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Saint Ignatius High School (Cleveland, Ohio)
Encyclopedia
Saint Ignatius High School is a private Roman Catholic, Jesuit
high school under the Diocese of Cleveland, for young men, located in Cleveland, Ohio
. The school is renowned for its high standards of academic excellence, athletic program and performing arts programs. Each year, nearly 100% of graduates go on to colleges and universities within one year of graduation.
that was to be attended after the completion of six years of grammar school. Separate four-year high school and college programs were formed in 1902, with the college changing its name to John Carroll University
in 1923 and moving out of the Cleveland location to neighboring University Heights, Ohio
in 1935.
.
Other buildings are Loyola Hall (originally St. Mary of the Assumption Elementary School), Clavius Science Center, Saint Mary of the Assumption Chapel (named after a church that once was located on the current campus), Father Sullivan, S.J. Gymnasium, Carroll Gymnasium, Murphy Field House, Kyle Field, and the O'Donnell Athletic Complex, which houses Wasmer Field and Dale Gabor Track. In addition, the $11.5 million state-of-the-art Breen Center for the Performing Arts replaced the Xavier Center in August 2009. It houses all student performing arts programs and hosts many events for other local arts groups. A new $3.3 million state-of-the-art cafeteria has replaced the former Student Center, stage, senior lounge, and cooking areas. It was renamed the Rade Dining Hall. Both the St. Mary of the Assumption Chapel and the Murphy Field House projects were funded and overseen by Murlan J. Murphy
.
as a "Blue Ribbon School
" for the 1984-1985 and 2008-2009 school year. A Blue Ribbon school must demonstrate a strong commitment to educational excellence.
, S.J.) with nearly every other Jesuit school, and challenges its students to be "open to growth, intellectually competent, religious, loving, and committed to doing justice" in accordance with the expectations set forth by the school's "Graduate at Graduation" ("Grad at Grad") document.
The school is located in the heart of the Ohio City neighborhood on the Near West Side of Cleveland, which it provides support to through community involvement programs like the Arrupe
Neighborhood Partnership Program and the Saint Benedict Joseph Labre Ministry (a program in which faculty and students build relationships with the homeless through weekly visitation). The high school was the first in the country to institute a for-credit compulsory service called "Sophomore Service". It also houses the St. Joseph of Arimethea Pallbearers Society, which sends upperclassmen to funerals of families who are unable to provide their own pallbearer
s.
singing group, the "Cat-o'-tonics". The chorus has received awards in competitions, and the "Cat-o'-tonics" were awarded National Runner-up in the 2006 National Championship of High School A Cappella. There are many musical opportunities including Pep Band, Stage Band, Ignatius Brass, Jazz
Band, Liturgical Musicians, and others. The marching band has performed the Script Cats Show for 21 consecutive years, and has won many awards and honors at music festivals abroad.
(NJCL).
The Saint Ignatius High School Circus Company is a group of student performers interested in juggling and magic. Each Year, they perform almost 200 times, and work for the mission of the school through serving others, with a special emphasis on senior care facilities. They have received the prestigious national Jefferson Award for excellence in volunteerism.
(OHSAA) Division I State Championships in 9 of the 12 team sports offered, a state record. They have not won a title in Bowling (new tournament in 2007) Tennis, and Swimming (runner-up twice).
Titles won:
. The two schools are quite similar in that both are Catholic, all-boys schools on the west side of the Cleveland area
. The schools are separated by only six miles. One of the main reasons for the rivalry is that the schools draw from the same student pool of boys from west side Catholic grade schools. Because of this, when the students face off in direct competition, they commonly are up against former grade school friends.
The schools both produce high-quality athletic teams, combining for over 60 OHSAA state titles in the last 30 years. The majority of St. Edward's state titles have been in wrestling while St. Ignatius has spread their talent throughout many different sports. While the schools compete in virtually all sports annually, the main event is the football match-up that draws upwards of 13,000 fans. The game is dubbed, "the Holy War
" after the similar Catholic college football scenario between Boston College
(a Jesuit
school) and University of Notre Dame
(a Holy Cross
school). In addition, basketball games between the two schools (commonly twice a year) sell out at the hosting school's gymnasium.
Several match-ups live in the lore of Cleveland high school sports. In 1993, the regular-season football match-up was regarded as one of the greatest Cleveland football games, resulting in a 35-34 3OT win for St. Ignatius. While the schools are only six miles apart, in 1998 basketball regional lines were drawn along the Cleveland/Lakewood border and the two teams met in the Division I state championship, with St. Edward prevailing 70-61. A similar scenario occurred in baseball in 2008, with St. Edward beating St. Ignatius 6-2 in the 2008 Baseball Division I State Championship game.
