Welcome to the page of the Mason County Sports Hall of Fame. Our vision to Recognize outstanding athletes & contributors. Share memories, preserve legacies, instill life lessons, and add value to our community in unique ways.

The Mason County Sports Hall of Fame announced the Class of 2026 inductees along with highlights of their respective accomplishments.

“Each year the sports hall of fame becomes more aware of the rich history of athletic talent in Mason County and choosing a class becomes extremely difficult,” stated Mason County Sports Hall of Fame President Fabian Knizacky. “We have so many deserving athletes that narrowing the list of names and choosing only five inductees is a challenge.”

The 2026 Class of Inductees are Kathy Calabretta, Steve Klemm, David Stubbs, the 1971 Free Soil Boys Basketball Team, and the Schoenherr Investment/FloraCraft Men’s Fastpitch Softball teams of 1988, 1990, 1991, and 1992.

The Mason County Sports Hall of Fame announces the Class of 2026 inductees along with highlights of their respective accomplishments. Read or download our news release here.

The MCSHOF Board of Directors are proud to announce the selection of inductees in this the 22nd anniversary of the initial class of 2005,” stated Mason County Sports Hall of Fame President Fabian Knizacky. “These inductees exhibit the highest level of athletic achievement and the board is proud to honor yet another excellent class of great athletes and teams.”

“With each new year, the sports hall of fame becomes more keenly aware of the rich history of athletic talent in Mason County and narrowing the selection to a class of five becomes increasingly challenging,” commented Knizacky “We have so many deserving athletes who span decades of achievement in Mason County.”

 

“The Sports Hall of Fame is proud to announce this outstanding class of athletes for the 2026 induction and are eager to honor them by celebrating and recognizing their achievements,” stated Knizacky. “The class of 2026 merits enshrinement into the Hall of Fame for their stellar level of athletic accomplishment. This year we will be inducting individuals from Free Soil, Ludington High School, and other accomplished athletes from Mason County.”

The enshrinement will take place on June 27, 2026. The unveiling of the class will be at noon at Historic White Pine Village (OPEN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC and is FREE Admissions), with the induction banquet held at 6 p.m. at Lincoln Hills Golf Club, on the same day. Tickets MUST be purchased in advance. Seating limited.

 

Banquet Tickets for the Class of 2026 Induction can be obtained by contacting:

Sharon McCumber:
Cell: 231-613-2428
Email: sharonmccumber@yahoo.com
Mark your calendars for the enshrinement of the 2026 class on June 27, 2026. Tickets are available beginning March 19, 2026.

The Mason County Sports Hall of Fame each year selects a female and male high school athlete to be honored as the HS Athlete of the Year. These honorees are selected from the area high schools and represent the TOP of their CLASS in athletic accomplishments, academic achievement, school and community service, and their character as demonstrated by respect, leadership, teamwork, discipline, perseverance, and over-coming adversity. These honorees reflect what the MCSHOF Board of Director’s feel we desire from our student athletes. Not just in the game performance, but beyond the game and what matters in life. Each honoree is provided a scholarship and other recognition for their selection as the HS Athlete of the Year.

View our High School Athletes of the Year here.

Mason County Sports Hall of Fame “Beyond the Game Spirit Award”. This is a very significant step for the MCSHOF as the initiation of this award reflects the emphasis that the MCSHOF places on the importance of sports and the role this activity and engagement prepares individuals to make a positive impact on those that these remarkable athletes engage, team, family, or community. This award may or may not be given out each year, based on the reflection of the MCSHOF Bd. to the impact an athlete, team, or other member of an athletic team that demonstrates the TRUE Spirit of what sports are all about beyond the game: Leadership, Respect, Teamwork, Perseverance, Discipline, and Over-Coming Adversity. In short TRUE CHARACTER! Sports teaches you about winning and losing, but most important, sports teach you about LIFE.

View our Spirit Award honorees here.

The Mason County Sports Hall of Fame is pleased to announce the establishment of their Annual Mason County Sports Hall of Fame Life Lesson Awards athletes from the Mason County area High Schools. The award is given to a female/male high school senior athlete, from each school, that demonstrates the positive attributes that one learns from participating in athletic competition. In 2024, we added a Life Lesson Honoree from Area 24 Special Olympics. Sports teach individuals a lot more than the skills to run, swim, handle a ball, racket, bat, club, or stick, and condition their bodies and minds for strenuous and challenging activities. Participation in individual and team sports teaches athletes important life lessons, “Beyond the game..”, that can be applied to any relationship, activity, or professional life. As a noted professional athlete stated: “Sports teaches you character, it teaches you to play by the rules, it teaches you to know what it feels like to WIN and LOSE—it teaches you about LIFE!” Each area high school’s coaches and Athletic Director have selected the student athlete in their respective school as the recipient of this award, based on the athlete’s demonstration of Teamwork, Leadership, Perseverance, Discipline, Respect, and or Over-Coming Adversity. In addition to the award recognition, the MCSHOF will donate $100.00 to the Charity of the recipient’s selection, in their name.

View our Life Lesson honorees here.

The Mason County Sports Hall of Fame invites you to visit our Value of Sports Museum which opened in 2020 next to the Historic White Pine Village. It is a venue that will make all inductees proud, and honored, to be a formal part of this new sports museum.

The Value of Sports Museum is presented in cooperation with the Mason County Historical Society, and in collaboration with Van Heest & Associates Exhibit Designers. The venue is called: “Beyond the Game: the Value of Sports.”

View the Value of Sports Museum web page at ValueOfSports.org.

In addition to honoring and recognizing our area’s outstanding athletes, contributors, and teams, the hall will focus on, and feature exhibits that reflect the six significant life lessons that athletics can teach.  Leadership, respect, embracing teamwork, overcoming adversity, understanding perseverance, and developing character.  In addition, there will be five areas of emphasis that have contributed greatly to the legacy of Mason County Sports.  These legacy exhibits will focus on the MacPhail family; the five consecutive MHSAA state girls gymnastics championships;  the Mason County Eastern girls softball dominance of 32 consecutive years of winning at least the state MHSAA District softball championship, among many other championships; the Jensens family sports legacy; and, the legacy of Mason County Fast-Pitch softball.  Five decades of 50 plus male and female teams that won countless district, regional, state, and national championships. Also featured in the renovated MCSHF exhibits will be nine local hall of fame athletes and their respective stories on the values learned from sports that have contributed to their life success after sports. 

Also, the renovated hall of fame will have interactive touch screens for viewing the achievements and stories of the 86 inductees into the MCSHF, and the high school male and female athletes of the year.  There will be opportunities to engage with other interactive exhibits, and photo ops with some of the world’s most famous athletes next to life size images.  It is the goal of the MCSHF to continue to recognize outstanding athletes & contributors.  Share memories, preserve legacies, instill life lessons, and add value to our community in unique ways. 

Mason County Sports Hall of Fame VISION Statement: “Recognize outstanding athletes & contributors.  Share memories, preserve legacies, instill life lessons, and add value to our community in unique ways.”