Scholastic Bowl Team Battles its Way to First Sectional Title

Parker’s Upper School Scholastic Bowl team traveled to Elgin Academy this weekend to compete in the Class 1A sectional finals, the second round of the IHSA state series.

Facing a four-team round robin in what was widely regarded as the strongest 1A sectional in the state, the team knew there would be no easy outs. After a nervy first half in their opening game against Lisle, Parker stepped on the gas in the late stages to earn a 440-250 victory.

This set up a round two showdown with a Latin team that was carrying significant momentum into Sectionals weekend. Parker fell behind by 90 in the early going, but fought back time and again. The lead had already changed hands eight times when Parker found itself down by 70 with two tossups remaining. The Colonels came up with clutch answers on both and erased the deficit in the dying moments. A protest that was ruled in Parker’s favor accounted for the final 10 points in a heart-stopping 380-370 victory, the team’s first-ever win over Latin.

But celebrations would have to wait, as top-seeded Timothy Christian School loomed in a must-win round three matchup. Buoyed by their victory over the Romans, Parker stormed out of the gate and never looked back. They led by 150 at halftime and fended off a late run to secure a convincing 430-330 win and a place in the Parker record books.

The program’s first sectional title earns them a trip downstate to compete in the eight-team state final tournament. Congratulations to the sectional team of seniors Leo Auerbach and Timo Kiep, juniors Grant Koh and Warner Vance and sophomore Annoshae Mirza.