The Tamaqua Area Athletic Hall of Fame will induct seven new members as part of its 20th class prior to tonight’s football game against Jim Thorpe.
The inductees will be honored with a plaque as part of a pre-game ceremony set to begin around 6:40 p.m. Kickoff time for the football game is 7:10 p.m.
This year’s inductees include:
Herb Welsh
Class of 1956
Welsh was a two-year member of the Tamaqua football program, played four years of basketball and was a four-year member of the track and field team. He was also the Class of 1956 president for three years.
After high school, Welsh attended Stevens Technical Institute, where he played basketball for three years.
Welsh is most known for his years of service to the Schuylkill League, District 11 and the PIAA as an official. Welsh was a PIAA basketball and football official for 42 years, working the 1986-87 PIAA state basketball playoffs, and officiated college basketball games for 25 years.
Welsh has been a member of the District 11 Committee for the past 25 years, serving as the officials’ representative. He’s the chairman for the District 11 Cross Country and Track and Field Championships and has served on the PIAA Board of Directors.
Welsh has been employed by EIC insulation for the past 52 years. He and his wife, Annetta, reside in New Ringgold. They are the parents of a daughter, Michelle Stelmack, and two grandsons, Kyle and Tyler.
Howie Miller
Class of 1984
Miller was a two-sport standout for Tamaqua, excelling in basketball and football.
A three-year starter in basketball, Miller finished with 951 career points. He was a starter on the Blue Raiders’ 1982-83 squad that was the PIAA Class AA state runner-up, and was named to the Associated Press All-State team as a senior.
In football, Miller was a two-year starter at quarterback and safety, and also handled the kicking and punting duties. Miller earned All-Anthracite and All-Schuylkill County honors before attending Brown University to play football.
Miller is still involved in local sports as a volunteer for youth baseball and soccer. He is a member of the Tamaqua chain gang for home football games.
Miller is a project manager for Clear Channel Airports. He and his wife, Corinne, live in Tamaqua with their three children, Dair, Tucker and Kendle.
Jennifer Kromer
Class of 1994
Kromer was a three-sport standout for the Raiders, participating in volleyball, basketball and track and field.
In volleyball, Kromer was the 1993 Times News Player of the Year and earned District 11 and Schuylkill League honors after leading the Blue Raiders to the District 11 Class AAA playoffs for the first time since 1981. In track and field, Kromer competed in districts in the high jump, triple jump and 400-meter relay and helped Tamaqua to a share of the Schuylkill League title.
Kromer went on to Lehigh Carbon Community College, where she excelled in volleyball. She was inducted into the inaugural LCCC Hall of Fame class in 2002 for her contributions to the 1994 and 1995 volleyball teams.
Over those two seasons, Kromer was named to the National Junior College Athletic Association All-Region team, Eastern Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference all-conference team and earned Pennsylvania Collegiate Athletic Association all-state honors.
Kromer is the daughter of LeRoy and Regina Kromer of Andreas. She resides on a farmette in Andreas with her significant other, Rob. She is employed at Infinera in Allentown working in the fiber optics industry.
Eileen Gurcsik-Pinkey
Class of 2005
Gurcsik-Pinkey was a four-year letterwinner in volleyball, swimming and track and field.
She excelled in the pool, where she was a 1,000-point scorer, District 11 gold medalist and PIAA state qualifier. She held numerous school records upon her graduation, and still holds the mark in the 200 freestyle relay (1:42.65).
Gurcsik-Pinkey finished her career with a District 11 gold medal in the 200 medley relay, five district silvers and two bronze. She qualified for states in the 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle and 200 and 400 freestyle relays.
In track and field, Gurcsik-Pinkey helped Tamaqua go undefeated in dual meets all four years. She earned District 11 silver medals in the 100 and 200 and was a PIAA state qualifier.
After graduation, Gurcsik-Pinkey attended Kutztown University, from which she graduated cum laude in 2009 with a BSBA in management. She is working toward an MBA from DeSales University.
Gurcsik-Pinkey is a customer service team leader at Uline in Breiningsville. She resides in Upper Macungie with her husband, Joe.
Andrew Snyder
Class of 2006
Snyder left his mark on the wrestling mat, where he ranks 10th on the all-time school wins chart with a career mark of 99-37.
Snyder compiled season records of 16-14, 23-10, 24-5 and 36-8, placing eighth at 140 pounds at the PIAA Class AA Wrestling Championships his senior season.
A four-time Schuylkill League medal-winner, Snyder was the champion at 140 pounds as a senior and runner-up at 135 pounds as a junior. He was third at the District 11 Tournament as a senior and placed fifth at regionals to qualify for states.
An Eagle Scout, Snyder entered the Coast Guard Academy after graduation and earned a degree in civil engineering. He also continued his wrestling career, as he was a two-time New England Wrestling Association placewinner.
Snyder is an active duty Lieutenant (O-3) in the Coast Guard Air Station in New Orleans, where he resides with his wife, Emily.
Jim Gurcsik
Class of 2007
Gurcsik was a three-sport letterwinner for the Blue Raiders, excelling in swimming, football and track and field.
A four-year member of the swimming and diving program, Gurcsik set seven Tamaqua swimming records, two Panther Valley pool swimming records and one Blue Mountain pool diving record.
As a senior, Gurcsik won the District 11 Class AA diving championship and qualified for the PIAA Swimming Championships in both the 100 freestyle and diving. He placed 28th in the 100 and 13th in diving. He was named The Republican-Herald Swimmer of the Year.
An Eagle Scout, Gurcsik graduated from The Culinary Institute of America in 2010 with high honors and a bachelor’s degree in hotel and restaurant management. He is working on his master’s degree in career and technical education at Temple University.
Gurcsik is the culinary arts teacher at Schuylkill County AVTS South campus. He resides in Tamaqua with his wife, Amy, and their two children, Selina and Eli.
Katelin Hummel
Class of 2010
Hummel was a three-sport standout for Tamaqua, earning letters in soccer, diving and track and field.
In soccer, Hummel was a four-time Republican-Herald All-Area first-team selection as a defender, helping the Blue Raiders win the 2007 Schuylkill League championship and the 2008 and 2009 District 11 Class AA crowns. As a senior, she was selected to the All-State first team and was the Republican-Herald Co-Player of the Year.
Hummel was a two-time Schuylkill League diving champion, winning Rookie Diver of the Year honors. In track, Hummel competed in the 400 relay, 1,600 relay, 400 meters and pole vault, qualifying for states three times.
Hummel went on to attend Alvernia University, obtaining a degree in forensic science while being a four-year starter on the women’s soccer team. During her tenure, the Crusaders set school records for victories and reached the Commonwealth Conference semifinals three times.
The Andreas resident is listed as a cadet at the Pennsylvania State Police Academy. Upon her graduation in December, she will become a PA state trooper.