Sycamore High School (Cincinnati, Ohio)

Sycamore High School
Address
7400 Cornell Road Cincinnati, Ohio Cincinnati, Ohio, (Hamilton County) 45242 United States
Coordinates	39°16′1″N 84°21′7″W / 39.26694°N 84.35194°WCoordinates: 39°16′1″N 84°21′7″W / 39.26694°N 84.35194°W
Information
Type	Public, Coeducational high school
Opened	1974
School district	Sycamore Community School District
Superintendent	Mr. Frank Forsthoefel [1]
CEEB Code	360525
Principal	Doug Mader[1]
Grades	9-12
Enrollment	1,894
Campus type	Suburban
Color(s)	Forest Green and Gold [1]
Fight song	Across the Field
Athletics conference	Greater Miami Conference[1]
Mascot	The Aviator
Nickname	Aves
Team name	Aviator[1]
Newspaper	The Leaf
Yearbook	The Log
Athletic Director	Phil Poggi[1]
Website	http://www.sycamoreschools.org/

Sycamore High School (SHS) is a four-year public high school in the north-east suburbs of Cincinnati, Ohio. It is the only high school in the Sycamore Community School District. The current building was built in 1974 in a modern architectural style employing the progressive and experimental open classroom concept wherein no permanent walls separated the classrooms originally. It was built to accommodate 2000 students and has since been expanded. More walls have been added as the school has been renovated.^[2]

Academics

Sycamore offers forty-two accelerated and Advanced Placement courses. The school has a 99.1% graduation rate, and 90% of students go on to attend college. The class of 2009 had a composite SAT score of 1132, and the class of 2012 had a composite ACT score of 30, both being higher than the state and national averages. Sycamore also regularly has among the highest number of National Merit Scholars in Ohio. In 2009, thirty-one students received the award.^[3]

In 1999, Sycamore had a record 35 National Merit Scholars, the highest number for any public school in Ohio. That year, four students also scored perfect scores on the major college entrance examinations, including the only two perfect ACT scores in Ohio that year (out of sixteen nationwide).^[4]

Sycamore regularly places nationally in the National Science Bowl, including as high as fourth place in 2002.^[5] Sycamore also excels in mathematics, having placed first in the Ohio Math League competition in 2004–05,^[6] 1999–2000,^[7] 1998–99,^[8] and 1997–1998.^[9] It won the Ohio Council of Teachers of Mathematics competition in 2007,^[10] 2001,^[11] and 2000.^[12]

Sycamore has been historically successful in science fairs; they generally select multiple students who compete at the University of Cincinnati Regional Science Fair. Many of these students then go onto compete at the state science fair at the Ohio State University and usually win multiple awards; In 2013, Sycamore won the "Harold C. Shaw Outstanding School Award" at the state science day. Only four schools in Ohio merited this honor.^[13]

Clubs and activities

Sycamore High School proudly offers over 50 clubs and activities for students. Among these are American Sign Language Club, Biology Club, Chemistry Club, Chinese Club, Computer Club, Computer Science Team, Cosmopolitan, Council on World Affairs/Model UN, DECA (Assoc. of Marketing Students), Environmental Club, Fashion for the Cure, Fencing Team, French Club, Garden Club, Honor Society, Hoops For Hope, Interfaith Club, Interact Club, Japanese Club, Latin Club, Math Club, Mock Trial, The Leaf Newspaper, Operation Smile Happy, Quiz Team, Science Bowl, Science Olympiad, Science Fair, Shakespeare Club, Ski Club, Spanish Club, Speech & Debate Club, Stepping Out Club, Student Athletic Leadership Team, Student Council, Technology Students Association, TED Ed. Club, United for Uganda Club, Yoga Club, Sycamore 360, Red Cross Club, Engineering Club, Scuba Club, Juggling Club, Little Drops, Crayons to Computers, Ping Pong Club, Step Team, Knitting Club, Jewish Student Union, GirlUp Club

