Chaminade Julienne Catholic High School is proud to welcome its Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2025—a group of seven Eagles whose impact on CJ athletics is still being felt today. Collectively earning 26 varsity letters, these standout athletes collected numerous all-league and all-area honors and made multiple appearances on the state stage, excelling across the field, the court, and the track.
For many, athletic achievement extended well beyond their time at CJ, with several inductees continuing to compete at the collegiate level. Though some were surprised by the call, each inductee shared a deep sense of gratitude for being honored among the many accomplished Eagles who came before them.
The Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2025 includes:
Myo Baxter Bell – Basketball, Class of 2015
In just two years at CJ, Myo Baxter Bell tallied 711 points for the Eagles basketball team. He helped lead CJ to back-to-back GCL championships in 2014 and 2015, earning All-GCL, Southwest District and state honors as well as a scholarship to Liberty University.
When hearing that he was an inductee, he said, “I was shocked because I transferred schools at a pivotal point in my high school career. I also thought I would never have a chance at something like this. CJ was a place I didn’t know I needed until I got to the school and met some really good people.”
He was most proud of graduating because he struggled in school.
“Graduating from CJ helped prepare me for college and helped me get my undergraduate and master’s degrees,” said Bell. “Making it to state my senior year was also so much fun.”
Bell is grateful for many people who made an impact on his life while at CJ.
He recalled, “Coach [Joe] Staley and Joe Staley [assistant coach] poured into me on and off the court. I remember Coach Staley keeping me before practice so Joe could help me with homework. This helped me understand how important my academics were. They didn’t care about me playing, but they cared about where I would end up afterwards.”
Bell is excited to have this opportunity to be one of the CJ Hall of Fame inductees.
“It means a lot for me because I transferred in with no friends and I left with a family,” said Bell. “I still remember being picked up by Alex Juniewicz-Fogle on our way to the first football game. The CJ community means a lot because of what it was able to mold me into.”
Zach Burneka – Football and Basketball, Class of 2015
Football, basketball, baseball and volleyball—Zach Burneka was the very definition of an all-around athlete. Selected as one of WDTN’s Top 22 football players in the Miami Valley, he tallied 1,297 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2014—going for more than 100 yards and scoring a touchdown in eight of 10 games that season. The first team All-Ohio player earned a football scholarship to Ashland University.
Burneka is most proud when the basketball team made it to the state final four during his senior year.
“What made this so special was the group I got to do it with,” said Burneka. “We had a great group of seniors who had each other’s backs on and off the court. Most of the seniors had been on the team since freshman year and could remember only winning one game that season. So, going from the season as freshmen to the state final four as seniors and knowing all the hard work that went into it makes me appreciate what we accomplished as a team.”
Coaches and good friends played an important role in Burneka’s success as a student athlete.
He explained, “All of my coaches at CJ had an impact on me and I am thankful for them. But the people who stand out the most from CJ, and still do today, are my friends—Alex Juniewicz-Fogle, Danny Meyer, Will Duffy, Sam Radachi, and a few others. During our time at CJ, we would push each other to get better athletically and academically, and today we continue to push each other to be better versions of ourselves. I’m very thankful for them.”
Expressing how honored he was to be one of CJ’s Hall of Fame inductees, Burneke said, “There are so many great athletes that have gone through CJ, so to be included among them is truly an honor. And being inducted with two of my teammates and friends makes it even more special.”
Alan Vest – Basketball, Class of 2015
From making a record 21 consecutive free throws to tallying 802 career points and shooting .371 from beyond the three-point arc, Alan Vest led the Eagles to back-to-back GCL titles and earned all GCL, district and state recognition. Vest earned a scholarship to play basketball at Wright State University.
When reflecting on getting the news of his induction, Vest said, “I was completely taken by surprise when I received the call about being inducted into the Hall of Fame. Life has changed a great deal since high school— haven’t played an organized basketball game in years. My wife, Francesca, and I now live in Nashville with our two children, Lucia and Vinny, so days that once revolved around school and basketball practice are now filled with work and cleaning up after the kids. I hadn’t thought much about my time at CJ in a while, but receiving that call reminded me of all the incredible memories and stories I shared with my teammates and coaches. It was really special to be reminded of that chapter in my life.”
Reaching the state tournament in his senior year was Vest’s proudest accomplishment.
“That season was some of the most fun I’ve ever had on a basketball court,” he said. “The camaraderie our team built over the course of the year was surreal. We were incredibly close, everyone understood and embraced their role, and we played for each other. It wasn’t just about the wins, but about the bond we shared and the way we came together as a team.”
Vest is grateful for the lasting impression that his CJ coaches had on his life.
