IESA Headlines

IESA Will Crown 49 Team Champions During 2009-10

Team champions will be crowned in 49 Illinois Elementary School Association (IESA) state final events during the 2009-10 school year.

IESA will conduct state final competition at more than 20 different sites beginning with two-class girls softball Sept. 25-26 and ending with Class AA Track and Field May 21-22. In between, state finals will be held in boys baseball (Class 1A-3A), cross-country (Class A and AA for both boys and girls), 7th grade girls basketball (Class 1A-4A), 8th grade girls basketball (Class 1A-4A), cheerleading (five divisions), 7th grade boys basketball (Class 1A-4A), 8th grade boys basketball (Class 1A-4A), single-class wrestling, 7th grade girls volleyball (Class 1A-4A), 8th grade girls volleyball (Class 1A-4A), scholastic bowl (Class A and AA) and Class A track and field.

"Interscholastic opportunities in our member schools provide a tremendous learning experience as well as a wonderful vehicle for recognition," said IESA Executive Director Steve Endsley. "Through participation in their school's interscholastic activities, our students achieve recognition for themselves, their school and their community. We are the training ground for the next level, the proving ground, IHSA interscholastic activities."

Three of the 2009-10 IESA state finals will be conducted at the EastSide Centre in East Peoria. State champions will be crowned in each of three classes in boys baseball the weekend of Oct. 2-3. Class A team and individual champions in track and field will be crowned the weekend of May 14-15 for 7th grade boys and girls, and 8th grade boys and girls. Then May 21-22, Class AA team and individual champions will be crowned for 7th grade boys and girls, and 8th grade boys and girls.

The Peoria Civic Center will host the Cheerleading Championships Jan. 23. Champions will be crowned in large and small team cheer, and in small, medium and large team routine. Individual champions in 19 weight classes and a team champion will be determined the weekend of March 12-13 at the Northern Illinois University Convocation Center in DeKalb. Heartland Community College in Normal will host the two-class Scholastic Bowl state meet for the fifth straight year on Friday, May 7.

The Bloomington-Normal community will host at least five other state finals. Champion Fields in Normal will be the site of the Class A and AA softball state final Sept. 25-26. Normal Parkside Junior High will host the Cross-Country Meet Oct. 17, with Class A and Class AA champions being crowned in boys and girls races, respectively. Parkside also will host the 7th grade Class 4A girls basketball state final Dec. 5 & 10. Normal Chiddix Junior High with host the 7th grade Class 4A girls state basketball tournament Dec. 5 & 10. Bloomington Junior High will host the 7th grade girls Class 4A state volleyball tournament March 13 & 16.

Three state finals will be at the Riverton High School Gym: 7th grade Class 2A grade girls basketball state final on Dec. 5 & 10; 7th grade Class 4A boys basketball state final on Feb. 6 & 11; and 8th grade Class 3A girls volleyball state final on March 20 & 23.

Five schools will be hosting two state finals each. They are: Assumption Central A & M (7th grade girls Class 3A basketball and 7th grade girls Class 3A volleyball), Monticello (8th grade girls Class 3A basketball and 8th grade boys Class 3A basketball), Auburn JHS in Divernon (8th grade girls Class 1A basketball and 7th grade girls Class 1A volleyball), Clinton (8th grade girls Class 2A basketball and 7th grade boys Class 2A basketball), and Mt. Pulaski (7th grade boys Class 1A basketball and 8th grade girls Class 2A volleyball).

(The complete listing of the 2009-10 state finals can be found here.)