Sycamore's Latin Club functions as a local chapter of both the Ohio Junior Classical League (OJCL) and National Junior Classical League (NJCL). Sycamore's DECA program is nationally recognized and has had several state and national competitors. ^{[14] [15]}

Student Publications

The Leaf is the official high school news magazine of Sycamore High School. After 60 years of having a black-and-white newspaper, the 2013-2014 editorial staff, led by Print Editors in Chief Sanika Vaidya, Ana Barros, and Shea Lothrop, completely transformed what had for years been the number one high school student-run newspaper in the state of Ohio into a magazine, with selective pages in color. Meanwhile, the web team, led by Webmaster and Web-Editor in Chief, Eli Seidman-Deutsch and Kathryn Tenbarge respectively, revitalizing "The Leaf's" online platform into an interactive window for student life at SHS. The third platform is Broadcast.

The Log yearbook is annually given out to all students in Sycamore High School. The 2012-2013 yearbook was nationally recognized for its theme, "One More Angle" with Editors-in-chief Myra Saeed and Karin Oh.

Ink is an annual literary magazine published by members of Creative Writing Club.^[16]

Fine Arts

The Sycamore Music Program has been recognized nationally by NAMM as an Outstanding Music Education Program for 2010, 2011 and 2012.

Sycamore boasts a distinguished theater program.

The Sycamore High School Marching Band has achieved an OMEA Superior Rating for more than 15 years in a row. The marching band competes in three circuits: OMEA, Mid-States and Bands Of America. In 2013, Sycamore High School Marching Band qualified for BOA regional finals in Toledo, placing 10th.

The Sycamore High School Orchestra for many years has been one of the few all string orchestras in the nation and often received ones (highest marks) at state competition for multiple years running. Now with Chamber Orchestra and Sycamore Electric Ensemble there are multiple opportunities to engage in the performing arts.

Athletics

Sycamore High School competes in the Greater Miami Conference. Before 1989, Sycamore High School competed in the Eastern Metro League (EML). The Aviators remain arch-rivals with the Milford Eagles, both former EHL schools who entered the GMC in 1989. Sycamore students used to dress up as "Millbillies" before the rivals competed, and Milford students would shout "sick-a-more" and variations depending on the level of competition. The competition between Sycamore and Milford has drawn comparison to the Ohio University and Miami University rivalry in Ohio. In 2008, Milford left the GMC. Since then, the school has developed a strong rivalry with William Mason High School from Mason, Ohio, prompting the spread of the slogan, "Go Aves, Beat Mason".

GMC - EHL - EML Championships

Sycamore has won 247 total team GMC, EHL and EML Championships

• Football − 1957, 1960, 1964, 1971, 1973, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983
• Boys Tennis – 1973, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2014, 2015
• Girls Tennis – 1984, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2012, 2014
• Boys Swimming – 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016
• Girls Swimming – 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004
• Baseball − 1964, 1965, 1969, 1970, 1984, 1985, 1987
• Softball – 1979, 1980, 1983, 1985, 1998, 1999, 2000
• Wrestling – 1967, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989, 2004
• Boys Track − 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989
• Girls Track – 1981, 1982, 1983, 1986, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989
• Girls Basketball – 1976, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1987, 1993, 1994, 2012
• Boys Basketball – 1967, 1977, 1984, 1985, 1996, 1997, 2013
• Boys Volleyball – 2002, 04, 2005
• Girls Volleyball – 1982, 1984, 1985, 1988, 2002
• Boys Soccer 1988,1978,1979,1983,1984,1988,1990,1991, 1992, 1995, 2008
• Girls Soccer – 1983, 1984, 2005, 2006, 2007
• Boys Cross Country – 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 2001, 2006
• Girls Cross Country – 1984, 1986, 1988, 2009
• Boys Golf – 1977, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1992, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2008
• Girls Golf – 2011
• Hockey − 1996, 2010
• Co-Ed Chess – 1981, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010,2016
• Co-Ed Academic Team – 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 ^[17]

