ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The University of Michigan athletic department announced its eight-member 2026 Hall of Honor class on Monday, August 3, with John Beilein (men’s basketball), Joe McFarland (wrestling), Nikki Peters (women’s gymnastics), Bev Plocki (women’s gymnastics), Sierra Romero (softball), Kellen Russell (wrestling), Chris Sabo (baseball) and Shana Welch (water polo) set for induction.
The Hall of Honor induction ceremony will be held on Friday, September 11, at Crisler Center. The eight inductees will also be honored on Saturday, September 12, at Michigan’s football game against the University of Oklahoma.
Criteria for consideration includes being a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) champion or member of a national championship team, an All-America selection, Olympic medalist, Olympic team member, professional league champion or world championship team medalist/member, NCAA or conference player of the year, conference champion, record holder or all-conference award winner.
The U-M Athletics Hall of Honor was established in 1978 to recognize individuals who have made significant contributions as athletes, coaches and administrators to the tradition of Wolverine athletics and, in doing so, have enhanced the image and reputation of the University of Michigan.
The second water polo player inducted into the Michigan Hall of Honor, joining Olympic gold medalist Betsey Armstrong, Welch was named to the 2005 Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC) All-America third team to rate among 11 players in program history to earn All-America honors. A three-time ACWPC All-America selection with honorable mention recognition in 2006 and 2007, Welch joined the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Hall of Fame in 2016 after a decorated collegiate career that included three consecutive CWPA Most Valuable Player awards (2005, 2006, 2007), the 2004 CWPA Rookie of the Year honor and four first-team All-CWPA selections. Welch remains the program-record holder for career goals scored with 297, while holding three top-10 marks for goals scored in a season. She also holds the school record for goals in a game, scoring eight against California State University-Bakersfield on April 16, 2005.
