Dayton Christian Athletics Announces 2025 Hall of Fame Inductees

1984 Crusaders Boys Cross Country Team

The 1984 Crusaders Boys Cross Country Team put an exclamation mark on their 6th straight trip to the state meet by bringing home Dayton Christian's first state team championship in the sport. With the goal of consistency, the ‘84 team was nearly undefeated on the season (one second place finish as a team) on their way to sectional, district, and state titles. Led by Hall of Fame coach, Steve Karnehm, the “Purple Pack” overcame the damp, hot, humid conditions of the Ohio Class A State Meet in Columbus to pull off a come–from-behind victory, edging-out state runner-up Caldwell by one point (80-79). The Crusaders team was led in state meet scoring by David Rapp (4th), Dave Richards (12th), Jeff Fear (13th), Mike Marriott (20th), Tim Combs (30th), Scott Greer (44th), and Tim Wyatt (65th). Other Crusader runners worthy of mention included: Dan Ward, Darin Patak, Mark Withers, Sean Smith, John Wade, Bob Cromwell, Dan Kett, Gene Prater, and Joe Zimmerman.

Of this historic team, Coach Steve Karnehm stated, “We are firmly convinced that the discipline of cross country has built character in these young men, and that foundation has a lasting effect on all other area of their lives.”

Joshua Alexander

Joshua Alexander, a 4-year letter winner for the Warriors soccer team, is rated as the #5 All-time soccer player in school history, ranking in the program’s Top 10 in five single season and four career statistical categories. As a sophomore (2011), Alexander garnered 1st Team All-Metro Buckeye and 3rd Team All-Miami Valley honors. As junior (2012) team captain, Alexander earned 1st Team All-Metro Buckey, 1st Team All-Miami Valley, and 2nd Team All-State honors, while leading his team in 3 of the 5 offensive categories. As a senior captain (2013 season), Alexander repeated his 1st Team All-MBC, 1st Team All-Miami Valley, and 2nd Team All-State honors.

Alexander finished his DC career as only one of four players in school history to earn All-State honors two times. His Warriors soccer teams finished either first or second in the MBC in all four of his years; were ranked in the top 5 in the Miami Valley all 4 years; and earned a top state ranking of #4 in 2011. Alexander was also a track and field MBC Champion and District champion in the 4x100 relay, qualifying for State in his senior year.

Regarding his time as a DC athlete and student, Alexander stated, “Being involved in DC athletics gave me the foundation for the work ethic I have today. Without constantly striving to be the best, surrounded by people who wanted what was best for me (on and off the field), I never would have learned what my best really could be. Dayton Christian athletics pushed me to compete, stay accountable, and keep raising standards I have for myself.”

Jacob Danishek

Jacob “Jake” Danishek, a 4-year letter winner and 4-time All-Ohio selection for the Warriors wrestling team, has the distinction of being the most decorated athlete in Dayton Christian School athletic history. Danishek holds school records in career wins from 2011-2014 (186), wins in a single season in 2014 (53), career take-downs (603), and nearfalls in a season in 2012 (85). Danishek won his first state championship in the 112 pound weight class as a freshman in 2011. He followed that up in 2012 with a second state title at 132 pounds his sophomore year. His junior year, 2013, he won his third state championship at 145 pounds. To finish off his high school career, Danishek went undefeated on the season (going 43-0) and entered the exclusive fraternity of 4-time Ohio State Wrestling Champions by winning his fourth state title- this one at 152 pounds. In addition to his individual accomplishments in 2014, Danishek also played a large part in helping the Warriors team toward becoming state title runners-up that year. In addition to his state titles, Danishek also won two national titles in 2013-14 in the 152 pound weight class at The Ironman and the Super 32 tournaments, and he finished his high school career ranked #2 nationally by Intermat Magazine.

Danishek went on to become an NCAA championship qualifier, an NCAA Academic All-American, and an All-Big Ten Academic Honoree in his 4-year career at Division 1 Indiana University. Regarding his time as a DC athlete and student, Danishek stated, “My time in the DC wrestling program taught me that every moment should be used to glorify Jesus. Today, those lessons still hold true for me, as I strive to be my best self as a husband, dad, friend, and employee.”

Craig Walder

Craig Walder, a 2-year letter winner for the basketball Crusaders, came to DC as a junior- already having been a contributor for the district champion and regional runner-up Trotwood-Madison Rams. As a junior (‘98-’99) team captain for DC, he garnered All-Conference, All-Area, and All-District honors. That year he averaged 15.5 points, 8.8 rebounds per game, and 4.5 assists per game, while leading the Metro-Buckeye Conference in field goal percentage while also finishing top-5 in the Dayton area in that same area.

In his senior season (‘99-’00), Walder repeated as team captain and again received All-Conference, All-Area, All-District, and All-Region honors. He also earned All-State Honorable Mention honors, as he scored 14.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 5 assists per game as an integral member of the 24-1 ‘99-’00 team that went undefeated in the regular season. His leadership led this team to the Southwest Regional Finals, as they averaged a school record of 94 points per game. Walder finished his two-year DC basketball career as the #8 all-time scorer in school history, and he was a key contributor to the Crusader team, as his teams went 37-9 overall (80% winning percentage).

Regarding his time at DC, Walder stated, “I am most proud that I’m able to love all races. DC took a black kid and showed him how to talk to those who looked different from me. I live the foundation of Biblical studies Mr. Pyle and Mr. Skolik gave me at DC.”

Kyle Abney

Kyle Abney, a two-year letter winner in both track and field and football, has the distinction of being the first athlete in the school’s history to qualify for the Ohio state meet for both shot put and discus (His brother, Jonathan qualified for state in shot put in 2007). His junior year (2008), he was Metro Buckeye Conference Champion and a Southwest District qualifier in the shot put. His senior year (2009), Abney earned All-MBC, All-District, All-Region, and All-State honors while qualifying for the State Meet in shot put and discus, finishing third at state in the shot. He set school records in the shot (57’7”) and discus (164’) for DC during that same year. Abney also excelled on the football field, where he was selected as a two-year captain, Hammer Award winner, Special Mention All-State, and a Nominee for the Anthony Munoz Lineman of the Year (2008) as an offensive and defensive lineman for the Warriors.

After high school, Abney went on to have a stalwart college throwing career at Indiana Wesleyan University. There he earned NAIA All-American status three times, was a six-time NAIA nationals' qualifier, a four-time conference champion, and held the shot-put record at IWU for seven years.

Regarding the impact of DC athletics on his life, Abney stated, “Athletics through Dayton Christian helped me start my journey of realizing the true meaning of worshipping God. Using our gifts honors the Giver, and being able to do this, alongside my family, was a blessing in my life.”

Kyle Aney will be inducted into the DC Athletic Hall of Fame in a public ceremony at Dayton Christian School on December 20, 2025.


About the Dayton Christian Athletic Hall of Fame

The Hall of Fame was established in 2019 by the Dayton Christian Athletic Booster Club and Athletic Department. Committee membership provides a broad representation of the school’s administration, faculty, alumni, and athletic department.

Purpose

The purpose of the Dayton Christian Athletic Hall of Fame is to honor outstanding student-athletes, teams, and coaches who have foremost glorified God and to preserve the memory of their interscholastic athletic achievements.

Dayton Christian Athletic Hall of Fame Ceremony

This year’s Hall of Fame Ceremony will take place at Dayton Christian’s Student Life Center (9391 Washington Church Rd.) at 5:00 on Saturday, December 20. It is free of charge and open to the public.