2024 Hall of Fame Inductees Honored During Homecoming Festivities

 

On October 18, 2024, St. Mary’s Ryken celebrated Homecoming with nearly 200 alumni and friends on campus for the school’s annual Hall of Fame induction and Homecoming Alumni Tailgate.

This year, SMR honored three outstanding players, a distinguished coach, and the first SMR WCAC Champion team. Following the presentation, guests gathered for a grand celebration on the Donnie Williams Center Performance Court. The evening concluded with a thrilling Knights 38-7 victory over Bishop O’Connell.

Please join us in congratulating the 2024 Inductees:

• Rachel Heinze Barefoot '13 - Softball
• Brittani Burgess '13 - Girls Basketball
• Jordan Aughinbaugh Selmer '13 - Softball
• Dave Tallman - Former Boys Basketball Coach and Athletic Director
• 2007 Boys Lacrosse Team (WCAC Champions)

The St. Mary's Ryken Athletic Hall of Fame was established in 1981 to honor those alumni, coaches and administrators who achieved excellence and distinguished themselves in the schools athletic programs.  Inductees are selected through a nomination process overseen by the Athletic Hall of Fame Committee and honored during Homecoming Weekend.

Rachel Heinze Barefoot '13 - Softball

Rachel Heinze Barefoot, a 2013 graduate, made her mark as an exceptional athlete on the St. Mary’s Ryken softball team. She was a two-time All-WCAC performer, earning FirstTeam honors in 2012 and becoming the third SMR softball player to achieve this distinction. Her success continued at Mount St. Mary’s University, where she played Division 1 softball for four years. At The Mount, Rachel made history as a two-time First Team All-NEC performer and the first player in school history to earn this recognition. She also became the first Mount softball player to be named Player of the Year. Rachel set school records in home runs, runs scored, RBIs, and total bases, solidifying her legacy as one of the program’s greatest players. After graduating, she was hired as an assistant softball coach at Mount St. Mary’s, continuing her involvement with the team.

Brittani Burgess '13 - Girls Basketball

Brittani Burgess, a standout from the Class of 2013, made a significant impact on the St. Mary’s Ryken girls' basketball team as only the second player in school history to earn First Team All-WCAC honors. Her talent led her to a successful collegiate career, playing Division 1 basketball at Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Maryland Baltimore County. After college, Brittani pursued her passion for basketball overseas, playing professionally in Spain. Following her professional playing career, Brittani transitioned into coaching, spending two years as an assistant coach for women's basketball at Holy Names University in California.

Today, Brittani is excelling in a new career as a documentary filmmaker, working with high-profile clients such as LeBron James’ talk show“The Shop: Uninterrupted,” JuJu Watkins, the WNBA, LOVEProductions, Adidas, and Microsoft.

Jordan Aughinbaugh Selmer '13 - Softball

Jordan Aughinbaugh Selmer, a 2013 graduate, left her mark on St. Mary’s Ryken softball, earning First Team All-WCAC honors and becoming the fourth player in school history to do so. Her standout performance also earned her a spot on the prestigious All-MET team. Jordan continued her softball career at the Division 1 level, playing for North Carolina State University and the University of Maryland. While at Maryland, she was a two-year starter at first base, showcasing her talent and leadership on the field.

After her collegiate career, Jordan transitioned into the business world and is now the vice president of associate membership and sponsorship at the Consumer Bankers Association.

Dave Tallman - Former Boys Basketball Coach and Athletic Director

Dave Tallman was the Director of Athletics and Head Boys Basketball Coach at St. Mary’s Ryken from 2004-14, achieving remarkable milestones for the school’s basketball program. In 2010, he led the team to its first-ever victory over DeMatha Catholic High School and remains the only coach in SMR history to defeat powerhouse programs such as St. John’s, DeMatha, Gonzaga, Bishop O’Connell, and St. Paul VI. That same year, he guided SMR to 18 wins and a third-place finish in the WCAC, the best season in school history.

Dave was named Southern Maryland Coach of the Year in 2010 and 2014. His leadership extended beyond the high school level, as he was selected to  ]coach The Capital Classic All-Star Game. During his tenure, Dave recruited and coached 17 SMR student-athletes who earned full scholarships at the NCAA level, including John Flowers `07 (West Virginia University), TreveonGraham `11 (Virginia Commonwealth University), and Deivis Zemgulis `15 (Pennsylvania State University).

Dave currently serves as the head boys basketball coach at Morgantown School in West Virginia, where he has continued to build a legacy of success, leading the team to state championships in 2016, 2022, 2023, and 2024

2007 Boys Lacrosse Team (WCAC Champions)

The 2007 Boys Lacrosse Team at St. Mary’s Ryken achieved a historic milestone, capturing the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) championship for the first time in school history with a thrilling 13-12 victory over DeMatha Catholic High School. Coached by John Sothoron (deceased), along with JaySothoron ’96 and Bay Burch, the team’s remarkable season earned them a Top 20 ranking in The Washington Post, reaching as high as No. 4.

Congratulations to the following 2007 Boys Lacrosse Team Members: Zack Angel ’08 (Georgetown University*), Pierce Autry ’07(Catawba College*), John Bellezza ’07, Pat Brennan ’09 (UnitedStates Military Academy at West Point*), Taylor Cook ’07 (UnitedStates Naval Academy*), Bray Dunaway ’07 (Bridgeton Academy*),Aaron Gofreed ’10 (Wheeling Jesuit University*), Addison Goodley ’09,Reginald Harvey ’07 (Limestone College*), Wesley Jackson ’08, Lanny Jean ’07 (Marywood College*), Elizabeth Kandler ’07, Nick Kriner ’08, Duke May ’08, Greg Meinhardt ’07 (GreensboroCollege*), Jimmy Moreland ’07, Andrew Moretz ’07 (Wheeling JesuitUniversity*), Kyle Nazarek ’09 (United States Air Force Academy*),Charlie Rixey ’07 (United States Naval Academy*), Brett Schmidt ’08(Mount St. Mary’s University*), Bryant Schmidt ’08 (Mount St. Mary’sUniversity*), Justin Schmidt ’07 (Mount St. Mary’s University*), Paris Scott ’07, Tyler Spaulding ’07 (United States Merchant MarineAcademy*), Andrew Wascavage ’08 (Towson University*), Kevin Worcester ’08 and Kyle Yates ’08 (Mount St. Mary’s University*).

*Continued to play their sport at the collegiate level.