NORTHAMPTON, Pa. – East Stroudsburg University's Gary Kessel '77, Jeff Wilson '86 M'92 and Clyde "Red" Witman will be inducted into the Lehigh Valley-Pocono Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday, May 11 at the Northampton Banquet and Event Center, the organization announced.

Gary Kessel, who was inducted into the ESU Hall of Fame in 1995, wrestled for the Warriors from 1974 through 1977. A two-time NCAA Division II America-American after placing second and fifth in the nation, Kessel won the 150-pound class at the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association Championships in 1977. Additionally, he captured a pair of Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference titles (1976-77) and was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler at the conference championships in 1977. Kessel served as assistant coach after graduating and went on to have an outstanding career as an official on the national scene. He was honored as the New Jersey state official of the year in 2008 and is currently his eighth year as the EIWA president.

Jeff Wilson, ESU's men's basketball head coach since 2002-03, has turned the Warriors into a powerhouse in both the PSAC and NCAA Division II Atlantic Region. Entering his 22nd season in 2024-25, Wilson compiled a 406-202 record with eight PSAC East regular season titles, and three PSAC Championships and has guided the Warriors to seven of the programs' eight NCAA Tournaments. He guided ESU to its first NCAA DII Atlantic Region title (Elite Eight) in 2017-18. He became ESU's all-time wins leader in 2013-14 and ranks fourth in PSAC history with 406 career wins, picking up his 400th career victory against Shepherd on February 3rd. Wilson has recruited and coached 26 All-PSAC players that have combined for 40 selections, along with six all-region honorees and two All-Americans in Whis Grant and Matt Tobin. Under Wilson's watch, ESU has recorded at least 16 wins in each of the past 17 seasons, and has compiled ten 20-plus win seasons under his watch.

Clyde "Red" Witman coached the ESU men's wrestling team for 17 years between 1961-1979, served as the athletic director for nine years and was inducted into the ESU Hall of Fame in 1990. Witman guided the Warriors to Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference titles in 1968 and 1971 as well as a seventh place finish at the NCAA Division I nationals in 1966. He boasted a record of 180-76-6 and holds the program record for longest wrestling coach tenure, most dual wins and is second in win percentage. Witman guided 22 wrestlers to PSAC individual championships and more than 20 All-American medalists.

Other local inductees include Jeff Kashner, Kristen Maloney, Bill McCaffrey, Bob Stem and Bill Zimpfer.

Festivities at the Northampton Banquet and Event Center will begin at 5:30 p.m., with the banquet set to begin at 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $45 and can be purchased by calling Denny Douds at 570-460-9778.