The 2nd annual Greater Cincinnati Regional High School Ethics Bowl saw an impressive turnout, with 21 teams from 14 private and public high schools participating, and over 100 volunteers braving adverse weather conditions for a rigorous 14-hour day of matches. Andy Cullison, Executive Director at the Cincinnati Ethics Center, expressed delight at the event’s significant growth, nearly tripling in size compared to the inaugural year, propelling the Greater Cincinnati Regional to become the 6th largest among 44 regionals across 33 states.
This year’s roster of competing schools included Clark Montessori, DePaul Cristo Rey, Gilbert A. Dater, Hughes STEM, James N. Gamble, Mount Healthy, Purcell Marion, Roger Bacon, Saint Ursula, Shroder, St. Xavier, Summit Country Day, Walnut Hills, and Western Hills. First year coach Stephan Uhlhorn from Gamble Montessori shared, “The event was fantastic; we all enjoyed ourselves and already are looking forward to next year.
Eleven schools advanced to the Sweet 16, the start of elimination rounds. Schools with two advancing teams faced the possibility of competing against each other in the Great 8 round and this manifested with inner-school clashes between DePaul Cristo Rey, Summit Country Day, and Walnut Hills. In the finals, a rematch between Summit Country Day Team 1 and St. Xavier Team 2 from Round 1 occurred, with St. Xavier emerging victorious by a split judges’ decision.
St. Xavier’s triumph secured their progression to the Northeastern Divisional Playoffs, a virtual event, also hosted by the Cincinnati Ethics Center and UC, on February 7th. In this stage, winners from 12 regional competitions held in Philadelphia, Delaware, New York, Long Island, Westchester County, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Ohio, New England, and New Hampshire were paired into 6 matches. St. Xavier competed against Hilliard Bradley, the winner of the Ohio Regional. Once again, in another split judges’ decision, St. Xavier emerged victorious, earning the opportunity to represent the Greater Cincinnati Region in the National High School Ethics Bowl Championships.
St. Xavier Coach, John Getgey expressed gratitude for the remarkable growth of the Greater Cincinnati Regional and the unwavering support of participants, volunteers, and the Cincinnati Ethics Center. “St. Xavier High School is honored and excited to be able to represent the Greater Cincinnati Region at the National Championships.” The National High School Ethics Bowl Championships took place April 12-14 at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
Twenty-four schools from across the United States clashed in the exhilarating two-day competition, showcasing incredible talent and fierce determination. Representing Greater Cincinnati, St. Xavier battled valiantly, securing victory in 2 of their 4 preliminary matches. Among these was a thrilling split judges’ decision triumph over a former National champion, Kent Place Academy. Despite missing the cut for Sunday’s elimination rounds by the slimmest of margins, the tie-break rules placed these first time at Nationals competitors at an impressive 15th overall. This unforgettable experience is one that this team of seniors will cherish for a lifetime, a testament to their skill and spirit.
Images from 2nd Annual Greater Cincinnati Regional
