The District 11 Hall of Fame committee recently announced this year’s class of inductees.

The Hall of Fame Class of 2026 includes Bob Chandler, Erika (Barron) Davis, Amanda Gerhard, Keith Groller, Jake Jakobsen, Ken Lacey, Brian Neefe, Mike Seip Stacy Perryman, Steve Shiffert, Andre Williams, Frank Yelinko and Mike Zambelli.

The 13 inductees were selected from nominations made by member schools, officials’ chapters and media members. Nominees are selected on their accomplishments on the high school level and are not inclusive of accomplishments outside of high school athletics.

Constituencies may nominate additional athletes by completing the forms located on the District 11 website, www.districtxi.com. The nomination deadline is May 1 of each year.

This year’s Hall of Fame ceremony will take place on Sunday, Oct/ 18 at 4 p.m. at the The Delta Hotel in Breinigsville. Dinner will precede the induction ceremony. Tickets for the event are $65 and can be purchased by contacting District 11 Vice Chairman Ray Ramella at rramella@nazarethasd.org. The deadline to purchase tickets is Oct. 1.

Here’s more about this year’s Hall of Fame class.

Bob Chandler was one of the most accomplished distance runners in Northern Lehigh history, capping his high school career with the 1992 PIAA Class 2A Cross Country State Championship and the 1993 PIAA Class AA 3200-meter State Championship. A three-time District XI and Centennial League cross country champion, Chandler also earned two PIAA state cross country bronze medals, set the District 11 AA 3200-meter record, won 11 varsity letters and established multiple Northern Lehigh and Centennial League records. He was twice named Northern Lehigh Athlete of the Year and was later inducted into the school’s Ring of Honor.

Erika (Barron) Davis was one of the most accomplished multisport athletes in Tamaqua Area High School history, earning varsity letters in basketball, track and field, cross country and volleyball. She finished her basketball career as the school’s all-time leading scorer (boys or girls) with 2,317 points, earned first-team All-State honors as a junior and second-team honors as a senior and had her No. 3 jersey retired, becoming just the second female player in school history to receive that honor. Davis was a three-time PIAA Track & Field state qualifier and a member of a District 11 championship cross country team.

Amanda Gerhard was one of the premier multisport athletes in Catasauqua High School history, earning 14 varsity letters in soccer, field hockey, basketball and track and field. A three-time Colonial League first-team selection in girls soccer, she was named The Morning Call Player of the Year in 2008 and earned PSCA All-State and NSCAA Regional All-America honors in both 2007 and 2008. Gerhard helped lead Catasauqua to two Colonial League championships, the 2007 District 11 title, and the 2007 PIAA Class A state runner-up finish while concluding her career as the leading female goal scorer in District 11 history with 152 goals. She also captured District 11 track championships in the 100- and 200-meter dashes. She was inducted into the Catasauqua High School Hall of Fame in 2023.

Keith Groller has been one of the most respected and recognizable voices in District 11 athletics during a distinguished career spanning more than four decades with The Morning Call. Since joining the newspaper in 1983, Groller has provided comprehensive coverage of high school sports, becoming a trusted source for athletes, coaches and fans throughout the Lehigh Valley. Known for his insightful reporting, feature writing and commitment to promoting local athletics, he has chronicled countless championship moments while shining a spotlight on generations of District 11 student-athletes. His dedication to high school sports has earned numerous state and national journalism honors, and his work has played a significant role in preserving the rich history and traditions of District 11 athletics, making him one of the area’s most influential sports journalists.

Jake Jakobsen established himself as one of the most dominant wrestlers in District 11 and Pennsylvania history during his career at Stroudsburg High School. He compiled an outstanding 146-23 record, won three varsity letters and became the first wrestler in Monroe County history to capture a PIAA state championship, claiming the Class AAA title in 2016 after finishing as the state runner-up in 2015. Jakobsen also won the 2015 Northeast Regional championship, earned two Morning Call All-Area first-team selections and was named the 2016 Wrestler of the Year.

