COLUMBUS, Ohio – Five former Ohio Dominican University student-athletes will be inducted into the 2026 Black & Gold Club Athletic Hall of Fame, presented by Nationwide Children's Sports Medicine, during Homecoming weekend.
Jennifer Buettner (Burgei), Kelly Burton, Sandy Rowley, Danny Sorgini and Jared Stace were selected for induction next month into the Hall of Fame.
Induction into the Ohio Dominican Athletic Hall of Fame is one of the highest honors that a Panther student-athlete can receive. The Hall of Fame recognizes former students and coaches who excelled in Ohio Dominican athletics as well as friends of the university who helped to advance the overall athletics program to new levels. The Hall of Fame encourages student-athletes to strive to attain the highest standards of performance and conduct.
The 2026 inductees will be honored during the Athletic Hall of Fame Recognition Dinner on Friday, October 16th, and will be publicly recognized at halftime of the Homecoming football game, which kicks off at 12:00 PM, Saturday, Oct. 17, against the Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers. More information and registration for the dinner can be found in the link above. Limited tickets are available for the dinner and can be purchased for $45.
HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2026
Jennifer Buettner (Burgei) (2009) is one of the top names in the Ohio Dominican women's soccer program from her time in the Black and Gold. In her four-year career, she tallied 46 goals, 12 assists and 104 points over 71 games in four seasons (2005-2008).
As a freshman, Buettner was AMC Freshman of the Year and First Team All-AMC South Division after scoring a team-high 17 goals. In her sophomore year, she led her team with seven goals while being named Honorable Mention All-AMC for the South Division. Her 2007 season saw her lead the team once again with nine goals and garnered a number of accolades. She was Second Team All-AMC South Division, Second Team NAIA All-Region IX and a Daktronics NAIA Scholar-Athlete. As a senior, the Panthers won their first AMC conference tournament title and qualified for the 2008 NAIA National Tournament. She scored 13 goals (tied for season-high) as a First Team All-AMC honoree with another Daktronics NAIA Scholar-Athlete.
She is the program leader for career goals, career points and career hat tricks while sitting fourth in career assists.
Kelly Burton (2000) made an impact for the men's basketball program in his two seasons with the Panthers. Over just 54 games in Black and Gold, Burton totaled 873 points (16.1 PPG), 497 rebounds (9.2 RPG), and 138 blocks with a .535 field goal percentage.
Burton led the team in scoring (16.6 PPG), rebounding (9.1 RPG), blocks (2.9 BPG) and field goal % (.533) as he was named Second Team All-AMC and Second Team All-NAIA for the 1998-99 season. One season later, Burton was the leader for the Panthers in scoring (15.6 PPG), rebounding (9.4 RPG), blocks (2.0 BPG) and field goal % (.539). He earned First Team All-AMC honors and was a Third Team NAIA All-American.
Upon graduation, Burton was the program leader for season (89) and career blocks – records that still stand to this day. He sits sixth in the record books for a career field goal percentage.
Sandy Rowley (1984) was a fixture on Sunbury Road for nearly 45 years as a volleyball student-athlete, coach and administrator.
After a four-year playing career, Rowley was hired as head coach of the Panthers in 1989. Rowley led the Panthers for 27 seasons before stepping down from coaching in 2015. From 2010 through 2025, Rowley was a key part of the ODU athletic department in a number of different capacities including Assistant/Associate Athletic Director, Senior Women's Administrator and Director of Compliance.
Of her 27 seasons as head coach, the Panthers won 20 games in 20 seasons as she totaled 512 wins in her career. The Panthers made 13 conference tournament appearances and three NAIA Regional Tournament appearances.
During her playing career, she was First Team All-GOAC and NAIA All-District 22 along with a NAIA Scholar-Athlete.
Danny Sorgini (2009) sits as one of the most accomplished golfers for the Ohio Dominican men's golf program.
Sorgini was a two-time All-AMC, GCAA All-Region and NAIA All-American honoree in both of his seasons as a Panther. After joining the Panthers, he shot an average of 74.9 for the 2007-08 season as the Panthers qualified for the 2008 NAIA Men's Golf Championship. As a senior, Sorgini averaged 74.2 during the 2008-09 season as he was a GCAA All-America Scholar.
He sits fifth among career scoring (74.6) with two tournament titles, 13 top five finishes and 19 finishes in the top ten. Sorgini ranks in a first-place tie for top five finishes and is second in program history with top ten finishes. He holds the program record for a win-loss percentage (.898).
Jared Stace (2008) was a part of the inaugural Ohio Dominican football team and established himself as one of the best wide receivers in the program's history. In his career, Stace has hauled in 223 career catches for 2,741 receiving yards and 29 touchdowns.
In the first year of Ohio Dominican football (2004), Stace caught 17 passes for 231 yards and one touchdown. He led the Panthers during the 2005 season with 57 catches, 710 receiving yards and eight touchdowns as he was Second Team All-MSFA. For the 2006 season, Stace was the team leader in catches (63), receiving yards (750), and touchdown catches (10) - earning him First Team All-MSFA honors. As a senior, Stace contributed to a Panther squad that qualified for the NAIA Tournament for the first time. He had 86 receptions for 1,050 yards and ten touchdowns as he was named First Team All-MSFA and First Team AFCA All-American.
He is second in receiving touchdowns and receptions and fourth in receiving yards. He holds the ODU and MSFA record for most receptions in a single game (18).
