At a black-tie banquet on February 24, 2022, Summit senior Carter Bibler was among several young men being celebrated at the 55th Annual Scholar Athlete Awards Banquet hosted by the Greater Cincinnati Chapter of the National Football Foundation (NFF).
Carter alone, however, walked away with the most prestigious award for a southwest Ohio football player.
The Southwest Ohio "Joe Quinn That's My Boy" Award is given annually to the senior football player in our area who exemplifies excellence based on football achievements, academic accomplishments and extra-curricular activities.
Carter was the team captain during his senior season and earned a spot on the second-team All-State as well as first-team All-Southwest Ohio, All-City and All-League. With a 4.586 weighted GPA, he regularly earns a spot on the Director's List with High Honors for his work in the classroom each semester. He is currently enrolled in a full load, including AP Calculus, AP Psychology, AP Chemistry and AP Economics. Carter is a member of the Schiff Family Science Research Institute and the Medical Professionals Club. He is a finalist for the National Merit Scholarship and a member of the National Honor Society. Outside the classroom, Carter served as a Kairos retreat leader and plays basketball for Summit.
"To me, football is more than a sport," Carter says. "Football is something that unites; that brings together great coaches, outstanding teammates and supportive communities and tests them on who can put in the work and become the best."
His coach, Dave Wirth, says: "Winning the ‘That’s My Boy’ award is the pinnacle of achievement for any local high school football player who is serious about both academics and sports. Carter is the perfect example of a true scholar-athlete and a very deserving recipient of the award. Carter Bibler is definitely one of, if not the most impressive of all the kids I have ever nominated."
Carter has applied to the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where he hopes to pursue a military career and undergraduate degree after graduating from The Summit. He will receive a scholarship from the Greater Cincinnati Chapter of NFF and is eligible to be nominated for the national scholar athlete award given by the National Football Foundation. Supporting Carter at the banquet was his parents, Todd and Leslie, brother Evan, coaches and several Summit administrators.
The award’s namesake, Joe Quinn, was the sportswriter at the Cincinnati Post from 1935-76. He was known for his thorough and consistent coverage of high school sports as well as for inspiring the formation of the Southwestern Ohio Football Coaches Association. He passed away in 1980 but his legacy lives on through the Southwestern Ohio Joe Quinn That’s My Boy Award.