This was not the first competition for these schools. Most had participated in play days and games for quite a few years. Prior to league competition, emphasis was placed on the social aspect of sport. The refreshments and social hour after the game were as important or more important than the game. Rivalries were friendly and the game scores incidental.
In the first years schools were represented at league meetings by interested teachers and often students were delegated to attend. At first, some educators resisted the formation of a structured league. As new people entered the schools and assumed responsibility for sports programs changes occurred in the league.
Structure was added to the league, rules and policies were made to meet the needs of the emerging girl athlete. Regular meetings were held and slowly the emphasis shifted from cookies and punch to skill development and highly contested games. League championships were held and many regular season games were well attended.
With the onset of State sponsored tournaments for girls in 1975-76 it became obvious that the league was one of the strongest in the city and state. In the first state volleyball tournament Seton was AAA Runner Up and Ursuline AA Champions. Since then the league has usually been represented in State Tournaments in most sports.
The publicity and excellent play the League has fostered has meant opportunities for member students to receive athletic scholarships. College coaches look to this League for skilled athletics and Christian sportswomen to complement their programs.
As years go by additional sports have become League sports. All-League athletes are honored each year in all League sports. Each year the League takes on new challenges to improve girls' sports.
All Sports Trophy Prior to 2007-08
- 2006-07
- 2005-06 Scarlet: St. Ursula, Grey: Alter
- 2004-05 Scarlet: Mercy/St. Ursula, Grey: Alter
- 2003-04 Scarlet: Ursuline, Grey: Alter
- 2002-03 Scarlet: St. Ursula, Grey: Alter
- 2001-02 Scarlet: Ursuline, Grey: Alter
- 2000-01 Scarlet: Mt. Notre Dame, Grey: Badin
- 1999-00 Scarlet: St. Ursula/Ursuline Grey: McNicholas NOTE: St. Ursula moved to the Scarlet division
- 1998-99 Scarlet: Ursuline, Grey: St. Ursula
- 1997-98 Scarlet: Ursuline, Grey: St. Ursula
- 1996-97 Scarlet: Ursuline, Grey: St. Ursula
- 1995-96 Scarlet: Ursuline Grey: St. Ursula
- 1994-95 Scarlet: Ursuline Grey: Alter
- 1993-94 Scarlet: Ursuline Grey: St. Ursula
- 1992-93 Scarlet: McAuley Grey: St. Ursula
- 1991-92 Ursuline
- 1990-91 Ursuline
- 1989-90 Mercy
- 1988-89 Mercy
- 1987-88 McAuley/Mercy
- 1986-87 McAuley
- 1985-86 McAuley
- 1984-85 Seton
- 1983-84 Mercy
- 1982-83 McAuley
- 1981-82 McAuley
- 1980-81 Seton
- 1979-80 Seton
- 1978-79 Mercy
Chronological League History
1966-68 Loosely structured beginnings
1969-70 League championships in Volleyball and Basketball; 12 League members; Academy of Sacred Heart, Marian, Mercy, McAuley, Mt. Notre Dame, Our Lady of Angels, Regina, St. Rita, Seton, St. Ursula, Summit, and Ursuline.
1970-71 Sacred Heart drops out of the League
1972-73 First League Track meet; McNicholas joins League
1974-75 Tennis and Softball become League sports
1975-76 State championships held for girls in Volleyball and Basketball - Seton finishes AAA Runner-Up and Ursuline finishes AA Champions
1976-77 All-League Awards presented to Basketball and Volleyball athletes; Judiciary Board formed to settle disputes
1977-78 Summit drops out of the League; Regina closes
1978-79 Soccer becomes a League sport; traveling trophies presented to League champions - donated by businesses; first Basketball preview; All-Sports Trophy first awarded to Mercy; first awards reception at Marian
1979-80 All-League Awards presented in all sports; first Scholar-Athlete Award presented
1979-80 GGCL Consist of Marian (Roadrunners), McAuley (Mohawks), McNicholas (Rockets), Mercy (Bobcats), Mt. Notre Dame (Mountaineers), Our Lady of Angels (Angels), Seton (Saints), St. Ursula (Bulldogs), Ursuline (Hornets)*** Mt. Notre Dame will later become the Cougars and Ursuline will later become the Lions.
1999 Alter High School became a member of the GGCL.
2000-01 St. Ursula moved to the Scarlet Division of the GGCL.
2006-07 Carroll, Chaminade-Julienne, & Fenwick High Schools became members of the GGCL.
2013-14 The co-ed girl schools and single-sex girl schools split into two leagues. The co-ed girls join with the co-ed boys to make the GGL Co-ed Division and the single-sex girls become the Girls' Greater Catholic League (notice the C in GGCL now is Catholic and not Cincinnati).
2017-18 McAuley High School and Mother of Mercy High School both officially close and reopen the 2018-19 school year as Mercy McAuley High School. This made the GGCL a five-team league.
