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State Farm Holiday Classic announces 2012 scholarship winners

April 16, 2012 By
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The Classic Tournament, Inc., which organizes one of the largest, coed high school holiday basketball tournament in the nation called the State Farm Holiday Classic, has selected four winners as recipients of the 2012 Holiday Classic Scholarship award.  Each of the winners will receive a $1,000 scholarship to go directly to their college of choice to help pay for tuition costs.

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 required to submit an essay titled “How my high school sports experience helped prepare me for success in higher education.”

The 2012 Holiday Classic Scholarship awards go to (in alphabetical order):

  • Brian Ehresman, El Paso-Gridley High School – Brian lettered in basketball all four years, earning numerous all-conference and all-area honors. He received both the DAR and SAR Good Citizenship Awards, was vice-president of the Key Club his junior year, and was manager of the girls volleyball team at EPG for four years. He currently ranks #1 in his class, lifeguards during the summer months, and plans to attend either Greenville College or Eureka College in the fall and major in communications and broadcasting.
  • Paige Lobdell, Sterling High School – Paige ranks fourth academically in her class and played both basketball and softball all four years for the Golden Warriors. She is the editor-in-chief for both her school’s newspaper and yearbook, is on the National Honor Society, and hosts her own television program “Prime Time with Paige”. She plans to attend Luther College in Decorah, IA, and major in communications this fall.
  • Annie O’Malley, Bloomington Central Catholic High School – Annie has been a three-sport athlete the past four years in basketball, softball and tennis. She is a member of the Interact Club, and volunteers for Special Olympics Illinois, the Bickford House and the Midwest Food Bank.  Annie plans to attend Boston College in the fall and major in pediatric nursing.
  • Patrick Walsh, Lombard Glenbard East High School – Patrick has participated in basketball, baseball, football and golf during his career, earning several all-conference and academic all-conference honors. He has volunteers for Big Brothers, Big Sisters and works as a caddie at Medinah Country Club during the summer. He plans to attend Loras College in Dubuque, IA and major in secondary education.

“We have honored many fine student-athletes in the past seven years, and this year’s group of recipients is no exception,” said tournament vice-president Dave Oloffson. “Each year is a tough process for our selection committee, but these four student-athletes stood out from the 46 applications we received based on their involvement in school and their communities.”

For more information about the State Farm Holiday Classic, visit the official tournament Web site at www.theclassic.org.

 

Filed Under: Featured, News + Updates, Scholarship

The 2011-12 Holiday Classic Scholarship

April 12, 2012 By
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The Holiday Classic Scholarship application form will be available in January, 2013. 

The Holiday Classic Scholarship Fund was created by the State Farm Holiday Classic basketball tournament to award four, $1,000 scholarships each year to student-athletes from participating schools in our tournament.

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 choose the winners based on their leadership skills and academic performance. Applicants are asked to demonstrate their experiences in student activities and community service, and are required to submit an essay titled “How my high school sports experience helped prepare me for success in higher education.

The Holiday Classic Scholarship fund is administered through the Illinois Prairie Community Foundation in Bloomington, IL, and scholarships are made directly to the attending college/university of those winning student. One winner from each of the four tournament brackets (Boys 1A-2A, Girls 1A-2A, Boys 3A-4A and Girls 3A-4A) will be awarded a scholarship.

All eligible applicants must:

  • have participated in the 2011 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, 2013, 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 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)
  • Nickolena Coop – Downs Tri-Valley (2011)
  • Blake Doane, Quincy Notre Dame (2011)
  • Kayla Moore, Sterling Newman Central Catholic (2011)
  • Ryan Schmidt, Bloomington Central Catholic (2011)
  • Brian Ehresman, El Paso-Gridley (2012)
  • Paige Lobdell, Sterling (2012)
  • Annie O’Malley, Bloomington Central Catholic (2012)
  • Patrick Walsh, Lombard Glenbard East (2012)
Filed Under: News + Updates

34th Annual State Farm Holiday Classic dates, field set for 2012

April 2, 2012 By
classic_trophy

The 34th annual installment of the State Farm Holiday Classic will boast 10 new teams to strengthen what is already considered one of the strongest tournament fields in the state.

One of the largest coed high school holiday tournaments in the nation tips off Dec. 26, 27, 28 & 29, and marks the 14th consecutive year with State Farm Insurance® as the title sponsor. The tournament will once again use four venues around Bloomington-Normal; the Illinois Wesleyan University Shirk Center, U.S. Cellular Coliseum, Normal Community High School and Normal West High School.

New additions to the large school boys’ field include three Chicago-area schools in Huntley, Plainfield South and Thornton Fractional North from Calumet City. Top individual players in this bracket include Normal U-High’s Keita Bates-Diop (No. 5 ranked sophomore in state by chicagohoops.com), and Huntley’s sophomore Amanze Egekeze (being recruited by a number of Big Ten teams).

