ABOUT JOHN J. WIRTZ
The John J. Wirtz Award honors one of the most revered and respected men associated with Saint Ignatius athletics. Mr. John Wirtz served in numerous roles from 1948 to 1976, during his nearly 30 years at Saint Ignatius.
Wirtz served as head coach of track, football, basketball, and baseball and as athletic director. He also taught PE class during his time at Saint Ignatius.
During his time as a head coach, Wirtz accrued records of 146-40-6 in football and 277-90 in basketball. His football squads won or shared 10 league championships and four city championships, and his basketball teams earned eight league championships and one city title and finished as Class A state semifinalists in 1953. In his three-year tenure as head baseball coach, the Wildcats won 46 games and two city championships.
In 1974, Wirtz was inducted into the Ohio High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
Wirtz made a difference in the lives of thousands of young men in his service to Saint Ignatius High School.
ABOUT THE JOHN J. WIRTZ ATHLETE OF THE YEAR AWARD
The John J. Wirtz award is given to a senior athlete who has made a significant contribution to the sports program in more than one sport and has demonstrated academic ability, coachability, dedication and leadership, and exemplary behavior and citizenship. The coaches of the athletic department present a list of nominees to the student body who vote for the winner of this award. Listed below are the past winners of the Athlete of the Year Award. *Beginning in 1974, the Award was renamed in honor of John J. Wirtz.*
WIRTZ AWARD WINNERS
| ACADEMIC YEAR |
STUDENT-ATHLETE |
| 2024-25 |
Nolan Ignacio |
| 2023-24 |
Sean Martin |
| 2022-23 |
Edmund Soeder |
| 2021-22 |
Marty Lenehan |
| 2020-21 |
Aidan Conway |
| 2019-20 |
Michael Boehm |
| 2018-19 |
Nate Conry |
| 2017-18 |
Bain Kurtz |
| 2016-17 |
Matt Wiegandt |
| 2015-16 |
Jimmy Berger |
| 2014-15 |
Jack Wiegandt |
| 2013-14 |
Nick Gajkowski |
| 2012-13 |
Bryan Fisher |
| 2011-12 |
Mike Svetina |
| 2010-11 |
Ryan Ivancic |
| 2009-10 |
Christopher Knoth |
| 2008-09 |
Pat Hinkel |
| 2007-08 |
Steve Bigach |
| 2006-07 |
Matt Merletti |
| 2005-06 |
Rob Parris |
| 2004-05 |
Adam Danko |
| 2003-04 |
Jim Chmelik |
| 2002-03 |
Tony Gonzalez |
| 2001-02 |
Ryan Franzinger |
| 2000-01 |
Jonathan Gannon |
| 1999-00 |
Dave Gresky |
| 1998-99 |
Jon Volosin |
| 1997-98 |
Dave Ragone |
| 1996-97 |
Matt Bunsey |
| 1995-96 |
Drew Haddad |
| 1994-95 |
Brian Stenger |
| 1993-94 |
Scott Mutryn |
| 1992-93 |
Ray Ardire |
| 1991-92 |
Joe Lewandowski |
| 1990-91 |
Jeff Drabik |
| 1989-90 |
Joe Pickens |
| 1988-89 |
Mike Buddie |
| 1987-88 |
Pat Kennedy |
| 1986-87 |
Joe Harubin |
| 1985-86 |
Kevin Cook |
| 1984-85 |
Mark Buddie |
| 1983-84 |
Shawn Finnan |
| 1982-83 |
Bill Koehler |
| 1981-82 |
Mike McNally |
| 1980-81 |
Mike Trivisonno |
| 1979-80 |
John Shimko |
| 1978-79 |
Miro Lovric |
| 1977-78 |
Oliver Luck |
| 1976-77 |
Jim Jensen |
| 1975-76 |
Tim Vala |
| 1974-75 |
Bernie Weber |
| 1973-74 |
Roger Andrachik |
| 1972-73 |
Pat George |
| 1971-72 |
Dave Milosovich |
| 1970-71 |
Ken Yantek |
| 1969-70 |
Kevin Gladstone |
| 1968-69 |
Don Pfeil |
| 1967-68 |
Frank Gusich |
| 1966-67 |
Chris Dowling |
| 1965-66 |
Bert Nemecek |
| 1964-65 |
Brian Dowling |
| 1963-64 |
Tom Furlong |
| 1962-63 |
Steve Huntz |
| 1961-62 |
Bill Bergold |
| 1960-61 |
Tom Comerford |
| 1959-60 |
Mike Hegan* |
| 1958-59 |
Jim Corrigan |
| 1957-58 |
Garry Roggenburk |
*Deceased
