GLENSIDE - The Arcadia University Department of Athletics and Recreation is set to induct four new members into the Athletic Hall of Fame this Saturday, October 3rd, the Hall of Fame selection committee has announced. The ceremony will mark the 13th class to be inducted since the Hall of Fame's inception in 2008.
For this unable to attend, a live stream of the event can be viewed by clicking
here.
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. As a sophomore 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. Cementing his place in Division III, Braas finished the season as the NCAA Individual Champion in hitting percentage at .474, leading the Knights to their first MAC Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance. In 2020 during the covid-shortened season, 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, and blocks, third in kills, and ninth in service aces. In the season records, Braas is first, third, and fourth in blocks, second, third, and fifth in hitting percentage, and third in kills.Â
In the classroom, Braas was named Academic All-MAC and to the MAC Academic Honor Roll all three seasons he was eligible.Â
Braas graduated in 2020 with a degree in Criminal Justice, and earned his Master's of Legal Studies from Washington University in St. Louis in 2021. Currently, Braas is a Commercial Portfolio Manager at Orrstown Bank in York, 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 and three-time relay MAC Champion, Fisher won three-straight golds in the 500 freestyle and 1650 freestyle, also earning 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 fourth at MAC's in his first season, to second in his senior year. Fisher was also named Arcadia's Senior Athlete of the Year in 2017-18.
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. After graduation, Fisher graduated from Navy Officer Candidate School, earned commission as an officer, and graduated from Navy Flight School. After that, he was stationed in Guam where he served as a search and rescue pilot attached to Helicopter sea combat squadron 25. Fisher was deployed to the 7th Fleet twice aboard LHA-6 USS America, where he completed two patrols of the South China Sea. Currently, Fisher lives in Florida where he instructs the next generation of Navy, Marine and Coast Guard Aviators in Navy Primary Flight Training flying the T-6B Texan II.
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. Pierfy 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 Athlete of the Year in 2017-18, and Senior Athlete of the Year in 2018-19.
For his career in basketball, Pierfy ranks sixth in free throws made, seventh in field goal percentage, eighth in three-point percentage, and ninth in total points and points-per-game. In the baseball career records, Pierfy ranks third in batting average, fourth in slugging percentage and doubles, sixth in runs batted in, and 10th in hits and home runs. For men's basketball season records, Pierfy tied for first in games played, ranks second in three-point percentage, and tied for seventh in points and field goal percentage, In the baseball season record books, Pierfy ranks second in doubles, fourth in total bases, tied for sixth in batting average and hits, tied for ninth in RBI's, and tied for 10th in slugging percentage. 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 spent seven seasons as an assistant coach with the Knights' men's basketball team since graduating, helping guide the team to the playoffs every season before culminating in a MAC Freedom Championship in 2022-23, before accepting the head coach position at conference rival King's College earlier this year.
Veronica Pontis '19 '22 DPT
Women's Soccer
A four-year member of the women's soccer program, two-year member of the women's indoor track & field team, and one year member of the women's cross country and outdoor track & field team, Pontis made her strongest 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 named Second Team All-ECAC as a senior and Honorable Mention All-ECAC following her junior season. On the field, Pontis helped anchor a back line that led the team to four straight MAC Commonwealth title games, breaking through in 2017 with an iconic double-overtime win at Messiah.
Pontis' arrival on campus ushered in the start of the programs' most successful era, beginning with the team's third-straight ECAC Division III Championship as a first-year in 2015, and culminating in three-straight appearances in the NCAA Division III Tournament.In the classroom, Pontis was named to the Academic All-MAC in 2017 and 2018, while earning a place on the MAC Academic Honor Roll all four years.
Pontis was also a member of the women's cross country program and women's indoor and outdoor track & field teams after her soccer career ended. In cross country, Pontis had at the time the second-highest finish at the MAC Championships in program history, currently 11th, and broke the schools 5k record once and the 6k record twice. In track & field, Veronica was named to the MAC All-Sportsmanship team and was awarded Arcadia Athletics' Award of Merit.