St. Ignatius has maintained a decisive leg up in football over the years, not just over its local rival, St. Edward, but statewide. With 10 Division I state football titles, they remain the undisputed leader in that category. Their local rival, St. Edward, has only 1 football state title; recently captured in 2010. St. Ignatius is also known for its formidable soccer program. The soccer team has garnished 2 national titles; 5 state titles and countless regional and district titles.
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
high school under the Diocese of Cleveland, for young men, located in Cleveland, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. The school is renowned for its high standards of academic excellence, athletic program and performing arts programs. Each year, nearly 100% of graduates go on to colleges and universities within one year of graduation.
History
Founded in 1886 by a German Jesuit, John Farr, on the invitation of Bishop Richard Gilmour, the school was originally a six-year secondary school based on the German GymnasiumGymnasia and Realgymnasia
The Gymnasium , in the German education system, is a type of secondary school with a strong emphasis on academic learning, comparable with the British former grammar school system or with prep schools in the United States. The student attending a Gymnasium is called "Gymnasiast" . In 2009/10 there...
that was to be attended after the completion of six years of grammar school. Separate four-year high school and college programs were formed in 1902, with the college changing its name to John Carroll University
John Carroll University
John Carroll University is a private, co-educational Jesuit Catholic university in University Heights, Ohio, United States, a suburb of Cleveland. The university was founded in 1886 by the Society of Jesus as Saint Ignatius College.The university was founded in 1886 by the Society of Jesus, as...
in 1923 and moving out of the Cleveland location to neighboring University Heights, Ohio
University Heights, Ohio
University Heights is a city in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States. It borders Beachwood to the east, Cleveland Heights to the west, South Euclid to the north and Shaker Heights to the south. The population was 13,539 as of the 2010 Census...
in 1935.
Campus
Saint Ignatius High School remains at its original location at 1911 West 30th Street to this day. The campus includes the original structure, now known as the Main Building, which was completed in 1891 and is now a designated Cleveland Historic Landmark. On January 21, 1974, Saint Ignatius was added to the National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
Other buildings are Loyola Hall (originally St. Mary of the Assumption Elementary School), Clavius Science Center, Saint Mary of the Assumption Chapel (named after a church that once was located on the current campus), Father Sullivan, S.J. Gymnasium, Carroll Gymnasium, Murphy Field House, Kyle Field, and the O'Donnell Athletic Complex, which houses Wasmer Field and Dale Gabor Track. In addition, the $11.5 million state-of-the-art Breen Center for the Performing Arts replaced the Xavier Center in August 2009. It houses all student performing arts programs and hosts many events for other local arts groups. A new $3.3 million state-of-the-art cafeteria has replaced the former Student Center, stage, senior lounge, and cooking areas. It was renamed the Rade Dining Hall. Both the St. Mary of the Assumption Chapel and the Murphy Field House projects were funded and overseen by Murlan J. Murphy
Murlan J. Murphy
Murlan Jeremiah "Jerry" Murphy, Sr. was an American Businessman who ran several chemical-related companies in Cleveland, Ohio. Chief among the companies was Murphy-Phoenix Company, makers of Murphy Oil Soap, which was later sold to Colgate-Palmolive.-Early life:Murphy was born on June 27, 1918, in...
.
Academics
The school was recognized by the United States Department of EducationUnited States Department of Education
The United States Department of Education, also referred to as ED or the ED for Education Department, is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government...
as a "Blue Ribbon School
Blue Ribbon Schools Program
The Blue Ribbon Schools Program is a United States government program created in 1981 to honor schools which have achieved high levels of performance or significant improvements with emphasis on schools serving disadvantaged students. The program centers around a self-assessment conducted by the...
" for the 1984-1985 and 2008-2009 school year. A Blue Ribbon school must demonstrate a strong commitment to educational excellence.
Service
The school shares its motto "Men for Others" (attributed to Father Pedro ArrupePedro Arrupe
Fr. Pedro Arrupe, S.J. was the twenty eighth Superior General of the Society of Jesus. He was born in Bilbao, Spain.-Education and training:...
, S.J.) with nearly every other Jesuit school, and challenges its students to be "open to growth, intellectually competent, religious, loving, and committed to doing justice" in accordance with the expectations set forth by the school's "Graduate at Graduation" ("Grad at Grad") document.
The school is located in the heart of the Ohio City neighborhood on the Near West Side of Cleveland, which it provides support to through community involvement programs like the Arrupe
Pedro Arrupe
Fr. Pedro Arrupe, S.J. was the twenty eighth Superior General of the Society of Jesus. He was born in Bilbao, Spain.-Education and training:...
