Ohio HS Football Playoff Game ‘Drywall Gate’

(11-20-25) After an Ohio high school football playoff game played last Friday (November 14) Indian Hill High School reported that there had been damage to its visitors’ locker room, which was being used by the Cincinnati Taft.

Below is what has happened in ‘Drywall Gate’ …including clarifications a few days later.

Shortly after the game…

Indian Hill Athletic Director Brian Phelps

“The administration at Indian Hill is working directly and in collaboration with the administration at Taft on repairs,”

CPS released a statement:

“Cincinnati Public Schools is aware of the damage to the visiting locker room at Indian Hill High School following Friday night’s playoff game. We do not condone destructive behavior and remain committed to promoting sportsmanship and respect at all athletic events,”

On Tuesday-

Indian Hill CEO/Superintendent Kirk Koennecke issued a statement to add further clarification:

“Regarding the locker room damage that happened Friday, November 14 during the Indian Hill/Taft playoff game, there has been information reported by Cincinnati news outlets that is misleading about how the two schools are working together to address needed repairs and the communication of previous damage to drywall.

As such, I want to offer clarification about the situation.

To be clear: There was previous damage to the drywall from past athletic seasons prior to this game. That information was disclosed to Taft when the two teams of administrators toured the new damage that did occur on November 14. The damage that occurred on November 14 involved both additional drywall damage and structural damage to the wall.

Indian Hill wants protection of Taft student-athletes and all student-athletes. Period. We did not want this situation to be a story in the public, as we did not feel that the damage that was done even warranted a news story. This is true for every member of our Athletic Department and every member of our administration.

Indian Hill and Taft continue to collaborate on a resolution to jointly repair the damage that was done. On behalf of Indian Hill, we issue a note of apology to all families who felt like there was misleading information released. This was not the intention of responding to media requests.”