NEW LONDON, Conn. – 

The Coast Guard Academy will add seven new members to its Athletic Hall of Fame on Thursday, October 1 at 5 p.m. in the Otto Graham Hall of Athletic Excellence located in Billard Gymnasium.

The 2026 Hall of Fame class features seven ndividuals and one team. Individual inductees are Mark Akus('01), Mike Benson('01), Jed Boba('96), Meghan Fornaro('16), Kaitlyn Mooney('21), Daniel Pippenger('86), and Jessie Richardson('15). The team inductee is the 1976 Men's Rowing Team.

As a runner, Marc Akus is the only two-time All-American in Coast Guard men's cross country history. He was a three-time All-NEWMAC and three-time All-New England honoree, qualifying for nationals in each of his final three years. Akus led the 2000 men's team to compete in Nationals, the most recent men's team to do so. 

2001 grad Mike Benson was just the third player in Coast Guard football history to be named an All-American. In his junior season, Benson led the entire nation in kick and punt returns. His senior year, he led CGA in both rushing and interceptions as a running back and defensive back. 

Jed Boba was one of the greatest basketball players in Coast Guard history. A 1996 All-American, Boba is the program leader in steals with 174. He also ranks top 10 in three pointers, assists, and points. 

Meghan Fornaro was the 2016 NEWMAC Women's Basketball Player of the Year, averaging 19.5 points per game, the third best PPG in program history. In her career, she ranks 2nd all-time in steals, 4th in points, 4th in field goals made, and 6th in assists.

Kaitlyn Mooney was the 2019 Indoor Track & Field 5k National Champion, setting the Division III record. Over her career, Mooney was an eight-time All-American and 13 time All-Region honoree. She still ranks in the top 10 in Division III history for the 5k and 3k while holding six Coast Guard records.

Daniel Pippenger was a four-time All-New England wrestler finishing 6th, 3rd, 1st, and 2nd. A two-time national qualifier, Pippenger was a 1986 All-American, finishing 5th in the nation. In 2005, he was inducted into the New England Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Jessie Richardson is one of the best hitters in CGA softball's illustrious history. She ranks top five in program history in batting average, hits, doubles, runs, and total bases. She was a three-time All-NEWMAC honoree, three-time All-Region, and a 2014 First Team All-American.

The 1976 Men's Rowing Team consisted of: Ross Tuxhorn('76), Thomas Wenzel('77), Douglas Connor('78), John Acton('76), Theodore Haenlein('76) Gary Rolsma('77), Robert Morrison('77), Robert Maki('78), Daniel Bartlett('78), Robert Hoey('76), and William Probert('76). Their Head Coach was Jay Forster. The 1976 team won the New England Championship, Small College Championship, and Head of Connecticut races in the spring. They placed 5th at the Head of Charles and concluded their season with a 58-4 record and 8th place finish nationally.

Congratulations to our eight nominees on this prestigious honor!

Details on the Hall of Fame Dinner can be found HERE