The 26th Annual Jim Thorpe Sports Hall of Fame Banquet will be held at the Jim Thorpe Memorial Hall on August 15th.

The cost will be $35 per person and includes dinner and selected drinks. At the conclusion of the Award Ceremony, musical entertainment will be provided. Cocktail hour will begin at 5 p.m, dinner at 6 p.m., the Induction Ceremony at 7:15 p.m. and the entertainment should commence at 8:30 p.m.This year's inductees include Ryan Bennick (Class of 2003), Josh Hontz (Class of 2008), Michael Paulas (Class of 1966), Phil Redline (Class of 2008), Genia Cooper Wasilewski (Class of 2002), and the 1959 Jim Thorpe Area High School baseball team, which was coached by Jack Heycock.Bennick was a wrestler who compilied a varsity career record of 106-32 with a total of 55 career pins. He finished third at the 2002 PIAA District 11 Tournament and was a State Qualifier. In 2003, he captured a silver medal at District and finished 5th in the PIAA State Championships.Hontz was a three sports athlete at Jim Thorpe where he played football, basketball and track and field. He won four varsity letters in football, four in track and field and three in basketball.He was the 2007 Lehigh Valley Football Scholar Athlete Award Winner. In 2008, he won the gold in the javelin in both the Schuylkill League and District 11 Track and Field championships.Paulas earned three varsity letter for his time on the gridiron as an Olympian. His 1965 team became the first championship football team in Jim Thorpe history, finishing with a 6-2 overall record and winning the Panther Valley/Carbon County Championship. He also lettered four years in baseball.Redline took park in football and track and field all four years of his high school career at Jim Thorpe, earning varsity letters all four years in both sports. He's second all-time in rushing yards at Jim Thorpe with 2,750 yards and second in scoring with 244 points. He was the former school record holder in the 100 and 200 meter dashes and also held a record with the 400 meter relay team.Cooper Wasilewski received 10 varsity letters throughout her days in Jim Thorpe High School. Four with basketball, three in tennis, two in softball and one in cross country. She is one of the most decorated female athletes to come out of Jim Thorpe High School and led the basketball, softball and tennis teams to multiple playoff appearances during her career.The 1959 baseball team captured the first baseball championship in school history, winning the Mountain League title. Coach Heycock's squad included Paul Hydro, James Borosh, William Wliyte, Gary Hiller, Don Deemer, Philip Rader, Charles McHugh, Joe Schweibinz, Norman Rimbey, John Brozino, Wayne Reabold, Michael Cibic, Art Guth, George Weiksner, Joe Karper, Stroud Hiller, Jack Utsick, James Billig and Don Becker.