Lori (Juntila) Rupert, right, and Gwen Jackson talk during the reception for Northern Michigan University Sports Hall of Fame inductees in October 2008 in the University Center on campus. Rupert and Jackson were teammates on NMU’s women’s basketball team for three seasons. (Journal file photo)

MARQUETTE — The 23-member council of the Upper Peninsula Sports Hall of Fame recently held its annual meeting to select 10 inductees for the Class of 2026.

The 54th annual U.P. Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be held on Saturday, May 9, 2026, at the Island Resort & Casino in Harris.

Details about the banquet, including how to purchase tickets, will be available in March.

The inductees include three from The Mining Journal coverage area — Erica Helmila Smith of Marquette in track and field, Lori Juntila Rupert of Ishpeming in basketball and Fred Teddy of L’Anse in track and field and cross country.

The other inductees are Burt Angeli of Iron Mountain as a sports writer and sports editor of The Daily News, Andy Crouch of Lake Linden-Hubbell in football, Stephanie (Boyer) Lovell of Rapid River in track and field and basketball, David Miller of DeTour as a basketball coach, Janet (Hallfrisch) Sbar of Menominee in track and field, Mark Simon of Stephenson in basketball and Gary Sparpana of Iron Mountain in ski jumping.

More information about each inductee will also be announced around the time that banquet tickets become available in March.

Story contents based on email received from U.P. Sports Hall of Fame council member Ann Okonek. Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee’s email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.