The boys’ small school bracket will welcome Rockford Lutheran, who just finished third in the state in Class 2A, and local favorite Fairbury Prairie Central for the first time after the Hawks organized their own holiday tournament for the past 27 years. Champaign St. Thomas More will also be a new addition to this bracket that features a diverse field of the state’s perennial powerhouses, as well as one of the best sophomores in the state in Chicago Providence St. Mel’s Tevin King.

The girls’ side of the tournament will once again feature some of the best teams throughout Illinois. The small school field will feature some of the state’s best, such as Sectional champs Annawan, Pana and Champaign St. Thomas More, along with Regional champs El Paso-Gridley, Rock Falls and Fairbury Prairie Central who returns to the tournament for the first time since 2004.

The large school girls’ tournament is highlighted by third-place state finisher Springfield, Sectional champs Belvidere North and Morton, and newcomers Geneseo, Chicago Morgan Park and Chicago St. Ignatius. Traditional powers Peoria Richwoods, Champaign Centennial, Rock Island and Peoria Notre Dame will also return along with all five Bloomington-Normal intercity girls teams.

“In our 34 years, we have worked hard to build this event into one of the most competitive and hospitable tournaments a team can participate in throughout Illinois,” said Tournament Vice-President Dave Oloffson. “In addition to providing four games against some of the best teams our state has to offer, we try and create an unforgettable experience for each player, coach and fan that they will talk about for years to come.”

In addition, the Classic Tournament, Inc. (CTI) would like to announce the following:

Holiday Classic Scholarship Program: For the seventh consecutive year, for the Holiday Classic Scholarship Program will award four graduating seniors with a $1,000 scholarship each. Recipients will be announced in mid- to late-April.

 Grants to local basketball programs: Due to the great support of the local community and the turnout of fans to last year’s tournament, the CTI is in a position again to provide a $1,000 grant to each of the eight participating intercity basketball programs (Bloomington girls, Central Catholic boys, Central Catholic girls, Normal Community boys, Normal Community girls, Normal U-High boys, Normal U-High girls and Normal West girls).

Filed Under: Featured, News + Updates

Follow the Classic on facebook

April 1, 2012 By
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Follow along with the 2011 State Farm Holiday Classic by becoming a fan of the tournament’s official facebook page. Get all the latest on participating teams, players, game results and interesting tidbits about the nation’s largest coed holiday high school basketball tournament.

Go to www.facebook.com/sfclassic and click on the “Like” button.

Filed Under: Featured, News + Updates, Tidbits

Day 4 | 2011: Tournament Tidbits

December 30, 2011 By
classic_tidbits

Records achieved in 2011 tournament – Boys individual

  • Aaron Simpson, North Chicago, most points in the tournament with 135, broke Joey Range’s (Galesburg) record from 1997.
  • Aaron Simpson, North Chicago, highest tournament scoring average of 33.75 ppg, broke Jim Shikenjanski’s (Rockton Hononegah) record from 1985
  • Aaron Simpson, North Chicago, fifth and tenth highest single-game scoring performances with 41 and 38 points
  • Anthony Beane, Normal Community, fourth highest tournament scoring average of 30.25 ppg
  • Anthony Beane, Normal Community, 14th highest single-game scoring performance with 37 points

 Records achieved in 2011 tournament – Girls individual

  • Olivia Elger, Peoria Notre Dame, 12-for-12 on free throws during one game

 Records achieved in 2011 tournament – Girls team

  • Fewest points scored in a half – 0 Olympia vs. Rochester (shut out in second half of 50-3 defeat). Tied record set in 2010 by Olympia.
  • Fewest points scored in a game – 3 Olympia vs. Rochester (lost 50-3)
  • Fewest field goals made in a game – 1 Olympia vs. Rochester
  • Most free throws made in a game, two teams combined – 51 Peoria Notre Dame (24-of-34) and Georgetown, KY Scott County (27-of-43)
  • Most free throws attempted in a game – 43 by Georgetown, KY Scott County; made 27
  • Most free throws attempted in a game, two teams combined – 77 Peoria Notre Dame (24-of-34) and Georgetown, KY Scott County (27-of-43)
  • Fewest points allowed in the tournament – 113 Rochester (allowed 40, 3, 23 and 47) – average of 28.25 ppg allowed
    • Also fewest points allowed in a half (0) and game (3) – Rochester vs. Olympia
  • Most points allowed in the tournament – 249 Peoria Notre Dame (allowed 79, 51, 78 and 41)
  • Longest winning streak – 15 (second longest) – Bloomington Central Catholic; snapped in championship game loss to El Paso-Gridley

