Lincoln High School (Gahanna)

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1 History
2 Honors
3 Band
- 3.1 Un-contest
4 Athletics
- 4.1 Ohio High School Athletic Association State Championships
5 Administration

[edit] History

Established in 1882 as Gahanna Lincoln High School. It is the only high school in the Gahanna-Jefferson Local Public School District. The original school building was built in 1928, and it has experienced many additions and renovations since, the most recent being in 2000. Over 2200 students attend the school.

Gahanna Lincoln, more commonly referred to as simply 'Home of the Lions,' is made up of three buildings, 'A' 'B' and 'C'. This compound takes up an entire block of Havens Corners and Hamilton Roads. The buildings do not look alike in any way, which can be confusing to those unfamiliar with the area. There is very little chance of the school splitting as nearby districts have done recently. The city of Gahanna, with over 30,000 citizens, is relatively landlocked, hampering the possibility of growth that would require another school be built.

The name 'Gahanna Lincoln' is a result of an early struggle between Gahanna and Jefferson Township. The Township wanted their name on the high school; however Gahanna was against naming the school Gahanna Jefferson High School (the district already contained the name 'Jefferson'). The city went over the Township and added the name Lincoln, and the name remains.

[edit] Honors

The graduating class of 2005 had four National Merit Scholars. The class of 2006 had one. The district outperforms the State of Ohio in both graduation rates and every phase of the 10th Grade Graduation Tests.

[edit] Band

[edit] Un-contest

First started in the Autumn of 2004, Gahanna is the first school to hold a marching band "un-contest". This "un-contest" started by Jeffery Shellhammer director of bands for 19 years, is held every year.[[1]] Parents, friends, , and family come from Defiance, Dover, Whitehall, New Albany, Logan, and many others. These bands do not normally compete and come to Gahanna to play "football music" to the large crowd of people. The requirements to play include loud and energetic music and music that is somewhat difficult and interesting. Also the pieces cannot include sideline percussion. Sideline percussion includes chimes, xylophones, , timpanis and many others. [[2]] The first "un-contest" was held Saturday, October 8, 2005 and had over 1000 band members and over 3000 people in attendance. Tickets for adults and are six dollars; for children and students the price is three dollars. The name of the un-contest for the 2005 year was NewHannaHall, but this changes with the bands involved. [[3]]

[edit] Athletics

Gahanna's athletic teams compete in the Ohio Division of the Ohio Capital Conference (OCC). The school claims one team state title in boy's track and field in 1979 and dozens of Conference Titles. The school has had numerous individual state champions in boy's and girl's track, along with swimming. Gahanna swimmer, and then University of Georgia student, Amanda Adkins made the 2000 U.S. Women's Olympic Swimming Team in the 200 meter backstroke. Gahanna thrower Bruce Washington held the state record in the discus for many years at 200+ feet.

The football team has a long standing record of excellence having had only 4 losing seasons since 1970.

The boys soccer team has captured 5 OCC Ohio Division titles, initially in 1983, 1998, 2004, 2005, and 2006.

Despite the late 1990's overall slump in athletic performance, especially within league competition, glory really returned to the Golden Lions in the 2004-05 year when Gahanna captured seven OCC titles, the most since 1978.

Although no team has won a state title since 1979, the softball teams along with the volleyball, track, and football teams have all placed second in the state. Overall, the boy's track squad, who is led by Ed Rarey (53 years experience), has won the most conference titles with 29, most recently in 2005. The boy's cross country team has been successful in recent years also, winning three out of the last five OCC titles, and gaining two trips to the state meet at Scioto Downs. Softball has won two district titles, one OCC, and one regional title since 2003.