Jalen Brunson high-fives students Thursday as the Stevenson High School boy's basketball team gets a send off to the IHSA Class 4A state championships that start Friday in Peoria. Also honored were the school's debate and scholastic bowl teams, which compete for state championships this weekend.
Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
Students, teachers and family members lined the Forum at Stevenson High School to rally their boy's basketball, scholastic bowl and debate teams heading off to compete for state championships this weekend.
Team members' names were announced as they made their way though a sea of cheering students while the marching band's percussion section played Thursday morning at the Lincolnshire school.
The basketball team said goodbye to family members as they made their way to a bus while being serenaded by junior Brenda Moran playing the bagpipes. The squad is making their second consecutive appearance in IHSA Class 4A state basketball championships that start Friday in Peoria.
“We're feeling great,” Stevenson head coach Pat Ambrose said. “We're really proud of the school, really proud of the players. It's been a special week and a special send off. I'm very appreciative and I know our players are too.”
The boys basketball team has made two prior appearances to the IHSA basketball championships in 1992 and 2007.
The scholastic bowl team will also be in Peoria this weekend. The debate team will compete this weekend at the University of Illinois-Springfield campus.
Stevenson High School basketball star Jalen Brunson hugs his grandmother, Judy Davis, during Thursday's send off for the basketball team ahead of the IHSA Class 4A state championships starting Friday in Peoria. Also honored were the school's debate and scholastic bowl teams, which compete for state championships this weekend.
Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
Parker Nichols high-fives students as the Stevenson High School boys basketball team gets a send off Thursday to the IHSA Class 4A state championships that start Friday in Peoria. Also honored were the school's debate and scholastic bowl teams, which compete for state championships this weekend.
Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
Members of Stevenson High School's scholastic bowl and debate teams are announced during a send off Thursday morning at the Lincolnshire school. Also honored was the boy's basketball team before heading to the IHSA Class 4A state championships starting Friday in Peoria.
Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com