Bexley High School
Bexley High School (BHS) is a public high school located in Bexley, Ohio, a suburb of Columbus, Ohio. It is the only high school in Bexley City School system. Athletics. Bexley runs a comprehensive athletics program, including teams in the following: Football, Basketball, Baseball, Cheerleading, Cross Country, Field Hockey, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Swimming, Tennis, Track, Volleyball and Wrestling. Bexley purchased artificial grass for athletes to perform on in the winter of 2003. Teams have won Ohio High School Athletic Association State Championships in: Football program. In 2016 the program earned its first home playoff game and first  playoff win and went 11–1. The program also earned a playoff spot in the 2008, 2013, 2014, and 2015 seasons, all under Coach John Smith. After the 2016 season Coach Smith resigned. As his replacement, Nathan Castorena took over the Lions and served for two seasons. In March 2019, Bexley announced the hiring of long-time Central Ohio coach Mike Golden. Volleyball program. After setting a school record for wins in the 2007 season, going 25–2, and ending the season as Regional runners-up, Bexley has had few successful seasons since. Soccer program. Both the Men's and Women's  soccer programs are outstanding, and are widely known around the state and region. Between the men and the women they have combined for 12 State Final Fours since 1999. The men's team has won two state championships in its history (2003 and 2005) and have had multiple Final Four and Regional Final finishes. They have also had a flurry of All District, All State, and two All-Americans selection. The Men's program won their league championship for 15 straight seasons, until the streak was ended in 2009. The women have been one of the most consistent teams, regardless  of sport (in the state). They were state finalists in 1999 through 2003, 2005, 2006, state runners-up in 1999, and State Champions in 2009 (although they were defeated in the championship game, the opposing team was playing with an ineligible player, forcing them to forfeit the championship). The women have also had multiple All District, All State, and All American recipients. Wrestling program. The wrestling program has had individual successes throughout the school's history. There have been numerous state qualifiers, 10 state placers and one state champion. As a team there has not been a great deal of  success until recently when they earned a Mid-State League Title in 2017 for first time since 1998. A team dual record of 17-2 was also set in 2017 breaking the previous season record of 16–3. The program currently has successful youth and junior high teams as well. Softball program. The 2018 season was one of the most successful in program history with the team going 14-9 and winning two games in the state tournament (defeating Licking Valley and London). The Lions advanced to the district semi-finals and fell to Hebron Lakewood. Rivals. Bexley's rival is  the Columbus Academy Vikings. This competition stems from Columbus Academy being just two miles from Bexley High School before Academy's move to Gahanna, Ohio. Other rivals of Bexley include the Grandview Heights Bobcats, the Bishop Hartley Hawks, the Whitehall-Yearling High School Rams and the St. Charles Cardinals. Choral Program. Men's/Women's Glee. Men's and Women's Glee are entry-level choirs. Women's Chorale. An all-women's choir, Women's Chorale is one of the two elite choirs at Bexley High School. There are students who participate in both the Vocal Ensemble, and Women's  Chorale. Women's Chorale has performed very well recently at the OMEA District and State competitions in the class A category, most recently receiving a "Superior" rating, the highest rating. Chorale performs a wide variety of music at various performances around the city. They have shared performances with the Capital University Women's Chorus, The Ohio University Women's Chorus, and The Ohio State University Women's Glee Club. In recent years Women's Chorale has toured to Cincinnati, Indianapolis, and Pittsburgh and has performed as the "Snow Chorus" with Ballet Met for "The Nutcracker". Vocal Ensemble. The 40 members  are chosen through an audition in spring of the previous year. They participate in the Ohio Music Educators Association District and State Large Group Contest, consistently receiving Superior ratings. Since 2005, they have received straight Superior ratings in Class AA. Since 2003, Vocal Ensemble has toured throughout the U.S. and Canada including New York City, Toronto, Chicago, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. Vocal Ensemble was invited to perform at the OCDA Summer Conference in 2007, 2009 and 2011 as well as the OMEA Professional Conference in 2009, 2011 and 2013. They performed for the ACDA Central Division Conference held in Fort Wayne , Indiana in March 2012. In 2006, the ensemble performed for audiences in San Marco's Basilica in Venice, St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna and St. Nicholas Church in Prague, as well as many additional impromptu performances. In June 2009, Vocal Ensemble returned to Europe, performing in Haydn Hall in Vienna, St. Stephen's Basilica in Budapest and Church of Saints Peter and Paul in Kraków. April 2010 took them to New York City as they were invited to perform in Carnegie Hall and they returned to Europe in June 2012 for a performance tour of London and Paris. Men 's Chorus. This extracurricular group is made up of men from the Vocal Ensemble, Symphonic Choir, and Men's Glee. They sing at school functions and some community events. Band program. There are over 100 students in the band program at the school. Marching Band. High School Band consists of three separate fields of study starting with the Marching Band during the football season which begins in the summer. For one week, students come together to begin to learn the music as well as the marching for each song. Marching Band is a Co-Curricular Board of Education-supported class , which follows district policies and students receive a grade. Concert Band. Concert Band begins at the conclusion of the football season. The students are split into two bands for the Concert Band Season - Sinphonic Band and Prism. Concerts are graded performances, including OMEA Contests, and opportunities for OMEA Solo and Ensemble. The Concert Band is a Co-Curricular, Board of Education-supported class where students receive a grade and credit for participation. Pep Band. Pep Band, considered an extension of the Marching Band, is an opportunity to perform for men's and women's home varsity basketball games. It is  a volunteer band composed of students from the school band program. Jazz Band. Jazz Band is a Co-Curricular, Board of Education-supported class where students receive a grade and credit for participation. It performs several concerts throughout the year. To join, auditions are necessary, and most instruments are accepted. The Jazz Band has traveled to conferences (Beaver Creek Jazz Festival and Capital University Jazz and World Music Festival). Orchestra. The Bexley High School Orchestra is in two classes: Concert Orchestra, which is the entry-level orchestra and Sinfonia Orchestra, which is the highest level performance group in the program . During the summer is Orchestra Camp (parallel to Band Camp, which occurs at the same time) which has been in session since 1975. Concert Orchestra. A high school entry-level group, this ensemble concentrates on building the necessary technical skills for an advanced performance level. Bexley Sinfonia. The highest level performance group in the orchestra program, this ensemble performs complex and difficult orchestral literature.