzak remains an avid golfer and has played at many courses throughout the United States and Europe. He has also served as a marshal at numerous PGA events.

He is married to the former Carol Jones of Lansford. They enjoy spending time with their triplet grandsons.

Dr. Karoline Vavra

Panther Valley High School graduate Dr. Karoline Vavra left her mark as a champion swimmer before continuing her success at East Stroudsburg University.

Swimming for the Lady Panthers from 2007-11, she was a bronze medalist at the 2008 PIAA state meet and a four-time District 11 champion and state qualifier.

In 2011, she won the District 11 50-yard freestyle title. Her accomplishments also include being part of District 11 championship and runner-up teams, an eight-time Schuylkill League champion, and Schuylkill League titles in the 50 freestyle (2009) and 100 breaststroke (2011). She was also twice named Schuylkill League Swimmer of the Year.

Vavra was also a varsity starter on Panther Valley’s softball teams from 2007-11, playing center field and shortstop as a key defensive player and consistent offensive contributor.

At ESU, she competed from 2011-15 and set school records in freestyle events. Her best times included 53.18 in the 100-yard freestyle and 1:57.37 in the 200-yard freestyle.

As a member of relay teams, she helped set school records in the 800-yard freestyle relay (7:52.46), 200-yard freestyle relay (1:37.70) and 400-yard freestyle relay (3:35.30).

She was a four-time PSAC Championships qualifier (2012-15), competing in the 50-, 100- and 200-yard freestyle events. She also recorded multiple victories in the 50- and 100-yard freestyle during her collegiate career.

Vavra received the Division II Athletic Directors’ Association Academic Achievement Award from 2013-15, was named to the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll (2012-15), and earned PSAC Scholar-Athlete honors from 2011-15.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in health and physical education in 2015, a master’s degree in sports management in 2016, and a doctorate in educational leadership and administration in 2020.