“All of my coaches at CJ had such a profound impact on my life, both during my time there and in the lessons I still carry with me today,” added Vest. “Coach [Tony] Ricciuto taught me that nothing is earned without dedication and showed me what it truly takes to be successful. Coach [Charlie] Szabo taught me not to be intimidated by big moments and to embrace challenges with confidence. Coach Staley instilled a mindset I still live by – don’t stop when you’re tired, stop when the job is done. And Coach Rich Kidd taught me the importance of staying grounded, consistent, and true to myself, especially during the toughest moments. Each of them shaped me in different ways, and together they helped mold who I am today, on and off the court.”
For Vest, being part of the Hall of Fame is a humbling reminder of how much CJ had given him.
“Being recognized with this honor has reminded me how fortunate I’ve been to be part of the CJ community. Choosing to go to CJ was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made, and the sense of community there is truly undeniable. I was surrounded by incredible role models, coaches, teammates, and friends who believed in me and supported me every step of the way. So many people made sacrifices to help put me in this position, and I will always be deeply thankful,” said Vest.
Emily Buerschen – Tennis, Class of 2008
A three-time state qualifier and four-year varsity tennis player, Emily Buerschen finished her high school career with a record of 108-20. The all-state and four-time all-area singles/doubles Player of the Year helped the Eagles reach their first state semifinals in 2005, which they repeated twice more during her tenure (2006, 2007). She went on to play tennis at the University of Dayton.
Buerschen was honored and reflective when hearing that she was an inductee.
“It is a profound honor to be inducted into the hall of fame, given the storied history of great athletes to walk the halls of CJ,” said Buerschen. “The award represents more than recognition of wins and accolades for the history books; it is the timeless preservation of the effort that went unseen by most, forever honoring the era of blood, sweat, tears and tennis ball fuzz that I invested in myself, my school and my city. I have climbed so many mountains of life since then, and I find myself approaching each challenge with those same fundamental skills and fire that I developed in pursuit of CJ tennis greatness.”
According to Buerschen, her greatest accomplishment wasn’t winning on the court, but growing closer to her family through tennis.
Buerschen reflected, “While I was fortunate to share in many exciting moments at CJ, the opportunity to play with my sister, Mollie, and compete alongside her was by far the greatest. My freshman year, I was lucky to have my cousin Maribeth on the team, as well. Playing in front of my loving parents, sharing the joys of victories and the lessons of defeat, was formative and raw. I learned that my family was as eager to celebrate my successes as to sit with me in the darkness; lessons on a micro-scale that foreshadowed how they would show up for me in adulthood. I reveled in being someone they could be proud of, and this era of ‘becoming’ was the honor and accomplishment of my life, especially as it encompassed the last few years before my dad passed away.”
CJ teachers made a profound difference in Buerschen’s success as an adult.
“These teachers were personally invested in my outcome,” said Buerschen. “During the first two weeks of my freshman year, Miss [Ann] Meyers tutored me to bridge the gap so I could enroll in her honors math class, which was a year above me. Miss Egbers Dever would stay after school with me during my sophomore and junior years, and we would discuss mathematical theories and life philosophy.” She also fondly remembers teachers Jim Sparrow, Mick Mominee, Alison Radelet, and Joe Staley—who would come out to cheer at the tennis matches. “They even keep folding chairs in their trunks.”
Buerschen explained that CJ teachers expected the best, and they gave their best in return.
She said, “I always felt like a win for us was a win for them. This commitment to excellence laid the foundation for my achievements in higher-level academia, and set the expectations for my understanding of relationships, commitment and loyalty. The teachers provide a camaraderie here that is absent from other schools; there is a sense of belonging that never escapes you.”
Rayteá Long – Basketball, Class of 2012
Scoring 719 points and posting 470 rebounds¸—leading the GGCL in rebounding both her junior and senior seasons—are just a few of the accomplishments that earned Rayteá Long a basketball scholarship to Vanderbilt University. She was also instrumental in helping the Eagles win the league championship all four years.
“My first reaction was that Mr. [Mike] Raiff must have had the wrong number,” said Long. “I avoided returning his call at first, but when Mr. [Marcus] Colvin also reached out, he sounded stressed. I finally gave in.”
It took her several days to fully process the honor.
“For some reason, I had formed an irrational idea of what it took to be inducted, and I never really considered myself. Thankfully, my family, friends, and former teammates reminded me of the impact I made—something that, in many ways, outweighs the accomplishments I once felt I needed to achieve.”
That perspective made her even more grateful for her experiences and this recognition.
Long jokes, “And now that I’ve reached the stage of life where my knees predict the weather better than any app, I can officially say I feel old. Being inducted somehow makes all the aches feel a little more worth it.”
