The Northeastern Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame is set to welcome its Class of 2026 in a ceremony that will take place on October 4 at 5 p.m. at Fiorelli’s in Peckville, Pennsylvania.
Celebrating a new class of legends
Among the inductees, basketball mentors Andrew Kettel and Bob Beviglia join cross‑country coach Will Squier, each bringing decades of triumphs to the region’s athletic lore.
Kettel, who amassed 279 victories across Lackawanna Trail, Scranton Prep and Keystone College, has captured multiple championships, while Beviglia’s 240‑53 record at Scranton Prep includes four District 2 Class 4A titles and a run to the PIAA Class 4A semifinals.
Squier, the Elk Lake cross‑country coach, boasts 745 boys’ wins and 697 girls’ wins, having guided his teams to three PIAA championships and numerous state runner‑up finishes.
The ceremony also honors standout athletes such as Katie Dammer of Abington Heights, who collected nine state medals — four in cross‑country and four in track — and earned seven all‑state selections.
Other inductees include former Scranton Central golfer James Gordon, who founded the school’s golf program and captured titles at Griffiths Air Force Base and Skyline Golf Course; Lakeland quarterback Evan Kraky, a 36‑6 career passer who set state records for yards and touchdowns; and Jack Ott, a Riverside alumnus who excelled as a linebacker at Potomac State Junior College before returning as a coach.
Kayleigh Semion of Dunmore joins the class with a 1,323‑point career, while Bruce Smallacombe, a 72‑year‑old bowler and softball player, continues to add to his 16 league championships and multiple high‑game and high‑average awards.
The event will also present service recognitions, with John Davies receiving the Tom ‘Doc’ Doherty Service Award for his decades as a public‑address announcer at Lackawanna County Stadium, and Larry Holeva honored with the John McCormick Media Award, marking the first year such media and service accolades are bestowed.
Beyond the individual achievements, the induction underscores the Hall of Fame’s growing commitment to celebrating not only athletic excellence but also the contributors who shape the region’s sports culture.