Neighborhood Partnership Program and the Saint Benedict Joseph Labre Ministry (a program in which faculty and students build relationships with the homeless through weekly visitation). The high school was the first in the country to institute a for-credit compulsory service called "Sophomore Service". It also houses the St. Joseph of Arimethea Pallbearers Society, which sends upperclassmen to funerals of families who are unable to provide their own pallbearer
Pallbearer
A pall-bearer is one of several funeral participants who helps carry the casket of a deceased person from a religious or memorial service or viewing either directly to a cemetery or mausoleum, or to and from the hearse which carries the coffin....
s.
Fine arts program
In 1990, a fine arts program was added to the school's curriculum. It's most recent addition has been a new performing arts theatre named the Breen Center. This program is growing, and includes an award-winning chorus and an a cappellaA cappella
A cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
singing group, the "Cat-o'-tonics". The chorus has received awards in competitions, and the "Cat-o'-tonics" were awarded National Runner-up in the 2006 National Championship of High School A Cappella. There are many musical opportunities including Pep Band, Stage Band, Ignatius Brass, Jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
Band, Liturgical Musicians, and others. The marching band has performed the Script Cats Show for 21 consecutive years, and has won many awards and honors at music festivals abroad.
Clubs and activities
The school's Latin Club functions as a local chapter of both the Ohio Junior Classical League (OJCL) and National Junior Classical LeagueNational Junior Classical League
The National Junior Classical League is a youth organization of secondary school students sponsored by the American Classical League...
(NJCL).
The Saint Ignatius High School Circus Company is a group of student performers interested in juggling and magic. Each Year, they perform almost 200 times, and work for the mission of the school through serving others, with a special emphasis on senior care facilities. They have received the prestigious national Jefferson Award for excellence in volunteerism.
OHSAA Division I State Championships
Saint Ignatius High School's sports teams have won Ohio High School Athletic AssociationOhio High School Athletic Association
The Ohio High School Athletic Association is the governing body of athletic programs for junior and senior high schools in the state of Ohio...
(OHSAA) Division I State Championships in 9 of the 12 team sports offered, a state record. They have not won a title in Bowling (new tournament in 2007) Tennis, and Swimming (runner-up twice).
Titles won:
- FootballHigh school footballHigh school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
- 1988, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1999, 2001, 2008 (National Champions - 1989, 1993, 1995) - Cross CountryCross country runningCross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
- 1993, 1994, 2009 - WrestlingScholastic wrestlingScholastic wrestling, sometimes known in the United States as Folkstyle wrestling, is a style of amateur wrestling practised at the high school and middle school levels in the United States. This wrestling style is essentially Collegiate wrestling with some slight modifications. It is currently...
- 1988 - HockeyHockeyHockey is a family of sports in which two teams play against each other by trying to maneuver a ball or a puck into the opponent's goal using a hockey stick.-Etymology:...
- 2000, 2010 - BasketballBasketballBasketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
– 2001 - GolfGolfGolf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
- 2001, 2002 - Track and FieldTrack and fieldTrack and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
- 2001 - BaseballBaseballBaseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
- 2002 - Soccer - 2004, 2005, 2008, 2010, 2011 (National Champions - 2005, 2010)
Other athletic achievements
- CrewSport rowingRowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
- Midwest Scholastic Rowing Championship - 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008,2009 -National Championships - Gold in Men's Junior 4+ 2004, Silver in Men's Lightweight 8+ in 2006, Silver in Men's Freshman 8+ in 2010 - St. Ignatius Wildcats named “High School Team of the 90s” by Student Sport Magazine.
- Appeared in first ever nationally televised high school football game in 1989 on Sportschannel. The game was vs. Euclid High School. Saint Ignatius won 55-26. ("The Legend Continues." Highlights of the school's state and national championship football season. Produced by Jack Corrigan '70.)
- Featured on the Team Cheerios box along with Saint Xavier High School.
- Saint Ignatius appeared on the USA TodayUSA TodayUSA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
Super 25 rankings list for best high school football programs 8 times through 2002, tying them for second place for the most number of appearances. - Ranked #18 in "The Best High School Athletic Programs" in the U.S. by Sports IllustratedSports IllustratedSports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
. - Saint Ignatius has won a title in a record 9 different Boys' sports offered by the OHSAA, out of a possible 12. They have not won a title in Swimming (state runner-up twice), Bowling (tournament just started in 2007), and Tennis.
- Saint Ignatius has been named the number one athletic program in the state of Ohio by Sports Illustrated in 2005 and 2009.
