The Columbus Academy Athletic Hall of Fame added two new members on the evening of Friday, September 22, 2023, as Andrew Dunn ’02 and Bob Kirk '67 became the 47th and 48th inductees, respectively.
After Head of School Melissa Soderberg congratulated Bob and Andrew on their selection to our Athletic Hall of Fame, Alumni Board President Mandy Mallott '03 welcomed the crowd of nearly 90 people in the middle school library before welcoming Andrew's brother, Russell, to the podium for an introduction, followed by Jon Michael Hilsheimer '12 who presented Bob. Both Andrew and Bob received hall-of-fame plaques which are now on display in the lobby between the Mack and Jones Gymnasiums.
Andrew earned nine varsity letters as a three-sport athlete in football, basketball and track. In football, Andrew was named Buckeye Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year and First Team All-Ohio as a defensive back his junior year. As a senior, he earned First Team All-Ohio as a quarterback and made the Columbus Dispatch All-Metro Team. In basketball, Andrew was twice named All-Central District Honorable Mention and was both captain and team MVP as a senior. In track, he ran the 400 and 1600 relays and competed in the high jump. After graduating from Academy, Andrew went on to play wide receiver at Miami University.
“High school sports aren’t only about winning games or breaking records,” Andrew stated in his acceptance speech. “To me, they are about personal growth, character development, learning about resilience and hardships. Columbus Academy stands for those same things and then some. Academy made me the person I am. It’s an honor to be able to see my kids attend this wonderful school, and I’m sure Academy will do for them what it did for me.”
Watch the induction of Andrew Dunn '02
When Bob retired from coaching track and field in 2017, he received the Lou Berliner Award from The Columbus Dispatch for his lifetime contributions to high school athletics after accumulating state titles in 1977, 1981, 2012 and 2013, state runner-up finishes in 1980, 1982, 1996 and 2016 as well as nine regional crowns, 23 district championships and 17 league titles. In addition to all these team accolades during his 43 seasons of coaching track and field at Academy, Bob mentored and developed an astounding 21 individual state champions.
“(Coach Kirk) taught us to have a belief in ourself and others,” stated Jon Michael Hilsheimer ’12 in his introduction of Bob. “He taught us to trust our teammates. He would coach us through stories of past Academy athletes, and he connected us to something bigger than ourselves.”
During his acceptance speech, Bob shared several memories that stood out to him and concluded with “I thank the people who supported me and didn’t doubt me and knew that I was good for something.”
Watch the induction of Bob Kirk '67
We again congratulate both Andrew and Bob on this distinguished honor!