IESA Headlines

2013 IESA Scholastic Bowl State Finals to be Held at Peoria Civic Center on Friday, May 3; Championship Matches to be Webcast

For the second consecutive year the Illinois Elementary School Association (IESA) Scholastic Bowl State Finals will be held in Peoria at the Civic Center this Friday (May 3). IESA Scholastic Bowl began in 1988 although a state final was not held the first year. There was one-class competition from 1989-1996, and in 1997 the state series was divided into Class A and Class AA based on school size. This is the 25th year of state series competition in Scholastic Bowl and the 17th year for Class A and Class AA competition.

A total of 16 teams will play in Peoria--eight teams in Class A and eight teams in Class AA. All teams participating will play three rounds. Each class is divided into two pools of four teams. The winners of each pool will meet for the championship of their respective class while the runners-up in each pool will play for 3rd place honors in round 4. Assignment to each pool is done by a blind draw. Competition gets under at 1:00 p.m. in both classes. Subsequent matches are scheduled for 2:00 and 3:00. After an hour break for dinner, the third place and championship matches will be played at 5:00 p.m. The awards assembly will begin immediately after the conclusion of the final round.

The Peoria Civic Center is hosting the IESA state finals for the second time. Prior to the move to the Civic Center, the IESA state finals were held at Heartland Community College in Normal for a total of six years. The Civic Center provides a beautiful venue for the finals and all matches will be conducted in the 4th floor ballroom.

The price of admission is $5.00 for adults and $2.00 for seniors (62 and over) and students (K-8), and is good for the entire tournament. Children younger than kindergarten are admitted free. Fans attending the matches will receive a wristband that is to be worn all day and will be used for entry into the facility throughout the day.

This year, 374 member schools entered the state series in Scholastic Bowl. Questions used throughout the state series are provided by Questions Galore, while the lockout systems are provided by Slammer.

Complete pairings for each state final, the results after the competition on Friday, plus the FanZone, can be found at www.iesa.org. Click on the Scholastic Bowl line in the orange box at the top of the IESA Web Site Home Page.

Here is a look at each of the two 2013 State Final Tournaments:

Class A Tournament

Making their eighth Class A state finals appearance are the Bullpups of Effingham St. Anthony. The impressive run for the Bullpups is highlighted by their four state placers, the most recent coming back in 2009 when Effingham St. Anthony finished in fourth. Still searching for that illustrious state title, the Bullpups will have to advance past a former state champion in Springfield Blessed Sacrament. The Bruins return to the Class A state finals for the first time since capturing third back in 2006. Two years prior marked that phenomenal run to a state title, as Springfield Blessed Sacrament Coach Kelsey Taylor will rely on a roster of six 6th graders, four 7th graders and five 8th graders.

Pool B also features a pair of newcomers to the Class A state tournament, Champaign Next Generation and Lincoln Carroll Catholic. Coach Adam Schmitt of Champaign Next Generation boasts a team complete with three 6th graders and nine 7th graders. The Crusaders of Lincoln Carroll Catholic are coached by David Welch who rolls into state with a mixture of two 6th graders, seven 7th graders and six 8th graders.

The Class A tournament welcomes back the Bulldogs of Peoria Academy who advance to the state finals for a fourth consecutive year after placing third each of the last three seasons. Their roster consists of one 5th grader, one 6th grader, two 7th graders and an impressive eleven 8th graders. Joining them in Pool B are the Knights of Palatine Quest, who look to build off of their fourth place finish a season ago. Coached by Lisa Groh, the Knights are hoping to rekindle some of that 2011 state finals magic that saw them walk away tournament champions.

Rounding out Pool B are the Warriors of Ottawa Wallace and the Indians of Lewistown Central. Ottawa Wallace is back in the Class A Tournament for the first time since capturing fourth place back in 2010. The Lewistown Central Indians are newcomers to the state scene but showcase impressive grade diversity while sporting six 5th graders, three 6th graders, four 7th graders and two 8th graders.

Following are the Class A Tournament pairings:

Class AA Tournament

Pool A for the Class AA Tournament welcomes back the Colts of Barrington Station to the big dance. Coached by Jeff Price, Barrington Station returns to the state finals for the first time since capturing third place back in 2011. Prior to that, the Class AA Tournament has seen the Colts gallop their way to the finals four times dating back to 1997. Barrington Station and Coach Jeff Price field a team of two 6th graders, five 7th graders and eight 8th graders. Also representing Pool A are the Titans of Jacksonville Turner, who sport an impressive state pedigree of their own. Coached by Alan Hallock, 2013 marks the Titans fifth Class AA appearance since 2003, with that run highlighted by their 2003 state title.

The Mustangs of Effingham JHS return to the Class AA Tournament in hopes to avenge a quick tournament exit back in 2004. Coach Josh Robinson and his Mustangs are comprised of four 7th graders and ten 8th graders. The Panthers of Homewood Hart remain the only newcomer to Pool A, as Coach Richard Druse brings with him a squad of two 7th graders and ten 8th graders.

The Rochester Rockets enter Pool B of the Class AA Tournament with an impressive five year resume highlighted by a second place finish back in 2009. Coach Suzanne Pettyjohn's team fields four 7th graders and eleven 8th graders. Also back to the Class AA Tournament are the Wildcats of Willowbrook Westview Hills. Coached by Scott Larson, the Wildcats have advanced to the big dance for the third time in five years dating back to 2009.

Bloomington JHS and Coach Amanda Lorenz enter Pool B with one 6th grader, eight 7th graders and six 8th graders. Back for the first time since 2011, the Knights are still looking for their first Class AA Tournament victory. Capping things off are the Mustangs of Rockford Marshall, who are the lone squad in Pool B making their state finals debut. Coaches Deb Johns and Bonnie Wallin are entering the competitive field with seven 6th graders, two 7th graders and six 8th graders.

Following are the Class AA Tournament pairings:

For the second straight year, the lock-out systems that will be used at the IESA state finals will be provided by Slammer Systems. Slammer Systems automatically keeps score, manages time, controls the ring in process, and produces detailed statistic spreadsheets for every match.

In addition, the IESA and Slammer Systems will be broadcasting the Class A and AA Championship matches online.

Fans can click on one of the links below and register to 'watch' the events. If you are interested in listening to a match broadcast you need to click the link below. Click Register Now and this will generate a custom link that will allow you to attend the broadcast.

For Class A click on: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/814240946
For Class AA click on: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/18810794968146688

Note: Only the Class A and AA Championship matches will be broadcast.

For more information, please contact IESA Assistant Executive Director and Scholastic Bowl Administrator John Venerable at john@iesa.org.