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2024 JCU Athletic Hall of Fame
Katie Suszynski

Star-Studded 2024 Athletic Hall of Fame Class Unveiled

| By: JCUSID
UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS – The 2024 John Carroll University Athletic Hall of Fame Class is set, as announced by John Carroll Athletics and the Blue Gold Club. 

In total, there are eight student-athletes, one faculty athletic administrator, and one team that will join a historic reign of excellence. 

The inductees for this year's class include Pete Iorillo '87 (Men's Tennis), Michael Corte '91 (Football), Pete Duggan '94 (Men's Soccer & Men's Basketball), Ben Adams '09, '10G (Wrestling), Melissa "Missy" Spahar '14 (Women's Basketball), Gabriella "Gab" Kreuz '14 (Women's Cross Country/Track & Field), James "Jimmy" Spagna '14 (Baseball), Genevieve "Genny" Goergen '14 (Women's Soccer), Dr. Andy Welki (Current Faculty Athletic Representative), and the 1997 Football Team is the team in this year's prestigious class. 

These distinguished Blue Streaks will be honored during 2024 Homecoming & Family Weekend (Friday, October 18 - Sunday, October 20). The annual Hall of Fame reception will be held on October 18. 

Meet the newest additions to the John Carroll University Athletic Hall of Fame:

Pete Iorillo '87 - Men's Tennis

After being on the ballot for 15 years, Pete Iorillo is now being inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame after posting one of the greatest tennis resumes in JCU history. Iorillo earned five Presidents Athletic Conference (PAC) titles during his four years as a Blue Streak (three doubles and two singles) and was a part of three PAC runner-up teams. A four-year letterwinner and three-year captain, Iorillo won over 70 matches combined between singles and doubles and his 15-0 record at #6 singles in 1984 remains the best undefeated record ever posted in a single season by a JCU tennis player. After his playing career, Iorillo continued his success on the coaching side as the head men's coach from 1988-1990. In his three seasons at the helm, the Blue Streaks had an overall record of 21-15 and captured its first-ever conference title in 1988 after finishing in second place in each of the previous five seasons. For his efforts, Iorillo won PAC Coach of the Year honors that season in his first year as head coach. He also helped guide JCU to an OAC Championship in 1990 in their first year as a member of the conference. Iorillo was also the head coach for the women's team in 1988 and led them to a third-place finish in the PAC. In his lone season as the head women's coach in 1988, Iorillo led John Carroll to a third-place finish in the school's final year in the PAC. He is now the first athlete from the class of 1987 to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Michael Corte '91 - Football 

Michael Corte joins 10 of his former teammates into the JCU Athletic Hall of Fame after putting together a stellar resume as a member of the JCU football team. A four-year letterwinner from 1987-1990, Corte made an immediate impact on the offensive line, earning Most Valuable Freshman honors during Tony DeCarlo's first season as head coach. In 1988, Corte began his string of 30 consecutive starts at left tackle in which the team posted a 24-6 record. He was named the team's Most Improved Player that season. As a member of the 1989 team that was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019, Corte was part of an offensive line that helped the Blue Streaks win its first-ever OAC Championship and set a then-school record for wins in a season (9) while earning their first NCAA Division III playoff appearance. As a senior in 1990, Corte earned second-team All-American from Don Hansen's Football Gazette, First Team All-OAC and team Most Valuable Offensive Lineman honors blocking for future Hall of Famers Larry Wanke and Willie Beers. In 1994, Corte rejoined the program as a graduate assistant for two seasons, helping the Blue Streaks win a share of the OAC title in his first year in the position. He also earned his Master's of Education degree from Marygrove College in Michigan.

