Saint Ignatius High School (Cleveland)

History

Founded in 1886 by a German Jesuit on the invitation of Bishop Richard Gilmour, the school was originally a six-year secondary school based on the German Gymnasium 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.

The words and music of St. Ignatius' alma mater were composed by the school's band director, Jack T. Hearns, Sr., in August 1937. His band debuted the alma mater at halftime during a football game on October 1, 1937, replacing their customary "Victory March". In 1958, St. Ignatius gave St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati permission to adapt the song.

Campus

Saint Ignatius High School remains at its original location at 1911 West 30th Street. 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 Places.

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 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 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.

Academics

The school was recognized by the United States Department of Education as a "Blue Ribbon School" for the 1984-1985 and 2008-2009 school year. In 2015, St. Ignatius had 45 National Merit Scholars. With 21 National Merit Semi-Finalists, the school was first among private schools in Ohio and fourth among all schools in Ohio.

Service

The school shares its motto "Men for Others" (attributed to Father Pedro Arrupe, 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, to which it provides support 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 pallbearers.

Fine arts program

In 1990, a fine arts program was added to the school's curriculum. Its most recent addition has been the Breen Center for the Performing Arts. Musical opportunities include the Wildcat Marching Band, Pep Band, Stage Band, Ignatius Brass, Jazz Band, Liturgical Musicians, and others.

Clubs and activities

Extra-curricular activities at St. Ignatius range from the student-led yearbook (The Ignatian) to Billiards Club. Some activities meet daily while others meet less than monthly.

The school's Latin Club functions as a local chapter of both the Ohio Junior Classical League (OJCL) and National Junior Classical League (NJCL).

OHSAA Division I State Championships

Saint Ignatius High School have not won a title in bowling (new tournament in 2007) or swimming (runner-up twice).

Titles won:

_{* Co-champs}

Other athletic achievements

Saint Ignatius Wildcats vs. Saint Edward Eagles

A strong rivalry exists between Saint Ignatius and St. Edward High School. The two schools are both Catholic, all-boys' schools on the west side of the Cleveland area. The schools are separated by only six miles. Because the schools draw from the same student pool of boys from west side Catholic grade schools, when students face off in direct competition, they commonly are up against former grade school friends.

While the schools compete in virtually all sports annually, the main event is the football match-up that draws upwards of 13,000 fans at both Byers Field and Lakewood Stadium. In addition, basketball games between the two schools (commonly twice a year) sell out at the hosting school's gymnasium.

In 1993, the regular-season football match-up resulted in a 35-34 3OT win for the St. Ignatius Wildcats. In 1998 basketball regional lines were drawn along the Cleveland/Lakewood border and the two teams met in the Division I state championship, with the St. Edward Eagles prevailing 70-61.

St. Ignatius's soccer program has garnered four national titles, eight state titles (as of the 2016 season), and regional and district titles.

Other extracurricular achievements

Notable alumni

See List of Alumni of Saint Ignatius High School (Cleveland, Ohio)