Four Inductees Set For Brandywine Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2026

MEDIA, Pa. -- Four former student-athletes are set to be inducted into the Penn State Brandywine Athletics Hall of Fame class of 2026. The seventh induction class includes women's soccer student-athlete Brianna Banks, softball student-athlete Katie DeStefano, baseball student-athlete Frank Flaim and women's basketball and softball student-athlete Nikki Velez.

 

This year's induction class will be honored Friday, January 23, 2026 during an on-campus ceremony. More information on the induction ceremony can be found by clicking here. 

 

Brianna Banks starred for the Penn State Brandywine women's soccer team from 2016-19, earning four First Team All-American awards and National Player of the Year honors from the USCAA during her final season with the Lions. The only four-time conference player of the year in Brandywine Athletics history, Banks led the PSUAC in scoring all four seasons at Brandywine, totaling 119 goals, 24 assists and 262 points during her 64-match career. As a senior, Banks averaged more than 2.0 goals per match, setting a program record with 40 goals, as she led Brandywine to a fourth-straight conference championship and an appearance in the USCAA National Championship match. Banks was also a standout in the classroom as she earned First Team Academic All-American accolades following her final season.

 

Banks graduated from Brandywine in 2020 with a degree in human development and family studies. 

 

Katie DeStefano set nearly every pitching record during her four seasons as a member of the Penn State Brandywine softball team from 2015-18. DeStefano finished her four-year career with a 41-22 record, 254 strikeouts and 55 complete games, setting program benchmarks in all three categories. During the 2018 season, DeStefano pitched 163.0 of a possible 180.0 innings, spinning 29 complete games, while posting a record of 22-7. Also an offensive threat, DeStefano recorded 100 hits, a .373 batting average and 73 RBI in 134 career games. She aided Brandywine in winning the first four conference championships in program history.

 

DeStefano received her degree in communications from Brandywine in 2018.

 

Frank Flaim was the leader on offense during his career with the Penn State Delco baseball team from 2003-07. A team captain, Flaim set the program's hit record, logging more than 100 hits during his career. Flaim was a three-time all-conference shortstop in the PSUAC. He led Penn State Delco to four conference tournament bids, including three appearances in the PSUAC Championship.

 

Flaim is a 2007 graduate of Penn State Delco having earned his degree in Letters, Arts & Sciences.

 

Nikki Velez became the most prolific scorer in Penn State Brandywine women's basketball history during her four-year career from 2016-20. Velez poured in 1,800 points during 111 games, while earning four-straight USCAA All-American awards. The 2019-20 USCAA National Player of the Year, Velez is the top three-point shooter in program history having knocked down 325 triples. Velez was also a standout on the softball diamond for the Lions, tallying a .363 batting average, 107 hits and 55 RBI during three full seasons as the team's starting shortstop. Velez helped her teams to a total of five conference championships, winning a trio of softball titles and two women's basketball crowns.

 

Velez earned her degree in psychology in 2020.