HONOLULU – University of Hawai'i Athletics has announced the 41^st class of the UH Sports Circle of Honor, which includes Monika Eggens (water polo), Rich Miano (football), Barbara (Mitchell) Anderson (swimming), Costas Theocharidis (men's volleyball), and Ben Yee (contributor).
 
The official enshrinement of the Class of 2026 will take place during the Green & White Celebration on Friday, Oct. 16, at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center. For more information and table sales, visit www.koaanuenue.org.
 
Eggens becomes the first water polo player to be enshrined in the program's 29-year history. Miano is the 38^th football player to be inducted, while Theocharidis is the sixth honoree from the men's volleyball program. Yee, entering in the "Contributor" category, is the 11^th supporter to be honored. Anderson, who swam for UH in the 1970s, is recognized as this year's "Legend" category honoree.
 
Established in 1982, the Circle of Honor recognizes individuals and teams that have contributed to the growth, history, and tradition of UH Athletics. Including this year's honorees, the Circle of Honor now boasts 138 individual and 13 team inductees. Plaques honoring these legends are proudly displayed on the inner walls surrounding the main concourse of Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.
 
Biographies of the Circle of Honor Class of 2026 inductees are listed below: 
 
Monika Eggens is one of the all-time greats in UH water polo history during her four-year career … a three-time ACWPC All-American (second team 2010, first team '11 and '13)  and two-time first-team All-Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (2010 and '11) … Big West Player of the Year in 2013 and first-team All-Big West … Big West Championship MVP and NCAA Championship All-Tournament team in 2013 … UH's all-time goals leader (247) … only UH player to score 100 goals in a season (101 in 2013) and averaged a record 3.06 goals per match in 2013 … holds the UH single-match record with nine goals … redshirted in 2012 to train with Canada's national team … played for Canada in the 2020 Olympic Games and tied for second on the team with 10 goals in Tokyo … helped Canada win silver at the 2011, '15 and '19 Pan Am Games.
 
A three-year varsity letterman from 1982-84, Rich Miano was an Associated Press honorable mention All-America and first-team All-Coast in 1984 … a two-time first-team All-WAC selection in 1983 and '84 … led the team in tackles in 1983 and '84 including 110 total tackles in '84 … tied for the team lead in interceptions in 1983 … a three-time Warrior Club honoree, including Warrior of the Year in 1984 … named the team's Most Valuable Defensive Scout in 1980 … played in the 1985 Hula Bowl … selected in the 6^th round of the 1985 NFL Draft by the New York Jets … enjoyed an 11-year NFL career with the Jets and Philadelphia Eagles … served as assistant coach at UH under head coaches June Jones and Greg McMackin from 1999-2011 … served as color analyst for UH football broadcasts on Spectrum Sports from 2014-25.
 
Barbara Mitchell was UH's first swimming national champion, capturing the AIAW National Championship in the 200-yard individual medley in 1975 … in her first season in Mānoa, was rated in the Top 20 in the women's division for collegiate swimmers and was named an AIAW All-American in the 200 IM and honorable mention in the 400 medley relay … the following year, she qualified for the AIAW Championships and placed 15^th in the 200 IM (2:14) and sixth in the 200 breaststroke (2:09) and was named honorable mention All-America in both the 200 breast and 400 medley relay … finished her career at Washington as a four-time All-American … prior to UH, competed in the 1972 Olympic Trials and her performance in the 200-meter breaststroke qualified her to represent the USA in the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, Germany as a 16-year-old … was a four-time state champion in the 100-yard breaststroke and a two-time high school All-American … inducted into the Pacific Northwest Swimming Association Hall of Fame in 2005.
 
Costas Theocharidis was UH's first two-time AVCA Player of the Year and the only player in program history to earn first-team All-America honors four times … led UH to the 2002 NCAA Championship (later vacated) and was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player … named AVCA Player of the Year in 2001 and '03 and Newcomer of the Year in 2000 … selected as an Academic All-American in 2002 and '03 and MPSF Player of the Year in 2001 and '03 … four-time All-MPSF selection … led UH to 86 wins in four seasons … recipient of the school's Jack Bonham Award in 2003 … finished as UH's all-time leader in kills (2,198) and kill attempts (4,510) and ranked No. 2 in kill average (5.51) and service aces (121) … also ranked in the Top 10 in block assists, total blocks, and digs.
 
Ben Yee was one of the founding members of the UH football team's booster club, Nā Koa … he along with former head coach Bob Wagner and boosters Alec Waterhouse and Ed Wong, founded the club in 1987 … the club provides support for many of the program's needs not funded by the athletics department budget … his involvement with the athletics department dated back to the 1970s and for four decades, he volunteered his time to support the football program through several head coaches beginning with Larry Price … following his retirement from Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, he joined the program as administrative assistant under Wagner and helped form Nā Koa soon after … the football program's Most Inspirational Award was created and named in his honor in 1995 and is presented annually to the player who exemplifies courage and leadership during the season.