Honoring our CCDS Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees

Pictured above (from L to R): Burke Byer '97, Peter Kistinger '07, Meredith Hilleary '00, and Coach Tim Dunn.

On May 11, 2024, the Cincinnati Country Day School community celebrated the Class of 2023 Athletic Hall of Fame inductees – Burke Byer `97, Meredith Hilleary `00, Peter Kistinger `07, and Coach Tim Dunn. 

“This event is always one of the highlights of the year,” said Rob Zimmerman `98, head of school. “The stories of how Country Day changed the lives of our student-athletes never fail to inspire me, and they reaffirm my faith in the power of athletics as an essential element of a well-rounded education. At Country Day, we firmly believe that athletics are not simply an extracurricular activity; they are central to our mission of creating leaders.”

The purpose of the Athletic Hall of Fame is to honor former Country Day athletes, coaches, and members of our community who have contributed to the strong tradition of Country Day athletics.

Burke Byer `97



According to Tim Dunn, “Winning follows Burke wherever he goes.”

Burke was a two-sport captain at Country Day who earned nine varsity letters in football, wrestling, and track. As a senior on the wrestling mat competing in the heavyweight division, Burke compiled a 16-4 record and made it to the state quarterfinals. During the track season he competed in shotput and discus where he qualified for the regionals. Burke went on to throw both the discus and javelin in college. As a two-way football starter, he served as captain. During Burke’s football tenure, the team compiled a 35-4 record and was a perennial league champion. He was first-team all-league twice, first team all-city, first team all-Southwest Ohio, and first team all-state his senior year while leading the team in tackles. He went on to start his freshman and sophomore years at Division III powerhouse Washington and Jefferson College. Burke then transferred to Division I University of Dayton, where he started on defense as Dayton won two consecutive league championships.

“Despite all these impressive accomplishments on the field, they pale in comparison to the leadership Burke provided. Burke led by example. Burke lived by the mantra, and I’m sure he still does, ‘Don’t tell me who you are. Show me who you are.’ Burke showed his opponents, his coaches, and most importantly his teammates who he was every time he stepped onto the practice or game field.” – Tim Dunn, retired CCDS coach and teacher

Meredith Hilleary `00

Meredith is a recipient of the Shirley Heineken Award for Outstanding Female Athlete. She participated in four sports during her time at Country Day: volleyball, basketball, cheerleading, and softball. Most of Meredith’s accolades were from her successes in softball. During her career, she led the city in strikeouts and led the team to a 16-0 record. Notably, from her senior year as a pitcher, she earned the All-Star Award, Most Valuable Player, first team all-state, as well as Player of the Year for the Miami Valley Conference.

“I had the honor of being her coach here at CCDS as well as the pleasure of being her father….While she was loyal to all four sports for all of her high school years, the reason she is here today is softball. She was a fast pitch softball player. In this sport, pitching and catching is the name of the game. Pitching is something I cannot take any credit for teaching her – she was taught by her older sister, Sarah [`95], who was also an all-state pitcher.” – Jim Hilleary, former CCDS coach

Peter Kistinger `07



In cross country, Peter was first team Miami Valley Conference for four years. He was the MVC Runner of the Year in his junior and senior years. The Cincinnati Enquirer also named Peter the 2007 Runner of the Year. Peter was a two-time state qualifier, team MVP, team captain, and led the cross country team to its first MVC title in more than a decade. 

In track, Peter was the first team MVC for three years, Most Valuable Player, team captain, and the Cincinnati Enquirer named him to its first team. He was a state qualifier his junior and senior years and a member of the state 4x800 relay team, which still holds the school record. He was the only freshman to make regionals in the one-mile and two-mile.

“Peter was the best team captain of my 40 years of coaching. He was instrumental in the distance program taking off at Country Day. Peter was popular and cool and so classmates decided sport did not always need a ball, a glove, a helmet, a racket…. It should come as no surprise that Peter was a fierce competitor. The beauty of watching Peter compete was to see that it was not mind versus body; rather, there was an understanding between the two born of thousands of training miles….As a student-athlete, Peter drew on Country Day’s reputation for academic excellence and of inspiring student-athletes to acquire knowledge not simply for its own sake, but to turn knowledge into action.” – Merle Black, retired CCDS teacher and coach.

