GLENSIDE - The Arcadia University Hall of Fame selection committee has announced the election of four member to its Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony will take place on Saturday, October 3rd during Homecoming Weekend. The ceremony will mark the 13th class to be inducted since the Hall of Fame's inception in 2008.

The Arcadia Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2026 is comprised of four former student-athletes - Austin Braas '20 (Men's Volleyball), Grant Fisher '18 (Men's Swimming), Phil Pierfy '19 (Men's Basketball and Baseball), and Veronica Pontis '19 (Women's Soccer and Track & Field).

Austin Braas '20
Men's Volleyball
A four-year member of the Arcadia men's volleyball team, Braas was a member of the inaugural team and helped set a standard of success that carries through to the present day. In his first season, Braas was named Arcadia's Male Rookie of the Year, All-ECAC, and the ECAC Division III South Rookie of the Year. In 2018, Braas earned First Team All-MAC honors. In 2019, Braas exploded on to the national stage, earning First Team All-American honors from AVCA, while also earning First Team All-MAC honors, while also finishing the season as the NCAA Individual Champion in hitting percentage at .474, and leading the Knights to their first MAC Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance. In 2020, Braas again was named a First Team All-American, All-East Region, and was again the NCAA Individual Champion in hitting percentage. Braas was named Arcadia's Male Athlete of the year in 2018-19, and the Senior Athlete of the Year in 2019-20.

For his career, Braas stands first in hitting percentage (.406), and blocks (374), third in kills (898), and ninth in service aces (66). For season records, Braas is first (2019),third (2018), and fourth (2017) in blocks, second (2019), third (2020), and fifth (2018) in hitting percentage, and third in kills (2019).  

In the classroom, Braas was named Academic All-MAC and to the MAC Academic Honor Roll all three seasons he was eligible. 

Braas graduated in 2020 with a degree in Criminal Justice, and is currently a loan underwriter in Lancaster, Pa.

Grant Fisher '18
Men's Swimming
A three-year member of the Arcadia men's swim team, Fisher joined a program on the rise and left it as one of the top in the conference. A six-time individual MAC Champion, Fisher won three-straight golds in the 500 freestyle and 1650 freestyle. Fisher earned three more golds as a member of the 2017 400 and 800 free relay teams, and the 2018 800 free relay. In all, Fisher was a 12-time all-conference selection, while securing an NCAA "B" cut in the 1650 freestyle in 2017-18, the second swimmer in program history to achieve the feat. During his tenure, the team went from finishing sixth at MAC's as a first-year, to second in his senior year.

For his career, Fisher holds the program record in the 500, 1000, and 1650 freestyle, while also holding the Lenox Pool record for the 1000 free, and is a member of the program record holder in the 800 free relay. In the classroom, Fisher was named Academic All-MAC in 2016-17, and was named to the Academic Honor Roll in 2016-17 and 2017-18.

Fisher graduated in 2018 with a degree in Business Administration, and is currently a pilot in the United States Navy stationed in Florida.

Phil Pierfy '19
Men's Basketball/Baseball
A four-year member of the men's basketball team and three-year member of the baseball team, Pierfy shined both on the hardwood and the diamond. On the court, Pierfy was a Second Team NABC All-District selection in 2018-19, First Team All-MAC Commonwealth as a senior, and Second Team All-MAC Commonwealth as a junior. On the baseball field, Pierfy was named First Team All-Region by the ABCA in 2018, First Team All-MAC Commonwealth in 2018, and Second Team All-MAC Commonwealth in 2019. Piery was a member of the 2017 and 2018 MAC Commonwealth baseball champions, and the 2019 MAC Commonwealth men's basketball champions. Pierfy was also named Arcadia's Male Athlete of the Year in 2017-18.

For his career in basketball, Pierfy ranks fifth in free throws made (230), seventh in points-per-game (13.1) and field goal percentage (.521), eighth in three-point percentage (.385), and ninth in total points (1191). In the baseball career records, Pierfy ranks third in batting average (.376), and slugging percentage (.557), fourth in doubles (49), sixth in runs batted in (126), and ninth in hits (181) and home runs (12). For men's basketball season records, Pierfy tied for first in games played (2018-2019), ranked second in three-point percentage (2016-17), sixth in field goal percentage (2018-17), and tied for seventh in points (2017-18). In the baseball season record books, Pierfy ranks second (2018), and tied for fourth (2019) in hits, fourth in total bases (2018), tied for sixth in batting average (2019) and hits (2018), tied for eighth in RBI's (2019), and tied for ninth in slugging percentage (2018). 

In the classroom, Pierfy was named to the MAC Academic Honor Roll in 2016.

Pierfy graduated in 2019 with a degree in Mathematics and earned a Master's in Sport Analysis from California University of Pennsylvania in 2020, and is has been an assistant coach with the Knights' men's basketball team since graduating.

Veronica Pontis '19
Women's Soccer and Track & Field
A four-year member of the women's soccer program and two-year member of the women's indoor track & field team, and one year member of the women's outdoor track & field team, Pontis made her mark on the soccer pitch, earning Third Team All-Region in 2016, Second Team in 2018, and First Team in 2017, while being named First Team All-MAC Commonwealth all four years. Pontis was also named Second Team All-ECAC as a senior and Honorable Mention All-ECAC as a junior. On the field, Pontis helped anchpr a back line that led the team to four straight MAC Commonwealth title games, breaking through in 2017 with a double-overtime win at Messiah while also winning an ECAC Division III Championship in 2015.

In the classroom, Pontis was named to the Academic All-MAC in 2017, while earning a place on the MAC Academic Honor Roll all four years.

Pontis graduated in 2019 with a degree in Biology and a Pre-Physical Therapy focus, and earned her DPT from Arcadia's Doctor of Physical Therapy program in 2022, and currently works as a Physical Therapist in Arizona.

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