State Runner-Ups

Team State Runner-Ups

• Boys Baseball Division I State Runner-up – 1954
• Boys Lacrosse Division III State Runner-Up – 1997
• Girls Lacrosse Division I State Runner-Up – 2008, 2013, 2015
• Girls Softball Division I State Runner-Up – 2002
• Boys Swimming Division I State Runner-Up – 1986
• Girls Swimming Division I State Runner-Up – 1993
• Boys Tennis Division I State Runner-Up – 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998
• Girls Tennis Division I State Runner-Up – 1998, 2015
• Boys Water Polo Division I State Runner-Up – 1975, 1977, 1979, 1982, 1987, 1988, 2012
• Girls Water Polo Division I State Runner-Up – 1985, 1987, 1988, 1994, 1996, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2015

Individual State Runner-Ups

• Boys Tennis Singles State Runner-Up - 2006, 2015
• Boys Tennis Doubles State Runner-Up – 1987, 1996, 2005, 2012, 2013
• Girls Tennis Singles State Runner-Up - 2004, 2015
• Girls Tennis Doubles State Runner-Up – 1999, 2013

NOTE: Several individual State Runner-Ups not listed

State Final Fours

Team State Final Fours

• Boys Baseball Division I State Final Four – 1948, 1954, 1955, 1963
• Girls Basketball Division I State Final Four – 1976
• Girls Soccer Division I State Final Four – 1987, 2006
• Girls Softball Division I State Final Four - 2002
• Boys Tennis Division I State Final Four – 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2013, 2014, 2015
• Girls Tennis Division I State Final Four – 1998, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2015
• Boys Swimming Division I State Final Four - 1986
• Girls Swimming Division I State Final Four - 1992, 1993
• Boys Lacrosse State Final Four - 1997(Division III), 2004(Division II)
• Girls Lacrosse Division I State Final Four - 2007, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2014, 2015
• Boys Water Polo Division I State Final Four - 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988, 2012
• Girls Water Polo Division I State Final Four - 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2015

Individual State Final Fours

• Boys Tennis Singles State Final Four - 1984, 1998, 1999, 2004, 2006, 2015
• Boys Tennis Doubles State Final Four - 1986, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2005, 2012, 2013(2 doubles teams), 2014, 2015
• Girls Tennis Singles State Final Four - 2004, 2014, 2015
• Girls Tennis Doubles State Final Four - 1990, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1999, 2013

NOTE: Several individual State Final Four appearances not listed

State Championships

Sycamore High School has won 16 total Team State Championships

OHSAA Team State Championships

• OHSAA Baseball Division I State Champions– 1948 ^[18]
• OHSAA Girls Swimming and Diving Division I State Champions– 1992 ^[19]

Non-OHSAA Team State Championships

• Boys Water Polo Division I State Champions – 1976, 1978, & 1985 ^[20]
• Girls Water Polo Division I State Champions – 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993 ^[21]
• Boys Lacrosse Division II State Champions – 2004 ^[22]
• Girls Lacrosse Division I State Champions – 2007, 2009, 2014
• Boys Tennis Division I State Champions- 2014, 2015

Individual State Championships

Sycamore has won 43 total individual State Championships

Wrestling

• Omar Scruggs – 1999 (140 weight class)

Boy's Track

• Glenn Terry – 1988 & 1989 (300 IM Hurdles and High Hurdles)
• Lafeyette Butch Anderson – 1959 (Long Jump)

Girl's Track

• Berry, Titus, Lowish, Noble – 1988 (800 Relay Team)

Diving

• Gary Kuhr – 1976 (One Meter)
• Kim Fugett – 1981 & 1982 (One Meter)
• Dean Panaro – 1988 & 1989 (One Meter)

