Reservations Are Open For The 2022-23 Xavier Athletics Hall of Fame Weekend

CINCINNATI - Reservations are now being accepted for the Xavier Athletics Hall of Fame induction awards dinner on Friday, Feb. 17 at Cintas Center. The class will also be honored at the 4 p.m. men's basketball game vs. DePaul on Saturday, Feb. 18.

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Additional event questions can be directed to Shay Davidson (Coordinator – All For One Fund) at davidsons4@xavier.edu or 513.745.3223.

This year's Hall of Fame Induction Class class includes a pair of men's basketball players who led Xavier to championship success, Dexter L. Bailey ('84) and Joshua D. Duncan ('08). Abigail M. Bessler ('17) was a standout on the volleyball court, Jay J.M. Johnson ('05) made a major impact in baseball, while Michael A. Zennedjian Jr. ('12) made his mark in the pool.

Four of the five inductees have local high school ties: Bailey (Summit Country Day in Cincinnati), Bessler (St. Henry in Erlanger, Ky.), Duncan (Moeller in Cincinnati) and Johnson (Dixie Heights in Fort Mitchell, Ky.). Zennedjian is from Farmington Hills, Mich.

HOF WEEKEND

The date of the Hall of Fame induction awards dinner will be Friday, Feb. 17 at Cintas Center. The class will also be honored at the 4 p.m. men's basketball game vs. DePaul on Saturday, Feb. 18.

DEXTER BAILEY

Dexter "Skywalker" Bailey lettered four years in basketball and is a member of the 1,000 Point Club. Bailey, one of the most popular XU players of the Eighties, weaved his 6-foot-4 frame into and around much taller players. Then he exploded off his feet, thinking dunk first and ask questions later.

Bailey was more than just a quick jumper. His reverse dunks turned on the crowd. His rebounding turned on the coaches. Bailey, a three-time team rebounding champion, stands 15th on the XU all-time rebounding list with 730. Bailey also recorded 1,139 points, good for No. 38 on the XU all-time list.

He made an immediate impact on the Musketeers as a freshman and helped XU to an 8-3 record and first place finish in the MCC regular season race, XU's first MCC title. After that 12-16 season, the Musketeers slipped to 8-20 before rebounding in the 1982-83 season. That year saw Bailey average 11.1 points and 6.7 rebounds per game, helping Xavier to a 22-8 record, an MCC Tournament Championship and a berth in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 1960-61 season. Bailey earned AP and UPI Second Team All-MCC honors.

The following year, Xavier won seven out of the final eight games of the season and qualified for the NIT where XU defeated both Ohio State and Nebraska in front of capacity crowds at the Cincinnati Gardens. XU came close in the Quarterfinals, losing 63-62 to eventual champion Michigan in Ann Arbor.

Bailey chose Xavier over Ohio State, a groundbreaking recruit for the growth of the program. Bailey was the top player in Cincinnati and, according to many, the top recruit in the state. After graduating from Xavier, he was drafted in the 10^th round of the 1984 NBA Draft by Denver.

ABBEY BESSLER

Abbey Bessler, who now goes by her married name of Abbey Schuster, is one of the most decorated Xavier volleyball players of all-time. She was a two-time (2013 and 2016) AVCA All-America Honorable Mention selection and named a three-time AVCA All-Region First Team, two-time AVCA All-Region Honorable Mention selection and 2013 ACVA East Region Rookie of the Year. Bessler was also named one of 30 candidates for the Senior Class Award in October of 2016 for her character, her work in the classroom, on the court and in the community.

Bessler was named the 2015 BIG EAST Player of the Year after being ranked fifth in the conference in points, fourth in kills and ninth in digs. During the 2015 season, she was also ranked nationally in total attacks and attacks per set. She finished the season with 1,267 total attacks, ranked sixth on the Xavier single-season list, and 490.5 total points, which ranked eighth in single-season history.

Bessler was a four-time BIG EAST First Team member, a four-time selection to the BIG EAST All-Academic Team and a three-time BIG EAST All-Tournament Team selection. During the 2016 BIG EAST Semifinal against Marquette, she recorded 12 kills, three aces and five digs.

Bessler is Xavier Volleyball's all-time leader in attack attempts (5,094) and points (2010.0). She ranks second in kills (1,774), sixth in digs (1,392) and is a member of the 1,000-1,000 club for kills and digs. She also holds the school records for kills (33) and points (34.0) in a match.