“My most memorable and proudest moment came on senior night against Carroll,” said Long. “Of all the games I’ve won—from high school to playing overseas—that was the happiest I’ve ever felt. We had lost to them earlier in the season and were hungry for redemption. Losing on senior night is almost unheard of, but as a senior class, we decided the risk was worth it. We refused to let ourselves be disappointed again. The atmosphere was everything I had ever imagined as a competitor—electric, intense, unforgettable. It was the most fun I’ve ever had in a game, and winning made it even more meaningful. I still have the game on DVD, and I’ve rewatched it for years as a reminder of why I still played. It’s a core memory that has carried me through some of the toughest moments of my life.”
Long stated that Coach Alan Hoskins made the biggest difference in her time at CJ and pushed her to want more for herself and her future.
“Coach Alan Hoskins, a comedic genius, better known as ‘Buzz,’ left a lasting mark on my time at CJ,” said Long. “His early belief in me earned me a varsity spot as a freshman, where I quickly learned a different level of work ethic. He constantly challenged me to be better, to do the extra work, and to leave everything on the floor. He believed in me long before I understood my own potential and quietly ensured I had every tool I needed to survive those four years.”
Long suggested that being part of the Hall of Fame feels bigger than anything she ever imagined for herself.
“I feel like we all long to be part of something bigger than ourselves when we commit to team sports. I’m honestly not sure I belong next to some of the greats whose names came before me, but I’m deeply grateful to be included in their company. To me, this honor says that the way I showed up for my team, my school, and my community mattered more than I realized, and that is something I will never take for granted,” stated Long.
Martin “Mick” Kuntz – Cross Country and Track, Class of 1964
With the help of Martin “Mick” Kuntz, the cross country team made an impact in its very first season, finishing in the top 12 at the regional meet. The team placed second at state in 1962 and 1963. Kuntz didn’t finish lower than third place in a single meet he ran during his senior season and went on to run cross country and track at Hillsdale College for two years before transferring to the University of Dayton.
Reflecting on being a CJ Hall of Fame inductee, Kuntz said, “What a great honor, I only wish our coach, Brother Gilfeather, was still alive to know that two of his runners, after only three years, were inducted into the Hall of Fame.”
Kuntz’s proudest accomplishment occurred during his final year at CJ.
“The most memorable accomplishment would have to be the State Cross Country Championships my senior year,” said Kuntz. “This sport was started in my sophomore year, and my teammate, Chuck Vehorn, finished first, and I finished second. I credit our coach for his training and coaching. Our team finished second in the state for a second consecutive year. In addition, I would like to recognize another runner on our team, Pete Camerino, who was a junior in 1961 and only had two years of cross-country training, but finished fourth in the state championship in 1962.”
Kuntz credits his coach, Brother Gilfeather, for making the greatest impact on his life.
Kuntz noted, “Brother Gilfeather taught me the importance of hard work and never giving up are the lessons he taught me. And my cross country and track training gave me the physical ability to run when I began another sport—soccer. I was able to play until I was 70 years old.”
Lori Dozer – Athletic Trainer and Teacher, Special Inductee
For more than two decades, Lori Dozer supported the CJ athletic program as an athletic trainer. In this role, Dozer launched impact testing for concussion protocol for athletes in conjunction with Miami Valley Hospital North. Dozer was also instrumental in developing an internship program for students who were interested in athletic training.
Being told that she was a Hall of Fame inductee caught Dozer off guard.
“When I received the phone call from Mike Raiff, I was shocked,” said Dozer. “It is such an honor even to be thought of as a possible candidate, let alone getting the call that I was actually going to be inducted. To me, it means even more since I am not an actual CJ graduate, that the 22 years that I spent there as an athletic trainer/teacher are being recognized. After the phone call with Mike, it was emotional thinking back to when I started in the summer of 2001, and thinking about all the athletes and coaches that I was able to work with over the next 22 years.”
Dozer is honored to be a Hall of Fame special inductee because she personally knows the magnitude of former inductees through her work at CJ.
“Over the years, getting to see all of the Hall of Fame honorees being inducted, it is such an honor and privilege to be considered in this special category, and to be included among a lot of athletes and coaches that I got to meet and personally work with on all of the various teams. It was really a privilege to be at CJ for those years, and I am proud of the work I contributed to being included in this group. Athletic trainers work behind the scenes and on the sidelines, and a lot of times we must handle some tough situations, so it means a lot to be recognized,” said Dozer.
The support of CJ athletes and coaches made a big difference during Dozer’s career at CJ.
“As I reminisce over those years, the most rewarding thing to me is remembering the people—all the coaches, athletes/students, administrators, and coworkers that I was fortunate to work with. Whether teams were winning or losing, whether athletes were playing or on the sidelines, as an athletic trainer, I showed up every day along with them. Jim Place, who was the athletic director and head football coach in 2001, was the one who spoke to me about the importance that CJ placed on the position of having an athletic trainer/teacher, and that the administration’s support for the program. He was right. From that time forward, there was never a time that I didn’t feel that support, and I was so thankful for that.”