 Records achieved in 2011 tournament – Boys team

  • Fewest points scored in the tournament (large school) – 135 Culver, Ind., Military Academy – average of 33.75 ppg scored
  • Fewest Field Goals scored in the tournament – 47 Culver, Ind., Military Academy; made 34 fg and 13-3pt field goals
  • Largest margin of victory – 56 North Chicago (defeated Culver, Ind., 87-31)
Filed Under: News + Updates, Tidbits

Day 3 | 2011: Tournament Tidbits

December 30, 2011 By
classic_tidbits

New sharpshooter

For years, the Holiday Classic record books have had two names at the top – Joey Range and Jim Shikenjanski. Now, Aaron Simpson of North Chicago owns the mark for most points in a tournament (135, surpassing Range’s 134 in 1997) and most points per game during the tournament (33.75 surpassing Shikenjanski’s 32.75 from 1985). Simpson made 32 field goals, 16 three-pointers and was 23-28 in free throws in leading North Chicago to a fifth place finish.

Still streaking

Bloomington Central Catholic’s girls team has tasted victory of every State Farm Holiday Classic game it’s played since a 10-point loss to Rochester in the championship game in December 2007. With a semifinal win over Champaign St. Thomas More, the Saints have won 15 straight tournament games. Galesburg owns the all-time girls mark, with 16 straight wins. If the Saints win the championship Friday night, they’ll tie Galesburg – but also eclipse the Streaks mark of consecutive titles. Galesburg won three in a row from 1997-1999. The Saints are gunning for their fourth straight tournament title.

New place

Springfield’s girls have always played the final day at the Shirk Center. But in two previous trips to the Holiday Classic, the Senators played in the championship game – and won in 2009 and 2010. Their 10-0 all-time mark was snapped in the semifinals (by Park Ridge Maine South), and now the Senators are in the third place game against Morton.

Historic run

With Springfield’s boys team reaching the championship game of the large school boys final, the Senators continue a historic run. With only one win on the season entering the Holiday Classic this week, Springfield has amassed three wins in a row and have become the first No. 15 seed in tournament history to ever reach the title game. Springfield faces off against Normal Community.

Milestone moments

  • Congratulations to Park Ridge Maine South senior Michelle Maher, who eclipsed the 1,000 career point mark during the Hawks semifinal win over Springfield.
  • Earlier in the tournament, El Paso Gridley’s Brian Ehresman surpassed the 1,000 point mark.
  • With Normal U-High’s win over Belvidere North, Laura Sellers now has 100 career coaching victories.
Filed Under: News + Updates, Tidbits

Congrats to The Classic Champions

December 30, 2011 By
classic_trophy

All 128 games are complete in the 2011 State Farm Holiday Classic.  And, after Championship Day, 4 teams walked away with championship hardware.  Congratulations to Quincy Notre Dame (Boys 1A-2A), El Paso-Gridley (Girls 1A-2A), Normal Community (Boys 3A-4A) and Park Ridge Maine South (Girls 3A-4A).  View all the final results, including All-Tournament Team selections.

BA: Championship > Quincy Notre Dame 56 / Cissna Park CPCI 44

View box score Game Number- BA32 Location- Shirk Center Team 1- Cissna Park CPCI Team 2- Quincy Notre Dame Date/Time December 30 8:30 PM Game Over Game Clock 0:00 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Total Cissna …[Read More...]

GA: Championship > El Paso-Gridley 51 / Bloomington Central Catholic 47

View box score Game Number- GA32 Location- Shirk Center Team 1- El Paso-Gridley Team 2- Bloomington Central Catholic Date/Time December 30 6:50 PM Overtime Game Clock … [Read More...]

BAA: Championship > Normal Community 61 / Springfield 52

View box score Game Number- BAA32 Location- Shirk Center Team 1- Normal Community Team 2- Springfield Date/Time December 30 5:10 PM Game Over Game Clock 0:00 1st 2nd 3rd 4th OT Total Normal … [Read More...]

GAA: Championship > Park Ridge Maine South 55 / Champaign Centennial 43

View box score Game Number- GAA32 Location- Shirk Center Team 1- Park Ridge Main South Team 2- Champaign Centennial Date/Time December 30 3:30 PM Game Over Game Clock … [Read More...]

For recaps of all the action, check out the following:

Filed Under: Featured, News + Updates

Morton Lady Potters to help local Home Sweet Home Ministries

December 8, 2011 By
potters

Last year during the State Farm Holiday Classic, the Morton Lady Potters delivered donated items they had collected to the Home Sweet Home Ministries in Bloomington. The team plans to do the same thing this year and will be collecting items Dec. 17 from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the Bertha Frank Center on the high school campus in Morton. Requested items include household goods (paper towels, blankets, pillows), toiletries (toothpaste, shampoo, soap, cold medicines), clothing (coats, shoes, socks, underwear) or other general items such as books, dishes or small appliances. A complete list of needed items can be found at www.hshministries.org. Great job ladies and keep up the good work!!