Ken Lacey was one of the most dominant basketball players in Stroudsburg High School history, leading the Mountaineers to the 1996 District 11 Class 4A championship while rewriting the school’s record book. He set single-season school records with 702 points, 380 rebounds, and a 62.2 percent field goal percentage. Lacey was named The Morning Call Player of the Year, Mountain Valley Conference Player of the Year, a two-time MVC champion and first-team all-conference selection, a two-time All-Area selection and earned second-team All-State honors and Honorable Mention McDonald’s All-America recognition.

Brian Neefe built one of the most accomplished and respected coaching careers in District 11 history during his 52 seasons as Southern Lehigh High School’s head softball coach from 1972–2024. Under his leadership, the Spartans compiled an incredible 847-269 record while capturing 28 Colonial League championships and nine District 11 titles. His teams reached the PIAA state championship game in 1977 and advanced to the state semifinals four times.

Stacy Perryman established herself as one of the premier multisport athletes in East Stroudsburg history before enjoying a successful coaching career. She scored 1,692 career basketball points, finishing as the school’s all-time leading female scorer and second overall. A 12-time varsity letter winner, Perryman earned MVP honors in field hockey, basketball and softball, was a two-time Centennial League girls basketball champion, and was recognized as the school’s outstanding all-around female athlete.

Mike Seip devoted more than five decades to high school swimming, building one of the most successful and influential coaching careers in District 11 history. As the head swimming coach at Emmaus High School from 1982–2001, he guided the Hornets to an extraordinary 442 combined dual-meet victories, 26 PIAA state championships, 23 District 11 team titles, and 31 league championships. His athletes earned 77 All-America honors, and his leadership was recognized with three EPC Coach of the Year awards.

Steve Shiffert built one of the most successful football coaching careers in District 11 history during more than four decades on the sidelines. He served as the Easton Red Rovers’ head coach from 1993–2016. Shiffert compiled a remarkable 216-89-1 record, becoming the winningest head football coach in Easton history, while also posting a 17-6-1 mark in the storied Easton-Phillipsburg rivalry. Under Shiffert’s leadership, Easton captured six league championships, five District 11 titles, and reached 13 district championship games while advancing to three PIAA Eastern Finals.

Andre Williams enjoyed one of the most dominant football careers in District 11 history at Parkland High School before going on to national success at the collegiate and professional levels. As a senior in 2010, Williams rushed for 1,913 yards and 33 touchdowns, earned Morning Call Player of the Year honors, and received All-State recognition while establishing himself as one of the premier running backs in Pennsylvania. He was also a standout track and field athlete, excelling in the sprints and hurdles. Williams continued his career at Boston College, where he became one of the nation’s top running backs. Selected by the New York Giants in the fourth round of the 2014 NFL Draft, Williams played four seasons in the NFL and was a member of the Super Bowl LIII champion New England Patriots.

Frank Yelinko served as head of the Salisbury High School baseball team from 1971-1999. During his tenure, he compiled a remarkable overall record of 401-252. He amassed ten Colonial League Championships along with four District 11 titles and nine PIAA State appearances. Yelinko also served as head Boys Basketball coach for the Falcons for seven years where he had an overall record of 118-71 with two Colonial League Championships and a District XI Championship in 1996.

Mike Zambelli has been a driving force in the coverage and promotion of District 11 athletics through a distinguished career with Service Electric Network. For more than three decades, he has served as a producer, director, and on-air personality, helping bring high school football, basketball, wrestling, baseball, softball, and other championship events into homes across the Lehigh Valley. Zambelli has played a key role in developing Service Electric’s award-winning local sports programming, showcasing countless student-athletes and memorable moments while elevating the visibility of District 11 sports. Mike has also served as the Master of Ceremonies for the District 11 Hall of Fame banquet since its inception.