Morrison High School’s Scholastic Bowl team achieved a first-place finish at the Masonic Sectional Class 1A Tournament, at Prophetstown High School on Saturday, February 22, 2025. Morrison won each of its five matches, defeating Amboy (310-80); Fulton (280-160); Erie-Prophetstown (240-200); Eastland (250-170); Ashton-Franklin Center (300-160.)
Ashton-Franklin Center finished second, followed by Erie-Prophetstown (third place) and Fulton (fourth-place.)
Their participation in the Illinois Masonic Academic Bowl was underwritten by Morrison’s Dunlap Lodge #321. Morrison’s team advances to the Illinois Masonic Academic Bowl’s State Tournament, at Bloomington High School on Saturday, March 8.
Left-to-right, the team consisted of Daniel Melton, Blaine Williams, Quinn Blevins, Violet Mills, Logan Peavy, and Shawn Simpson.
“I…thank all of the parents and relatives who turned out on [Saturday] to support Morrison’s team,” said Coach Brian Bartoz. “I’d also like to recognize Dunlap Lodge #321 in Morrison for paying the team’s $150 entry fee…and for offering its encouragement each year; Tournament Director Herman Albers; members of Masonic lodges across Illinois. Coach Emily Higgins and Coach Dana Murphy at Prophetstown HS invested a great deal of time and effort, to ensure a successful competition….I also…thank all of the volunteers at Prophetstown High School who served as moderators, scorekeepers, timekeepers, office staff, and pizza-pickup volunteers on Saturday.”
For the 2024-25 season, Morrison has a 43-13 overall record.
“I’m very pleased with the team’s performance this season,” Bartoz said. “Our players…have more knowledge in their noggins, than just about any group I’ve worked with, during the past eight years. I don’t know how they know everything that they know, but I’m glad that they do!”
The Mustangs will play Northwest Upstate Illini Conference (NUIC) opponent Eastland High School, at Morrison High School, on Monday, February 24, 2025, at 4:30 p.m.