JOSH DUNCAN

Josh Duncan lettered four years in basketball, helping Xavier reach three NCAA Tournaments, including the 2008 NCAA Elite Eight team that won a school-record 30 games. Duncan, who is 32nd on Xavier's all-time scoring lists with 1,210 points, was a freshman on Sean Miller's first team as head coach in the 2004-05 season. Duncan was one of the most efficient shooters to come through the Xavier basketball program. Duncan only started 48 games for the Musketeers, but played 128 with an average of 19.5 minutes a game.

Duncan's shooting helped lead Xavier to an NCAA Tournament Elite Eight appearance in 2008 under Miller, averaging 18.3 ppg. for XU's run, including a career-high 26 points in the West Regional Semifinal win over West Virginia. For his performance, he was named to the 2008 NCAA Tournament West Regional All-Tournament Team and earned CBS/Chevrolet Game MVP honors in each of Xavier's wins. The '08 graduate was selected to the 2007-08 Atlantic 10 Conference Second Team and named the A-10 Sixth Man of the Year.
Duncan closed out his senior year shooting 49.6 percent from the field and 85.3 percent from the free throw line. Duncan's junior year shooting percentage from the free throw line ranks as the second best by a Xavier player for a season at 88 percent.

Over his four years at Xavier, Duncan has three of the top 14 spots in Xavier history for best shooting percentage from the free throw line over a single season. Duncan holds the record for most consecutive field goals made by a Xavier player with 16. Duncan has enjoyed a very successful pro career overseas and is currently playing in Japan.

JAY JOHNSON

Jay Johnson was a four-year letterwinner in baseball who received several written endorsements from players, coaches and staff over the past year. One of his former teammates summed up a lot of the consensus sentiments on the former Xavier captain: "To begin, Jay exemplifies what it means to be a true teammate. During our time together at Xavier, he embodied Musketeer pride by encouraging others to be their best both on and off the field. Jay was the player that strived to make himself better when no one else was looking in order to get the most out of his abilities and teammates. He was positive and encouraging, yet firm and constructive and knew how to motivate those around him. His passion for the game and his investment in Xavier University spread through the team, fans, and coaching staff alike... Jay was a natural leader."

Jay Johnson is currently ranked eighth all-time in games played at Xavier with 215 and ended his career as the Xavier all-time hits leader with 258 hits in 760 at bats, giving him a career batting average of .340, ranking ninth. His 258 hits still ranks first all-time. He was XU's offensive leader in his senior campaign, leading the team in 14 offensive categories. In the 2005 season, he also fielded at a .986 clip with five outfield assists. He graduated in the top 10 all-time for XU in seven categories including sixth with 760 at bats, 10th with 136 runs, fourth with doubles at 44 and ninth with 55 stolen bases.

Johnson received several awards over his career including Atlantic 10 All-Conference First Team in 2004 and 2005, second team in 2003, and 2002 Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year. He was also recognized as an Academic All-Conference member in 2004 and 2005. He was a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American (2002) and Louisville Slugger National Player of the week (March 2002). His standout freshman year included being part of a combined no-hitter where he tossed six perfect innings of relief against Rhode Island on March 24, 2002.

Johnson was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 13th round in the 2005 MLB Draft.

MICHAEL ZENNEDJIAN

Michael Zennedjian is one of the most accomplished swimmers in Xavier history. He shined throughout his four years at Xavier, winning the Atlantic 10 Conference Most Outstanding Rookie Performer in 2008-09 and Most Outstanding Performer Awards in 2010-11 and 2011-12. He was just the second Musketeer ever to post an NCAA B-Cut time, and he accumulated 11 individual and five relay A-10 Championship medals prior to his graduation, marking the most by an XU swimmer ever. Of those medals, seven have been individual golds and two have been relay golds

Zennedjian was also recognized by CollegeSwimming.com as an honorable mention to the Mid-Major All-American Team for the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons. At the time of his graduation, he held the school records for the 200 (1:48.20) and 400- yard (3:51.54) individual medley, and both records were also A-10 records. He still holds the school record in the 200 butterfly which he set in 2011 (1:48.35).

Zennedjian earned Atlantic 10 Most Outstanding Performer and A-10 All-Academic, as well as Mid-Major All-America Honorable Mention (CollegeSwimming.com) for the second consecutive year to cap off an impressive senior year. He won gold and set a league record in both the 200 and 400 IM and also the 200 fly, swam the second leg of the gold-medal winning and school-record setting 400 medley relay team and took the third leg of the bronze-medal winning and school-record setting 400 free relay squad at the 2012 Atlantic 10 Championship .

He was awarded the O'Connor Award for the senior male XU student-athlete who best exemplifies the ideals of Xavier University based on both athletic and academic achievements. In addition, he also earned the Achieving Senior Award for maintaining a 3.0+ grade point average for seven or more semesters.

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