Boys Swimming

• Craig Leonard – 1977 (100 yd. Freestyle)
• John Ravenhall – 1978 (500 yd. Freestyle), 1979 (200 yd. Individual Medley)
• Greg Higginson – 1979 (100 yd. Freestyle), 1979 (100 yd. Breaststroke)
• David Fairbanks – 1984 (500 yd. Freestyle), 1985 (200 yd. Individual Medley), 1985 (500 yd. Freestyle)
• David Fairbanks, Brad Tieke, Mark Erdmann, Jeff Steinebrey 1985 (400 yd) Freestyle Relay Team
• Dan Ketchum – 1998, 1999 & 2000 (200 yd. Freestyle), 1998, 1999 & 2000 (500 yd. Freestyle)

Girls Swimming

• Leigh Bassler 1992 & 1993 100 yd. Backstroke
• Leigh Bassler, Liz Neal, Laurie Kerns, Kerry Bennettz – 1992 (400 yd. Freestyle Relay Team)
• Mandy Commons 1997 & 1999 100 yd (91 m). Breaststroke
• Mandy Commons, Lindsey Commons, Jill Ursini, Lori Bednarchik – 1999 (200 yd. Freestyle Relay Team)

Boys Golf

• Scott Ross – 1989 State Individual Medalist

Girls Golf

• Helen Alsip - 2015 State Individual Champion

Boys Tennis

• Cliff Riester – 1984 (Singles)
• Eric Pittman – 1998 (Singles)
• Brad Goldberg & Scott Marshall – 1991 (Doubles)
• Brad Goldberg & Scott Marshall- 1992 (Doubles)
• Brad Goldberg & Scott Marshall- 1993 (Doubles)
• Eric Pittman & Brent Sitarski – 1997 (Doubles)
• Nakul Narendran & Mustafa Ahmad - 2014 (Doubles)
• Nakul Narendran & Alex Taylor - 2015 (Doubles)

Girls Tennis

• Alison Levy & Amy Spiegel – 1990 (Doubles)

Girls Gymnastics

• Kelee Petzelt– 1988 (Uneven parallel bars)

National Championships

• Baseball AAU National Champions – 1992

Other athletic accomplishments

• Boys Tennis Division I OTCA State Elite 8 – 2008, 2011
• Boys Soccer Division I District Champions and Regional Runner-Up (State Elite 8) – 2010
• Baseball Division I Regional Runner-Up- 2004
• Boys Basketball Division I District Champion – 2004
• Boys Cross Country Division I District Champion 2005, District Runner-up in 2013, 2014, 2015, Qualified as team for state championships in 1980, 1981, and 2015
• Football Division I Regional playoff semifinals with a 10–2 record-2006
• Football Division I first round playoffs with a 9–2 record – 2007
• Girls Golf 8th at State

Notable alumni

Kevin Youkilis

• Kevin Youkilis, 3-time All Star, Gold Glove winner, 2004 World Series and 2007 World Series Champion, former starting first baseman for the Boston Red Sox.
• Michael Matthews, Super Bowl XLII Champion, former tight end for the New York Giants
• Dan Ketchum, gold medalist in swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics^[23]
• Ambassador Peter Tomsen, Diplomat & Educator, Special Envoy to Afghanistan, US Ambassador to Armenia
• Rear Admiral Mark Kenny, Navy Rear Admiral, Commander of Submarine Squadron 7 and Naval Commander of USS Birmingham, etc.
• Jane French, Emmy-nominated American singer–songwriter. Best known for her song "Breathe," the theme song for the NBC soap opera Passions.
• Jeannine Hall Gailey, poet.
• Stewart Mandel, Sports writer for SI.com.
• Erin McPike, Former National Correspondent for CNN.
• Mark P. Painter, former Ohio Court of Appeals Judge and member of United Nations Tribunal for Dispute Resolution.
• Kenny Schoeni, Goalkeeper for the Columbus Crew.
• Daniel Mason-Straus, Mixed Martial Artist who competes in Bellator Fighting Championships^[24]
• David Uible, Businessman and County Commissioner

