Annika Dries and Peter Hudnut, both former Stanford water polo standouts, were announced as inductees for the 2026 USA Water Polo Hall of Fame on Mar. 30. The announcement was made by USA Water Polo, with the induction luncheon scheduled for June 19 at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Brea North Orange County in Brea, California.
The recognition highlights their significant contributions to water polo at collegiate, national, and international levels. The Hall of Fame’s 42nd class features four honorees who have excelled as athletes and coaches from club teams up to Olympic competition.
Dries is recognized as one of the most formidable centers in US women’s water polo history. She helped lead her high school team at Laguna Beach to prominence before joining Stanford University, where she served as team captain and won two NCAA Championships in 2011 and 2014. Dries was twice named NCAA MVP and received the Peter J. Cutino Award twice as the nation’s top collegiate player. At age 20, she played a key role in helping Team USA secure its first-ever Olympic gold medal in women’s water polo at the London Games in 2012.
After her athletic career, Dries pursued medicine, earning an M.D. from Stanford and currently serving as a resident in internal medicine at UCLA Health. She also mentors student-athletes interested in medicine and serves as an Olympic ambassador for Swim Across America.
Hudnut is a two-time Olympian who earned a silver medal with Team USA at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 after overcoming injuries that temporarily sidelined his career. He helped Stanford win two NCAA Championships (2001-02) during his time there before competing professionally overseas for clubs such as Barceloneta (Spain) and Lazio (Rome). Hudnut’s perseverance was evident when he returned from back surgery to help secure an Olympic berth for Team USA with gold at the Pan American Games.
The induction recognizes both athletes’ achievements on the field and their continued involvement off it through mentorships or professional pursuits.