Coach Tim Dunn

Coach Dunn graduated from Williams College in 1977 and later earned a master’s degree from Wesleyan University in Connecticut. He arrived at Country Day in 1986 where he taught AP biology and chemistry while coaching baseball and football. He piled up a combined 782 career wins in both sports while earning numerous honors, such as MVC Coach of the Year, the Cincinnati Enquirer Coach of the Year, and Southwestern Ohio Coach of the Year. He was also named Ohio Baseball Coach of the Year and the NFL’s High School Coach of the Week. In baseball, Coach Dunn’s teams won 563 games, 10 MVC championships, 16 sectional championships, nine district championships, three regional championships, and two state championships (1993 and 2001). In football, with eight undefeated regular seasons, his teams won 219 games, 13 MVC championships, two regional championships, and two state final four appearances. He was previously inducted into the Ohio High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame and the Hamilton County Sports Hall of Fame.

“[Tim] taught generations of student-athletes how to think and act with character. [He] set the standard of excellence in both programs, which is evident today with the success of our current teams…. Tim was not your typical coach – how many football coaches do you know teach AP biology and chemistry? Tim is no doubt one of the smartest people I have ever met…. Tim would break down an opponent’s film like he was dissecting a frog. He was a master game planner and offensive play caller.” – Greg Ross

Each year, the induction ceremony brings alumni, family, and friends from across the globe to reconnect with former teachers and coaches and to renew a bond held with Country Day. While the Hall of Fame was the impetus to return to campus, the stories of lifelong friendships, teamwork, and preparation for life were at the heart of the celebration.

“What can this broad array of leaders have in common?” asked Zimmerman to the audience at the Hall of Fame celebration on May 11. “Among other experiences, they have developed their leadership skills and forged their character in the crucible of competition.”

Giving Day Recap

On Giving Day, alumni, families, grandparents, friends, and our faculty and staff came together to raise more than $175,000 – bursting through our goal for the day and securing our target of over one million in funds raised for the year. On behalf of our students, faculty, and staff, THANK YOU! We couldn’t be more grateful for the generous show of support from our community. 

Welcoming America's Newest Citizens

On May 2, Country Day hosted a naturalization ceremony on our campus during which 50 people were sworn in as U.S. citizens.

“Congratulations to our guests of honor – we are proud to call you our fellow Americans, and your commitment renews our belief in our American experiment,” said Head of School Rob Zimmerman `98 during the ceremony.

To contribute to the festive spirit of the day, earlier in the week our Lower School Houses worked together to create items to give to the newest citizens after the ceremony:

💛Courage created ribbon flags.

💜Responsibility created patriotic frames to display their special day.

💚Respect decorated the welcome bags.

🧡Integrity made USA keychains.

💙Compassion created Pledge of Allegiance writings.

The Carey Family Amphitheater was designated as a United States courthouse for the day as we welcomed America's 50 newest citizens as they took the Oath of Allegiance to the United States of America. Click here to watch our very own choir director, Greg Miller, sing the National Anthem at the ceremony.

The Honorable Susan Dlott presided over the ceremony, and addressed the soon-to-be naturalized citizens, saying, “This is a happy time….You have shown your commitment and eagerness to take on the responsibility of being an American citizen. It’s a great gift, which represents the dreams and aspirations of centuries.”

Homecoming and Reunion Weekend 2024

Friday, September 20 and Saturday, September 21

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20

Black Alumni Network Gathering

4:30 p.m.

Broadwell House

Alumni Reception

5:30 p.m.

Gordon R. Wright Tennis Complex

All alumni gather for a special evening featuring dinner and drinks.

Homecoming Football Game

7:00 p.m.

Brian J. Bortz Family Stadium

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21

Alumni Breakfast

10:30 a.m.

CCDS Dining Terrace

Alumni breakfast honoring the Class of 1974 and 50+ year alumni. All alumni are welcome. Includes the presentation of the Virtue in Action and Distinguished Alumni Awards.

All events are gratis, courtesy of the CCDS Alumni Association.

Mark your calendars and join us!

Please contact Peter Fossett '80, associate director of alumni and

legacy giving,

at 513-979-0283 or fossettp@countryday.net with questions.

Cybersecurity with Zak Butler '05

Nothing like hearing from an industry expert...especially when that expert is an alum! Zak Butler '05 joined the computer science 2 class via Teams to talk about cybersecurity, his work with the threat analysis group at Google, and his path from an economics degree to working in cybersecurity.

