The Holiday Classic is proud to announce a new partnership with the U.S. Cellular Coliseum as a host venue at this year’s event. The downtown Bloomington facility, a long time sponsor of the Holiday Classic, will now host the girls’ portion of the 64 team tournament.

“In addition to four very competitive games, the one thing we are proud to offer our participating teams each year is the chance to play those games in top-notch facilities with exciting atmospheres,” said tournament Vice-President Dave Oloffson. “With the addition of the Coliseum, we continue to provide all 64 teams with the best basketball facilities our community has to offer. The support of those venues is very much appreciated!”

“We are excited to be able to add the prestigious State Farm Holiday Classic to our ever growing list of events this,” said Bart Rogers, Vice President/General Manager of the U.S Cellular Coliseum. “This event provides a great economic impact on the Twin Cities with the out of town teams and guests that attend, and we look forward to showcasing our facility to them for many years to come.”

This year’s field will once again feature some of the top talent in the state. Rock Island and senior star Chasson Randle, who is ranked as the #6 point guard in the nation by ESPN, will take on a large school boy’s field that features the #1 junior in the state in North Chicago’s Aaron Simpson, and Peoria Notre Dame’s talented big man Max Bielfeldt. Chicago-land powerhouses North Lawndale and Glenbard East are new additions to this year’s field. Western Michigan recruit Hayden Hoerdemann and Bloomington Central Catholic highlight a small school boys’ field that features perennial state powerhouses in Rock Falls, Quincy Notre Dame, Minonk Fieldcrest, Chillicothe IVC and Providence St. Mel.

The girls’ portion of the State Farm Holiday Classic remains one of the toughest tournaments throughout the Midwest. Class 2A state-champ Bloomington Central Catholic returns the talented duo of Allie Norton and Jess Reinhart to face a small school girls’ bracket with ten teams that won at least a Regional championship last season. Springfield High, with two consecutive state final finishes the last two years, features all-state junior Zahna Medley to counter Peoria Richwoods all-state senior Mariah Smith, Morton’s sophomore shot-blocker Sarah Livingston and newcomer Champaign Centennial’s young and talented group in the large school girls’ bracket.

“Most holiday tournaments measure themselves by the number of highly-ranked teams and players they bring in,” said Oloffson. “With the talent displayed in Bloomington-Normal over the holidays, we feel our players, coaches and fans will be treated to a great experience this December at the Classic.”

All games will be played at Illinois Wesleyan University’s Shirk Center, U.S. Cellular Coliseum, Normal Community High School and Normal West High School. All teams are guaranteed 4 games over the 4-day event.

For more tournament information and a complete list of the 64-team field, visit the official Web site at www.theclassic.org or follow the event on Facebook and Twitter. All-tournament passes may be purchased beginning in November through the State Farm Employees Activities Association, or by contacting your local participating team.

• Signed jersey by Super Bowl MVP and New Orleans quaterback Drew Brees
• Autographed book – Dick Vitale’s Fabulous 50 Players and Moments in College Basketball – signed by author and ESPN commentator Dick Vitale.
• State Farm College GameDay basketball signed by Illini head basketball coach Bruce Weber and ESPN GameDay hosts Reece Davis and Jay Bilas.
• Autographed baseballs by former Chicago Cub legends Bill Buckner, Fergie Jenkins and Ron Santo.
• Signed State Farm Classic pin flag by LPGA stars Laura Davies, Natalie Gulbis, Julie Inkster, Christie Kerr, Christina Kim, I.K. Kim, Brittany Lincicome, Stephanie Louden, Morgan Pressel, Angela Stanford and Michelle Wie.
• Four (4) V.I.P. passes to the 2011 State Farm Holiday Classic.
• Autographed photo of former UConn All-American and WNBA great Rebecca Lobo.
• Autographed baseball from the State Farm Legends game in Normal on August 14 – ball signed by former Chicago Cubs Bill Buckner, Bob Dernier, Mickey Morandini, Keith Moreland, Rick Reuschel and Turk Wendell, and former St. Louis Cardinals Ken Dayley, Cal Eldred, Tito Landrum, Hal Lanier, Ken Reitz, John Tudor and Andy Van Slyke.
• Signed photo by former University of North Carolina head basketball coach Dean Smith.

Established to recognize and award scholarships to eligible high school seniors who participated in this past year’s tournament, a selection committee of current and former educators chose the winners based on their leadership skills and academic performance. Applicants were also asked to demonstrate their experiences in student activities and community service, and were required to submit an essay titled “How my high school sports experience helped prepare me for success in higher education.”

The 2010 Holiday Classic Scholarship recipients are:

• Kevin Bischoff, Normal Community High School
• Rachael Graham, St. Joseph-Ogden High School
• Erin McGinnis, Normal West High School
• Andrew Sipes, Grayslake Central High School

Application forms for the 2010-11 Scholarship will be available on this site after Jan. 1, 2011.

All eligible applicants must:

• have participated in the 2010 State Farm Holiday Classic
• be a graduating senior this spring
• maintain a grade point average of 2.75 or above on a 4.0 scale
• be admitted to and plan to attend a 2- or 4-year college

Applications must be submitted and postmarked by March 31, 2011, and include the following:

• Brief essay (200-500 words) entitled “How my high school sports experience helped prepare me for success in higher education.”
• Two (2) letters of recommendation from those who have worked with you in student activities or community service programs, like a coach, principal, guidance counselor, etc.
• Copy of your accumulative transcripts including the most recent completed semester.
• Proof (note on school letterhead) from basketball coach that you have been or will be awarded a varsity letter in basketball.

Completed applications (use the link above or below to download the print the application) should be sent to:

Scholarship Application
Classic Tournament, Inc.
P.O. Box 1887
Bloomington, IL 61702

Previous Holiday Classic Scholarship recipients:

• Taylor Baucom – Camp Point Central (2006)
• Jordan Christensen – Sherrard (2006)
• Cherelle Gay – Bloomington (2006)
• Matt Pelton – Bloomington Central Catholic (2006)
• Patrick Doggett – CPCI (2007)
• Jack Hainline – Stanford Olympia (2007)
• Kimmy White – Olney East Richland (2007)
• Brandi Branka – Kankakee Bishop Mac (2008)
• Andrew Etheridge – Normal Community (2008)
• Kati Hinshaw – Normal West (2008)
• Randall Koehler – Roanoke-Benson (2008)
• Samantha Reich – Park Ridge Maine South (2008)
• Kristen Baldwin – Normal Community (2009)
• Luke Harbers – Normal U-High (2009)
• Cora Jeffers – Williamsville (2009)
• Ross Munsterman – CPCI (2009)
• Kevin Bischoff – Normal Community (2010)
• Rachael Graham – St. Joseph-Ogden (2010)
• Erin McGinnis – Normal West (2010)
• Andrew Sipes – Grayslake Central (2010)

• Codey Funk (El Paso – Gridley)
• Spencer Pratt (Stanford Olympia)
• Adam McIntosh (Bloomington Central Catholic)
• Hayden Hoerdemann (Bloomington Central Catholic)
  a unanimous selection
• Taylor Baxter (Minonk Fieldcrest)
  a unanimous selection
• Nathan Ropp (Minonk Fieldcrest)
  a unanimous selection