Pete Duggan '94 - Men's Soccer & Men's Basketball 

Pete Duggan joins 17 other individuals from the ultra-successful men's soccer program into the Hall of Fame. In his four-year career from 1990-1993, Duggan recorded 40 assists which still holds as a JCU and OAC record. He also scored 25 goals (tied for 12th in JCU history) and had 90 points (eighth in JCU history) during his career. As a senior in 1993, Duggan tallied 14 assists which is still tied for the most in program history in a single season. The playmaking passer made the All-OAC teams three times, making the Second Team twice and receiving an Honorable Mention once. Duggan was a member of three OAC regular season championship teams and one OAC Tournament Championship squad as a senior captain in 1993. Duggan also played basketball for two seasons and served as the sixth man for head coach Tim Baab (who was also his head soccer coach) as a sophomore. Duggan joins teammates Rick Ferrari '93 and Mike Lyons '95 in the Hall of Fame and was a member of the 1991-93 men's soccer teams that were inducted in 2023.

Ben Adams '09, '10G - Wrestling 

Ben Adams joins the JCU Athletic Hall of Fame after being a finalist in 2023. Adams was a three-time OAC champion at 184 pounds (2008-10), the most conference titles in program history at that weight class, and posted 97 career wins, which ranked eighth all-time in JCU history at the time of his graduation. He was also just one of seven JCU wrestlers to be an OAC champion three or more times at the time. A three-time NCAA Championships qualifier, Adams earned All-American honors as a senior in 2010 with an eighth-place finish. Adams excelled academically, earning CoSIDA Second Team Academic All-American honors in 2010 with a 3.86 cumulative GPA as a economics/finance major. He was also a three-time Scholar All-American and earned Academic All-OAC each year from 2008-2010. Adams joins teammate Ryan Summers '07 (inducted in 2019) in the Hall of Fame.

Melissa "Missy" Spahar '14 - Women's Basketball 

Melissa "Missy" Spahar etched her name as one of the all-time greats in the history of the JCU women's basketball program. Elected into the Hall of Fame in her first year of eligibility, Spahar finished her career as the program's all-time leading scorer with 1,901 points and rebounder with 912 boards. As a senior in 2013-14, she averaged a JCU-record 25.2 points per game while also averaging 9.2 rebounds per game and helped lead the Blue Streaks to their first-ever OAC regular season title and NCAA Division III Tournament appearance. For her efforts, Spahar collected WBCA All-American, D3hoops.com Second Team All-American, D3hoops.com First Team All-Region and Helen Ludwig OAC Player of the Year honors and was a WBCA Player of the Year finalist while becoming just the second All-American in program history along with former teammate and fellow Hall of Famer Lee Jennings. As a junior in 2013, Spahar earned Second Team All-OAC honors and was an All-OAC Honorable Mention selection as a freshman and sophomore. 

Gabriella "Gab" Kreuz '14 - Women's Cross Country/Track & Field

Also elected to the Hall of Fame in her first year of eligibility, Gabriella Kreuz established a decorated resume as a member of the women's cross country/track & field teams from 2010-14. Throughout her career, Kreuz earned 12 total All-OAC honors, two Great Lakes All-Region honors and five All-Ohio honors. At the time of graduation, she owned seven school records (including her 800m time of 2:14.46 that still stands), and in 2013 became JCU's first cross country All-American since 2005 and still the most recent. Kreuz also excelled in the classroom, earning two USTFCCCA All-Academic honors and was Academic All-OAC in 2013 in cross country. She was also a part of the 2011 team that earned second at the OAC Cross Country Championships and the 2014 team that took third. Kreuz now joins college teammate Mike Minjock '13, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2023. During her time at John Carroll, Kreuz started the non-profit "Love Doesn't Shove" to end teen dating violence, educating high school and college students on healthy dating which she is still active in promoting today. Kreuz also works as an in-game host at Cleveland Guardians games and served as the emcee for the 2022 JCU Athletic Hall of Fame ceremony.

