Alumni Awards

The best way to illustrate a Saint Ignatius education is to look towards our alumni. Each year, we honor a group of alumni with various awards to recognize their success since graduation and honor their continued commitment to the mission of our school.

Bob Spicer ’62

2022 Athletic Hall of Fame Inductee
In an era of two tight ends, pound-it-out football, Spicer was a two-year starter as a 175-pound running back and defensive back. He rushed for more than 1,000 yards (he says there were no official statistics in his days) as the Wildcats were co-West Senate champs in 1961. That year he was runner-up to Frank Solich of Holy Name for the Knute Rockne Award, given to the outstanding high school player in Cleveland.
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Tom Fox ’95

2022 Athletic Hall of Fame Inductee
As a senior, he averaged a double-double, scoring 20.6 points with 11.2 rebounds while setting the school record at the time for blocked shots. In his junior year, Fox averaged 13.8 points and seven rebounds for a district title team.
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Ben Smith ’03

2022 Athletic Hall of Fame Inductee
Ben Smith’s career stands on its own merits. He was the first medalist (state champion) in school history, a member of state title teams in 2001 and 2002, and a first-team All-Ohio in 2002. A four-year letter winner, Smith averaged under 75 his final three years, had three Top 20 finishes at the state tournament and was a teammate with Ted when the Wildcats won their first state title in 2001.
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Rudy Kirbus '06

2022 Athletic Hall of Fame Inductee
Kirbus earned seven letters – four in basketball, three in football. He started at quarterback in the 2004 and 2005 seasons, and threw for more than 4,000 yards in his career. He still holds the school record for touchdown passes (43). In basketball he was a three-year starter and still holds school records for most free throws made in a game (19), total points in a season (588), season scoring average (27.6) and total points in a career (1,357). He was captain of both the football and basketball teams as a senior.
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Mark Blades ’06

2022 Athletic Hall of Fame Inductee
Blades was on two state championship teams and one national champion. He was first-team all-Ohio, the Ohio Player of the Year and the Cleveland Player of the Year. He and his brother Gavin were part of the first soccer state championship at Saint Ignatius in 2004. The next season, Blades helped the Mike McLaughlin ’85-coached Wildcats go 23-0 and win another title.
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Michael P. Ginley ’77

The 2021 Founders’ Award Winner
Mike Ginley ’77 grew up in North Olmsted as the oldest of seven children. His late father, Bill ’52, served on the alumni council for 55 years. “As soon as it was determined we were male children, we were destined for Saint Ignatius,” he says.
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Lee A. Bennett ’54

The 2022 Founders’ Award Winner
Lee was first involved with the annual alumni phone-a-thons and 50th Reunion Committee. He joined the Alumni Executive Council where he was involved with the Spiritual Development Committee. “It was a way for me to stay connected to the school and my classmates."
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Mark A. Kadzielski '65

2022 Distinguished Alumnus
Mark Kadzielski ’65 grew up on Cleveland’s west side where he attended Corpus Christi parish school. He remembers Saint Ignatius High School as a place where he was challenged in every way – emotionally, academically, and spiritually. “It made me the person I am today,” he says. “All these challenges created opportunities for me to succeed.”
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Michael P. McLaughlin ’85

2022 Distinguished Alumnus
Since 1991, McLaughlin has served as a theology teacher, director of the Arrupe Neighborhood Partnership, Sophomore Service director, and head coach of a soccer team that’s won seven national titles and 11 state titles – so far.
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Jay Finch ’04

The 2022 Young Alumnus Award Recipient
Jay Finch ’04, credits all his achievements to the glory of God, with support from many people in the Body of Christ. Living in Washington, D.C., with his wife Andrea and three children, Jay is founder and CEO of Polydelta, a technology company providing artificial intelligence services to clients nationwide.
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