Geneva High hosts sectional action in Masonic Academic Bowl Saturday
Submitted by Geneva High School
Geneva High School will host one of the 30 sectional tournaments for the Illinois Masonic Academic Bowl on Saturday, Feb. 16, starting at 8:30 a.m. at Geneva High School, 416 McKinley Ave. The awards ceremony should be at approximately 3:15 p.m.
The Masons of Illinois sponsor this annual academic achievement competition for the IHSA-member high schools throughout Illinois. Schools competing pay no entry fees, as the cost of the tournament is entirely paid by the Masons of Illinois. This year marks the 30th year for this academic tournament. There are 303 high schools registered for this year’s tournament. The Masons of Illinois believe in providing positive recognition for academic excellence and strive to make this tournament a positive experience for everyone involved. The competition is open to the public, and admission is free. Everyone is invited to attend the Illinois Masonic Academic Bowl and see firsthand the excellence of academics in the state of Illinois and to support the students in this statewide competition.
The 11 high schools competing in the Illinois Masonic Academic Bowl at Geneva High School are: Palatine, William Fremd (Palatine), Barrington, Hoffman Estates, Schaumburg, Glenbard North (Carol Stream), Glenbard South (Glen Ellyn), St. Charles East, Lake Zurich, Kaneland (Maple Park), and Geneva.
The tournament is a two-class tournament with Class “A” schools (small schools) competing against only Class “A” schools, and Class “AA” schools (large schools) competing against only Class “AA” schools. The IHSA school enrollment numbers are used in determining the Class. The Masons of Illinois award scholastic monetary awards to those schools finishing in the top four places at each sectional site. The Sectional Champion will receive $400 with the other finishers as follows: $300 for second-place, $200 for third-place, and $100 for fourth-place. This money is given to the schools to be used for scholarships or for academic purposes.
The sectional tournaments are being held at the following 30 locations, all on Feb. 16: (for Class “AA”) Belvidere North H.S., Geneva H.S., Loyola Academy in Wilmette, Metea Valley H.S. in Aurora, Fenwick H.S. in Oak Park, Moline H.S., Crete-Monee H.S., Bloomington H.S., Glenwood H.S. in Chatham, Centennial H.S. in Champaign, Greenville H.S., and Salem Community H.S.; (for Class “A”) East Dubuque H.S., Byron Middle School (Byron H.S. is hosting), Fulton H.S., Rockridge H.S. in Taylor Ridge, St. Bede Academy in Peru, Dwight Township H.S., Lewistown H.S., Unity H.S. in Mendon, PORTA H.S. in Petersburg, Warrensburg-Latham H.S., St. Joseph-Ogden H.S., Carlinville H.S., Neoga H.S., Southwestern H.S. in Piasa, Brownstown H.S., Robinson H.S., Fairfield Community H.S., and Cobden H.S.
The Sectional Champion from each of the 30 sectional sites will advance to the Masonic Academic Bowl State Tournament to be held at Springfield High School in Springfield, Illinois on Saturday, March 2. There will be two State Champions — one for Class “A” and one for Class “AA”. Each State Champion will receive $1,500 and the other finishers in each Class as follows: $1,000 for second-place, $700 for third-place, and $400 for fourth-place. Each of the other 22 schools competing in the State Tournament will receive $100.
The Masons of Illinois are proud to be a part of promoting and recognizing academic excellence in our high schools and welcome everyone to this great statewide tournament.