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Tom Kresge

Thomas J. Kresge, one of the founders of the Western Pocono Jaycees' basketball program, is this year's Spirit of Basketball Award winner. The Jaycees' program, which was started in 1982 at the 5th and 6th grade level, was instrumental to the development of basketball in the West End and the Pleasant Valley School District . Tom ran the program for 17 years. He was involved in all aspects, including coordinating gym times, scheduling practices and games, refereeing, and, of course, coaching.  The Jaycee program grew from 8 players his first year, to well over 100 hundred participants by the end of Tom's tenure.  During that time, the 5th and 6th grade teams won 2 Greater Pocono Basketball Tournaments, a Pocono Mountain Tournament and an East Stroudsburg Tournament.  After his work with the Jaycees, Tom went on to volunteer as an assistant coach for Pleasant Valley at the 7th and 8th grade level. He served in this capacity for 2 seasons, and then served as head 8th grade coach for 1 year.  For the past two seasons, he has volunteered his time as an assistant for the Pleasant Valley junior varsity team. In 1996, Tom was honored with the " Outstanding Service to Youth " award, presented to him by long-time Stroudsburg middle school coach Bill White. Tom continues to be involved in basketball, and continues to have a positive influence on players in the Pleasant Valley basketball program.