Coach Brian Bartoz wrote this feature, and Steve Siefken took the photographs.
Members of Morrison’s Masonic Lodge (Dunlap Lodge #321) celebrated a successful season of Scholastic Bowl competition, during a pizza supper and awards night for Morrison High School’s Scholastic Bowl students, on Saturday, April 9, 2022. Wade Kaufman, who leads the Lodge as Worshipful Master, welcomed students, parents, and siblings to the gathering. He congratulated members for their hard work throughout the season. Attendees enjoyed an assortment of delicious pizzas from Happy Joe’s, soft-drinks, and a strawberry-cheesecake dessert.
Following dinner, Scholastic Bowl Coach Brian Bartoz reviewed the teams’ accomplishments during the past season.
• A 23-15 overall record in both Conference and Non-conference matches;
• A 10-3 record and third-place finish in the 14-team Three Rivers Conference, which includes such Scholastic Bowl powerhouse teams as Riverdale and St. Bede;
• A first-place finish for the Fresh/Soph team at the Butterfield Memorial Tournament on November 13, 2021, at Moline HS;
• A second-place finish for the Fresh/Soph team at the Morrison HS Fresh/Soph “Cereal Bowl” Invitational Tournament, on November 6, 2021, at Morrison HS;
• A second-place finish for the Fresh/Soph team at the Illinois High School Scholastic Bowl Coaches Association (IHSSBCA) Novice Tournament on October 16, 2021, at Keith Country Day School in Rockford;
• A third-place finish in the Riverdale Early Season Tournament on November 20, 2021, at Riverdale High School in Port Byron;
• An appearance on Bergstrom’s Stateline Quiz Bowl, a television program produced by WTVO-TV in Rockford;
• A fourth-place finish in the Masonic Sectional at Prophetstown High School on February 19, 2022;
• All-Conference and All-Sectional recognition for Team Captain Aaron Freeman.
Next, Bartoz recognized students for individual accomplishments during the past few months. He recognized Aaron Freeman for ranking seventh among 122 students on the 14 teams in the Three Rivers Conference for his correct answers to toss-up questions. Aaron correctly answered 37 toss-up questions this season in Conference matches, averaging at least three correct toss-ups per match. He also received a certificate for being named as an All-Conference First Team player (Three Rivers Conference) and an IHSSBCA All-Sectional player (Port Byron Sectional.)
At the Fresh/Soph level, Sophomores Dylan Anderson and Lisa Hardesty received the Excellence in Mythology Award. It recognizes their success answering questions about Norse and Greek mythology, among other topics. Freshman Violet Mills received an award for scoring a remarkable 85 points, in a match against Mercer County High School on November 13, 2021. Freshman Blaine Williams was recognized for scoring an extraordinary 115 points in a match against Moline High School, and 90 points in a match against United Township High School on November 13.
At the Varsity level, Junior Zayden Boonstra was recognized for being among the top 12 players at the Riverdale Early Season Tournament (R.E.S.T.) He scored 170 points throughout the day during that competition on November 20, 2021. Aaron Freeman was recognized for scoring 85 points in a match against Christian Life High School during the Winnebago Invitational Tournament on February 5, 2022.
Adam Neumann, Mark Cyphers, Rowan Onken, Hailey Freeman, Sarah Stralow, and Paige Leighton were recognized for outstanding achievement in Scholastic Bowl on toss-up and bonus questions during the past season.
Coach Bartoz thanked Dunlap Lodge #321 for sponsoring the team’s participation in the Masonic Sectional at Prophetstown High School. The Lodge paid the team’s $150 entry fee and cheered on the team during the February 19 competition. In recognition of the team’s fourth-place finish, the Grand Lodge of the Ancient Free & Accepted Masons of the State of Illinois awarded the team a $100 check, to be used for Scholastic Bowl materials (e.g., uniforms and practice questions) during the coming year.
Lodge members Wade Kaufman, Kenny Schaver, Shawn McCrary, and their spouses congratulated the team on its excellent work during the year. Coach Bartoz thanked Dunlap Lodge #321 for its support of the team during the season, and he thanked parents for attending Monday evening Conference matches and weekend tournaments.
“I’d also like to thank all of our Moderators, including Carolyn Aiken and Elaine Seevers, for the time they devoted to reading questions, at both home and away events, throughout the season,” Bartoz said following the ceremony.
Morrison High School Scholastic Bowl team members hold trophies and plaques that the Fresh/Soph and Varsity teams won during the 2021-22 season. Pictured left-to-right are Lisa Hardesty, Mark Cyphers, Aaron Freeman, Zayden Boonstra, Violet Mills, Coach Bartoz, Blaine Williams, and Dylan Anderson.