The Holy War
A strong rivalry exists between Saint Ignatius and St. Edward High SchoolSt. Edward High School (Lakewood, Ohio)
St. Edward High School is private, all-male Catholic, college-preparatory high school located in Lakewood, Ohio, a western Cleveland suburb. It was founded in 1949 and is operated in the by the Midwest Province of the Brothers of Holy Cross, Notre Dame, Indiana. It is one of three remaining...
. The two schools are quite similar in that both are Catholic, all-boys schools on the west side of the Cleveland area
Greater Cleveland
Greater Cleveland is a nickname for the metropolitan area surrounding Cleveland, Ohio and is part of what used to be the Connecticut Western Reserve.Northeast Ohio refers to a similar but substantially larger area as described below...
. The schools are separated by only six miles. One of the main reasons for the rivalry is that the schools draw from the same student pool of boys from west side Catholic grade schools. Because of this, when the students face off in direct competition, they commonly are up against former grade school friends.
The schools both produce high-quality athletic teams, combining for over 60 OHSAA state titles in the last 30 years. The majority of St. Edward's state titles have been in wrestling while St. Ignatius has spread their talent throughout many different sports. While the schools compete in virtually all sports annually, the main event is the football match-up that draws upwards of 13,000 fans. The game is dubbed, "the Holy War
Holy War (Boston College vs. Notre Dame)
The Holy War is an American college football rivalry between the Boston College Eagles football team of Boston College and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team of the University of Notre Dame...
" after the similar Catholic college football scenario between Boston College
Boston College
Boston College is a private Jesuit research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA. The main campus is bisected by the border between the cities of Boston and Newton. It has 9,200 full-time undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. Its name reflects its early...
(a Jesuit
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
school) and University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
(a Holy Cross
Congregation of Holy Cross
The Congregation of Holy Cross or Congregatio a Sancta Cruce is a Catholic congregation of priests and brothers founded in 1837 by Blessed Father Basil Anthony-Marie Moreau, CSC, in Le Mans, France....
school). In addition, basketball games between the two schools (commonly twice a year) sell out at the hosting school's gymnasium.
Several match-ups live in the lore of Cleveland high school sports. In 1993, the regular-season football match-up was regarded as one of the greatest Cleveland football games, resulting in a 35-34 3OT win for St. Ignatius. While the schools are only six miles apart, in 1998 basketball regional lines were drawn along the Cleveland/Lakewood border and the two teams met in the Division I state championship, with St. Edward prevailing 70-61. A similar scenario occurred in baseball in 2008, with St. Edward beating St. Ignatius 6-2 in the 2008 Baseball Division I State Championship game.
St. Ignatius has maintained a decisive leg up in football over the years, not just over its local rival, St. Edward, but statewide. With 10 Division I state football titles, they remain the undisputed leader in that category. Their local rival, St. Edward, has only 1 football state title; recently captured in 2010. St. Ignatius is also known for its formidable soccer program. The soccer team has garnished 2 national titles; 5 state titles and countless regional and district titles.
Other extracurricular achievements
- Ohio High School Speech League State Champions in Policy DebatePolicy debatePolicy debate is a form of speech competition in which teams of two advocate for and against a resolution that typically calls for policy change by the United States federal government or security discourse...
2001, 2004, 2006 - In 2008 the Model United NationsModel United NationsModel United Nations is an academic simulation of the United Nations that aims to educate participants about current events, topics in international relations, diplomacy and the United Nations agenda....
team was awarded Top Overall Delegation at the 2008 Carnegie Mellon Model United Nations Conference. - In 2010 the Model United NationsModel United NationsModel United Nations is an academic simulation of the United Nations that aims to educate participants about current events, topics in international relations, diplomacy and the United Nations agenda....
team was awarded Runner-Up Delegation honors at the 2010 Gannon UniversityGannon UniversityGannon University is a private, co-educational Catholic university offering associate's, bachelor's, and master's degrees, certificates and doctoral degrees and is located in Erie, Pennsylvania. Gannon University has an alumni base numbering around 31,500. Current enrollment is 4,238.Gannon's...
Model United Nations Conference. - In 2009 the Sports Information Department was awarded the NHSSPA's Gold Award for its work on the 2009 Saint Ignatius Football Media Guide. The group earned the same award for the 2010 Football Media Guide.
- Saint Ignatius has one of the top student broadcasting outlets in Ohio. Saint Ignatius' Broadcasting Network broadcasts over 100 games each year including playoff games. The SIBN broadcasts online in video and audio, and has had the call for three OHSAA State Championship games. The club broadcasts many of the school's sports including Football, Soccer, Hockey, Baseball, and Basketball on a regular basis.