Zak has such passion for his work and for increasing students' exposure to the fascinating world of cybersecurity. He reminded the students that cybersecurity requires both liberal arts and STEM expertise - psychology, sociology, global politics, and computer science all come together in this rapidly changing field.

Thank you for (virtually) stopping by and inspiring our students, Zak!

We love it when our alumni come back to visit with our students and share their experiences! If you are interested in doing so, please contact Peter Fossett '80, associate director of alumni and legacy giving, at fossettp@countryday.net, or Casey Santi, associate director of annual giving and alumni relations, at santic@countryday.net.

Out-of-Town Alumni Gatherings Are Back!

Country Day is hitting the road and resuming out-of-town gatherings this year, starting on the East Coast this fall. Mark your calendars and please join us!

Invitations will be sent separately. If you live in the area and would like to attend, please RSVP to Kathy Paff at paffk@countryday.net or 513-979-0285.

Alumni-branded merchandise is now available for purchase through the school’s online spirit shop! Thanks to the efforts of the Alumni Council, four alumni-specific Country Day logos are now available on shirts, pants, hats, and other merchandise at CCDS Alumni Custom Apparel and Merchandise - Game One. 

Visit the spirit shop today and show off your Country Day pride! 

In late March, Elizabeth Oblinger arrived in Nepal to pursue her long-held dream of climbing Mt. Everest. From Kathmandu, Elizabeth and her fellow climbers helicoptered to Lukla in northeastern Nepal where they began their trek to their Everest base camp, which they reached on April 10. After some training on Khumbu Glacier, the team worked their way up Lobuche, a nearby peak (elevation 20,000+'), to begin acclimatizing to the thin air of the high Himalayas. Elizabeth and her team reached the top of Lobuche on April 15.

After summiting Lobuche, Elizabeth and her team returned to their Everest base camp, from which they began moving up Everest itself. While some high winds and difficult weather delayed their progress up Everest, Elizabeth and her fellow climbers were in position to make their push to the summit by May 12. By the early morning hours of May 13, Elizabeth reached Mt. Everest’s Balcony – about 27,500 feet above sea level and within 1,500 feet of Everest’s summit -- before she was forced to turn back by a dwindling oxygen supply.

Undaunted, Elizabeth is already thinking of returning to Everest to complete the job – and on her next effort, she wants to take a CCDS flag with her to plant on the summit! Well done, Elizabeth, and more power to you!

The Nominations Committee of the Alumni Council has recommended that the following alumni be approved to join the Alumni Council for a three-year term beginning July 1, 2024:

• Erik Larkin '05
• Will Lindner ’07
• Chase Shiels ’04
• Maggie Wright ’19

If you would be interested in being considered for a future role on the council, please click here.

Congrats to our tennis squad on a great day at the OHSAA Sectional Tournament! Nik Shah `25 earned the title of champion in singles, Adam Arebi `25 & Leo Joffe `24 earned 3rd place in doubles, and Sanjay Cherukuri `26 & Daniel Sgro Plaut `24 got 4th place in doubles. Way to go, Nighthawks!

In what could very well become a new Country Day tradition, our 3rd graders enjoyed the adventure of camping out on our campus! Students had a pizza dinner, played in the rain, swam in our pool, sang songs at the campfire, and made s'mores.

The 8th grade told a tale as old as time in Beauty and the Beast Jr.! It was an incredible performance that showcased the students' talent and hard work.

Making a splash at the Early Childhood Center!

Our 7th graders are having big fun on their class trip in Cherokee, NC!

Middle School students honed their babysitting skills in Entrepreneur Club and are ready to offer their services in the real world!

8th graders aren't the only ones taking the stage! Kindergarten and 1st grade students wowed the audience at their spring performance "Birds!".

Our spring art show was the culmination of a semester's worth of hard work and creativity from our talented artists! Students from all three divisions showed off their impressive work to friends and family.

Upper School students (and faculty!) competed in an all-out battle for dodgeball supremacy, with the winner taking home bragging rights and the coveted golden trash can. After well-fought matches between all grade levels, it was the seniors who faced the faculty in the final round, with the Class of 2024 emerging victorious!

Thank you to everyone who has supported the school this year with gifts to the Country Day Fund. You make a tremendous difference to the experience of our students and teachers.

If you have yet to make a gift, but would like to do so before the school year ends on June 30, please click the button below.