Morrison High School’s Scholastic Bowl team competed in the Illinois Masonic Academic Bowl State Tournament, in Bloomington, IL, on Saturday, March 7, 2020. The team advanced to State following its first-place finish in the Masonic Sectional Tournament at Prophetstown High School on Wednesday, February 15.
Morrison won two matches and lost three during the morning rounds. Although the team did not reach its goal of advancing to the afternoon’s championship-level matches, MHS members tested their academic mettle against some of the best Class 1A Scholastic Bowl teams in Illinois.
Left-to-right are Hannah Stralow, Kara Saville, Captain Griffin Vos, Lorilee Hutson, and Aaron Freeman.
Matches included five sections of tossup questions and teamwork questions.
Round 1: Keith Country Day School vs. Morrison High School (250-100) KCDS, a Scholastic Bowl powerhouse in northwest Illinois, was dominant from the start. Keith won all five morning matches. Keith ultimately achieved a third-place finish in the tournament.
Round 2: MHS vs. Gallatin County High School (130-80) Following a tough loss in Round 1, Morrison bounced back in Round 2. After starting 20 points behind Gallatin, Morrison found its footing and tied Gallatin in the second of the five sections. Morrison built its lead during the third and fourth sections and won the match.
Round 3: Roanoke-Benson High School vs. Morrison High School (120-90) Roanoke-Benson and Morrison were evenly matched throughout Round 3; the teams remained within 20-30 points throughout the match. Roanoke-Benson pulled ahead during the fourth section of Round 3 and maintained its lead in the fifth section.
Round 4: Morrison High School vs. Athens High School (170-110) MHS performed well in Round 4, with strong performances from multiple players. Captain Vos offered a number of correct answers in the first section, including the Rio Grande River, bile, and artificial intelligence. Huston, Saville, and Stralow delivered solid performances in the third section. Morrison scored its strongest performance of the day.
Round 5: Galena High School vs. Morrison High School (170-80) Galena answered first in Round 5, and the team maintained and expanded its lead over Morrison throughout the five sections. On both individual tossup questions and teamwork questions, Galena (led by Yale University-bound team Captain Sophia Getz), delivered a strong performance.Galena advanced to the afternoon rounds with a 4-1 record and achieved a fourth-place finish.
I would like to thank Morrison Community Unit School District #6 for underwriting our lodging and travel costs to Bloomington,” Scholastic Bowl Coach Brian Bartoz said. “I would also like to recognize Dunlap Lodge #321 for paying the team’s $150 entry fee, to compete in the Illinois Masonic Academic Bowl. [Thanks to] Tournament Director Dale Thayer and members and staff at the Grand Lodge, for their outstanding work organizing the State Tournament each year.”
Class 1A Winners are listed (source: Dale Thayer, Tournament Director.)
- State Champion Villa Grove HS
- State 2nd Place Edwards County HS (Albion)
- State 3rd Place Keith Country Day School
- State 4th Place Galena HS.