Filed Under: News + Updates, Tidbits

Thank you to our Classic Sponsors!

December 5, 2011 By
sponsors

We would like to take a quick moment to thank all of our Classic Sponsors whose support help make this event a success every year!! If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, we’d love to have you join the team! 

Whether you are interested in joining at the Classic Level ($1000) or becoming a Team Sponsor ($150), we would love to talk with you about our sponsorship packages and benefits, or answer any questions you might have.  Call John Althoff at 309.766.9615.    

For a complete list of sponsors for 2011, go to http://theclassic.org/about-2/sponsors/.

Filed Under: News + Updates, Sponsors

Teams announced for Knisley SOI Shootout

December 2, 2011 By
soi

On October 13, 2005, the Classic Tournament, Inc. lost a very special and vital part of our event.  Ron Knisley, Director of Sports and Competition for Special Olympics Illinois (SOI), lost his battle to cancer. 

 Ron volunteered his time as a Holiday Classic committee member for ten years, and was a constant around Horton Field House as a venue supervisor.  Through the years, he assisted with the scheduling of athletic trainers, helped create the Classic scholarship program, and most importantly oversaw the coordination of the Special Olympics Shootout.

Now in its tenth year of existence, the Shootout brings in area SOI basketball teams for two games during the morning of Championship Day (Dec. 30) in the IWU Shirk Center multi-purpose area.  Six of those teams then return that night to participate in 8-minute exhibitions on the mainShirkCenterfloor during half-time of the Classic championship games.

 Named the Ron Knisley Memorial Special Olympics Shootout in memory of our dear friend, this year’s field features various teams from Central Illinois.  If you find yourself atShirkCenter on the last day of the tournament, please take the time to check out this great basketball and support these athletes.

The following teams will be participating in the 2011 RKSOI Shootout:

  • BBCHS Boilers B (Bradley-Bourbonnais)
  • BBCHS Boilers C (Bradley-Bourbonnais)
  • CUSR Lady Mustangs (Champaign-Urbana)
  • CUSR Mustangs I (Champaign-Urbana)
  • CUSR Mustangs II (Champaign-Urbana)
  • EISO Eagles Blue
  • EISO Eagles Red
  • EISO Eagles White
  • Morton Red Wings (Morton)
  • SOAR Blue Bombers (Bloomington)
  • SOAR Mean Green Machine (Bloomington)
  • SOAR Orange Tigers (Bloomington)
  • SOAR Pink Panthers (Bloomington)
  • SOAR Purple Monsters (Bloomington)

 

  Game 1 Game 2 Game 3
  FM 1 SR 2 SR 4
  CUSR CUSR BBCHS 
9:00 Lady Mustangs Mustangs II Boilers C
AM vs vs vs
  SOAR  EISO EISO
  Pink Panthers Eagles White Eagles Blue
  Game 4 Game 5 Game 6
  SR 1 SR 1 SR 3
  SOAR  CUSR BBCHS 
10:00 Mean Green Machine Mustangs I Boilers B
AM vs vs vs
  EISO SOAR Morton 
  Eagles Red Orange Tigers Red Wings
  Game 7 Game 8  
  FM 1 SR 2  
  SOAR  EISO  
11:00 Pink Panthers Eagles White  
PM vs vs  
  CUSR SOAR   
  Lady Mustangs Purple Monsters  
  Game 9 Game 10 Exhibition
  SR 3 SR 4 3:30pm (4:15pm)*
  Morton  EISO SOAR 
12:00 Red Wings Eagles Blue Pink Panthers
PM vs vs vs
  BBCHS  SOAR  CUSR
  Boilers B Blue Bombers Lady Mustangs
  Game 11 Game 12 Exhibition
  SR 1 SR 1 5:10pm (6:00pm)*
  SOAR CUSR SOAR 
1:00 Orange Tigers Mustangs I Orange Tigers
PM vs vs vs
  EISO SOAR  CUSR
  Eagles Red Mean Green Machine Mustangs 2
  Game 13 Game 14 Exhibition
  SR 2 SR 4 6:50pm (7:30pm)*
  SOAR  SOAR  SOAR 
2:00 Purple Monsters Blue Bombers Mean Green Machine
PM vs vs vs
  CUSR BBCHS  CUSR
  Mustangs II Boilers C Mustangs 1
Filed Under: News + Updates, Uncategorized
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