Notes and references

1. https://web.archive.org/20120426171938/http://www.cdab.org/members.asp?SCHOOL_ID=1508. Archived from the original on April 26, 2012. Retrieved February 19, 2016. Missing or empty |title= (help)
2. "Schools restructure classrooms". Enquirer.com. 2002-11-04. Retrieved 2016-02-11.
3. (PDF) https://web.archive.org/20120605133903/http://my.sycamoreschools.org/modules/_299_1/fast%20facts%20updated%204-9-09.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 5, 2012. Retrieved February 19, 2016. Missing or empty |title= (help)
4. "Three Sycamore seniors ace college-entrance exams". Enquirer.com. 1999-01-08. Retrieved 2016-02-11.
5. "Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, National Science Bowl® Champion". United States Department of Energy. May 6, 2002. Archived from the original on September 26, 2006. Retrieved May 16, 2012.
6. "April 2005 High School Score Report Summary". Ohio Mathematics League. Retrieved May 16, 2012.
7. "April 2000 High School Score Report Summary". Ohio Mathematics League. Retrieved May 16, 2012.
8. "April 1999 High School Score Report Summary". Ohio Mathematics League. Retrieved May 16, 2012.
9. "April 1998 High School Score Report Summary". Ohio Mathematics League. Retrieved May 16, 2012.
10. "2007 OCTM Tournament Results" (PDF). Ohio Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Retrieved May 16, 2012.
11. "2001 OCTM Tournament Results" (PDF). Ohio Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Retrieved May 16, 2012.
12. "2000 OCTM Tournament Results" (PDF). Ohio Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Retrieved May 16, 2012.
13. "Winning is a science". Cincinnati.com. Gannett.
14. "2009 Convention – Club Point Summary" (PDF). Ohio Junior Classical League. 2009. Retrieved August 10, 2009.
    • "2010 State Convention – Club Point Summary" (PDF). OJCL.org. Ohio Junior Classical League. 2010. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
15. "Constitution of the Ohio Junior Classical League" (PDF). Ohio Junior Classical League. March 2008. Retrieved September 18, 2009. ...by paying both OJCL annual chapter dues and any annual chapter membership dues required by NJCL.
16. Goldman, Ellie (8 December 2011). "Calling all writers- literary magazine accepting submissions". The Leaf. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
17. "Academic – Champions". Greater Miami Conference.
18. Yappi. "Yappi Sports Baseball". Retrieved February 12, 2007.
19. OHSAA. "Ohio High School Athletic Association Web site". Retrieved December 31, 2006.
20. OHSSCA. "Ohio High School Swim Coaches' Association-Boys Water Polo State Champions". Archived from the original on June 23, 2006. Retrieved March 8, 2007.
21. OHSSCA. "Ohio High School Swim Coaches' Association-Girls Water Polo State Champions". Archived from the original on June 23, 2006. Retrieved March 8, 2007.
22. "2004 Boys' HS State Champions". Laxpower.com. Retrieved 2016-02-11.
23. Zipperstein, Leah (December 23, 2009). "Olympic medalist dives into coaching" (fee required). The Cincinnati Enquirer (Gannett Company). Retrieved December 26, 2009. [Dan] Ketchum, a Sycamore High graduate who swam for Michigan and competed in the 2004 Olympics, is in his first season as coach at Loveland High.
24. Iole, Kevin (2013-10-23). "Daniel Straus trying to cope with stereotypes and succeed in MMA career after arrest - Yahoo Sports". Sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2016-02-11.

External links

• Sycamore High School Website
• The Leaf Online News website
• Sycamore Band and Orchestra Boosters
• Sycamore Aves Theatre Website