Reservations for the 54th Annual Upper Peninsula Sports Hall of Fame Induction Banquet are now being taken. The induction ceremony will be held on Saturday, May 9th at the Island Resort and Casino in Harris, located 15 miles west of Escanaba. Banquet reservations are $40 per person. The evening begins with a social hour at 5:00 (all times Eastern) followed by a brief introduction and meal at 6:00 p.m. The induction ceremony follows dinner.

For more information or to reserve a seat, please call one of the following Council members: Terry Duval (906-286-1371), Chuck Vercoe (906-396-2271), Mike Caruso (906-396-9270), Phil DeGabrielle (906-250-1882), Mike Maki (906-282-0439), Don Gustafson (906-298-0174), Cathy Shamion (906-364-0961) or Anne Okonek (906-280-2587). The deadline for making reservations for seats is April 22nd. Council members encourage UPSHF inductees from previous years to join the celebration!

The UPSHF Class of 2026 inductees are Burt Angeli (sports writer/editor, Iron Mountain), Andy Crouch (football, Lake Linden-Hubbell), Stephanie (Boyer) Lovell (track/basketball, Rapid River,), David Miller (basketball coach, DeTour), Erica Helmila Smith (track and field, Marquette,), Lori Juntila Rupert (basketball, Ishpeming), Janet (Hallfrisch) Sbar (track, Menominee), Mark Simon (basketball, Stephenson), Gary Sparpana (ski jumper, Iron Mountain) and Fred Teddy (track/cross country, L’Anse).

A block of rooms has been reserved for those interested in staying overnight. To book your room, call the Island at 1-800-682-6040 and tell them that you’re attending the U.P. Sports Hall of Fame banquet to obtain the special rate. Reservations for rooms must be made no later than April 24th.

Do you know someone that should be considered for induction into the UP Sports Hall of Fame? Anyone can nominate a candidate for membership in the UPSHF by completing the nomination form that can be found on the UP Sports Hall of Fame website at upshf.com. Nominations are due by June 1st annually.