Announcing the 2025 Athletic Hall of Fame Honorees
To celebrate the strong tradition of athletics at Country Day, the Athletic Hall of Fame honors former Country Day athletes, coaches, and community members who made major contributions to and had significant impacts on CCDS athletics. We are pleased to announce that the following individuals have been selected as this year's Athletic Hall of Fame honorees:
Tony Strauss '57 - As a student, Tony was the co-captain of the football team and played five sports at Country Day (football, basketball, soccer, tennis, and track). After returning to Country Day as a teacher in the fall of 1963, Tony spent nearly every one of his 44 years on the faculty coaching at least one of four sports (football, basketball, softball, and girls' soccer). Tony fully embodied the spirit of independent school athletics, and his commitment to Country Day's student athletes is the stuff of legends. Tony, who passed away in 2007, will be honored posthumously.
Joey Fritz '10 - As a tennis player, Joey compiled an impressive record of accomplishments. He set and still holds the Country Day record for most matches won while playing for the school (more than 100 matches), he was the Division II singles state champion his junior year, and in his senior year he earned All-American status and was ranked 59th in the nation among high schoolers. Joey continued his remarkable tennis career as an elite five-star recruit at Amherst, where he was a three-time All-American, played on two national championship teams, and won the NCAA Division III Singles Championship in 2014. Joey will attend the induction ceremony virtually from Singapore.
Elizabeth Blackburn '11 - At Country Day, Elizabeth was a standout multi-sport athlete, playing five varsity sports (doubling up in several seasons) and winning All-MVC honors in tennis, swimming, and track. Elizabeth represented Country Day at the state level in tennis and swimming and in her senior year won the Heinichen Award as the school's top female athlete. Beyond her on-field achievements, Elizabeth was a model of leadership and sportsmanship – an ambassador of sport who influenced both her teammates and her opponents. Elizabeth continued her tennis career as a four-year member of Dartmouth's nationally-ranked club tennis squad, serving as captain her junior year. Elizabeth is unable to attend the induction ceremony but will appear through a prerecording.
Cameron Alldred '15 - Cameron excelled in football, basketball, and baseball at Country Day, repeatedly earning All-MVC, All-City, and All-District honors in each sport while adding All-State and All-American accolades in baseball and earning the McDaniel award as the school's best male athlete his senior year. Cameron continued his baseball career as a left-handed hurler at the University of Cincinnati and was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2018. Cameron made his Major League debut with the Pirates in May of 2022 in a game against the Reds. Cameron will attend the induction ceremony virtually or appear through a prerecording.
This year's ceremony will also honor our current seniors who have played 12 seasons of varsity sports and 2025-26 athletic record breakers.
12 season athletes:
- Katherine Connelly '26- tennis, swimming, lacrosse, flag football
- Greta Varga '26- tennis, swimming, lacrosse, flag football
- Zsofia Varga' 26- tennis, swimming lacrosse, flag football
2025-26 athletic record breakers:
- Ellie Albers '27 (volleyball)- most kills in a season (236)
- Gabriel Benitez '26 (boys soccer)- most saves in a career (442) and season (146)
- Caroline and Katherine Connelly '26 (girls tennis)- most double matches won in a career (40) and a season (21)
- Alyssa Easter '26 (girls soccer)- most saves in a career (509), season (215), and game (20)
- Thomas Huckleby '28 (football)- most receptions in a career (115), most receiving yards in a career (1,819), and most touchdown receptions in a career (22)
- Brandon Proffitt '26 (football)- most punt return yards in a career (417)
- Jason Starodub '26 (swimming)- 100-yard backstroke (52.62)