James "Jimmy" Spagna '14 - Baseball 

As a star first baseman and starting pitcher for the JCU baseball team, James "Jimmy" Spagna enters the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility as well. A two-time All-American, Spagna posted an excellent resume for the program as he ended his career ranked third all-time in RBIs with 127 and tied for third in home runs with 13. As a pitcher, Spagna started in 26 games and threw 129 innings with a 4.40 career ERA and four complete games. As a senior in 2014, he helped lead the Blue Streaks to their first-ever OAC Tournament title and first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1984 while earning First Team All-OAC honors after posting a program-record 53 RBIs. That season, he was named a D3baseball.com Third Team All-American and became just the third All-American in program history from the ABCA, joining Hall of Famers Brian Clarke (1985) and Jim Wideikis (1998). In 2013, Spagna earned Honorable Mention All-American, First Team All-Mideast Region and First Team All-OAC accolades. He was also a Second Team honoree in 2012 after his best season on the mound, as he posted a 3.25 ERA in a career-high 69.1 innings of work with 13 starts that tied the program record. Spagna cements himself into the JCU Athletic Hall of Fame as the first player from the 2014 OAC Championship team inducted.

Genevieve "Genny" Goergen '14 - Women's Soccer

Genevieve "Genny'' Goergen joins the JCU Athletic Hall of Fame class as another first-ballot enshrinee. Goergen helped guide the Blue Streaks to the OAC Tournament Championship game three years in a row (2011, 2012, and 2013) and started in 81 games which remains the program record. She is ranked among the program's all-time leaders in assists with 12 (tied for 11th) and goals with 13 (tied for 15th). In 2013, she was honored as the OAC Midfielder of the Year in addition to First Team All-OAC status. That season, she also notably secured the game-winning goal in the second overtime against Ohio Northern in the semifinals of the OAC Tournament. Goegen also nabbed First Team All-OAC honors as a junior in 2012. Academically, Goergen was the OAC's nominee for NCAA Woman of the Year in 2013 while earning Academic All-OAC and Capital One/CoSIDA Academic All-District honors. She was also named Academic All-OAC in 2012 and was on the NASCAA All-Academic Team in 2011.

Dr. Andrew "Andy" Welki - JCU Athletics Faculty Representative/Associate Professor in Economics 

As a man who has touched the lives of countless student-athletes, faculty and staff members during his 43 years of service to John Carroll University, Dr. Andrew Welki enters the Hall of Fame as the Faculty Athletics Representative - a role that he has served in for more than 35 years. Welki came to JCU in September of 1982 and became a professor in the Economics department. Before his arrival, Welki earned his Bachelor's degree from Wilkes College and later earned his PhD from Penn State University in 1983. As a professor at JCU, he became a member of the American Economics Association, National Tax Association and the Cleveland Business Economists. He is also a four-time recipient of the Wasmer Award which recognizes teaching excellence in the Boler School of Business. Welki becomes the 16th administrator to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

1997 Football Team

The 1997 football team is the 13th set of teams inducted into the Hall of Fame and sported a 10-2 (9-1 OAC) record, becoming the first JCU football team to reach double-digit wins in a season. Led by Hall of Famer Tony DeCarlo and captained by Nick Caserio, London Fletcher, Mark DiDonato and Jack Marinelli, they also became the first team to win a playoff game, defeating Hanover on the road, 30-20, in the first round of the NCAA Playoffs. In order to clinch a playoff berth in the final game of the regular season, the Blue Streaks fended off rival Baldwin Wallace 20-17 in JCU's first-ever overtime game as freshman Dave Vitatoe kicked the 27-yard, game-winning field goal. With their only two losses being to eventual national champions Mount Union, the Blue Streaks were able to outscore their opponents 370-219. Eight players (Fletcher, Caserio, Vitatoe, David Ziegler, Tom Rini, Bryan Fialkowski, Craig Recko and Larry Holmes) were later inducted into the Hall of Fame as individuals. Fletcher etched his name into John Carroll lore as a senior by having one of the finest season any Blue Streak has ever had, notching First Team All-American honors by all four publications and a single-season record 202 tackles as he later enjoyed a 16-year NFL career, had his JCU No. 3 retired in 2017 and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2019. Returner Ziegler and punter Josh Schneider were also All-Americans that season, and there were 12 All-OAC selections from the squad as well. Four members of the team (Caserio, Josh McDaniels, Ziegler and Jerry Schuplinski) later won a combined 18 Super Bowl rings as members of the New England Patriots' coaching and front office staff.

Editor's Note: Thank you to Jamie Dailey, Matt Lyons, and Noah Tylutki for contributing to this article
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