For immediate release
March 11, 2013
Contact: Tournament Vice-President Dave Oloffson
309-532-2189 | dave.oloffson.iayf@statefarm.com
Bloomington, IL – As the madness of March heats up, the outlook for next December in Bloomington-Normal is already looking pretty bright. The 35th annual installment of the State Farm Holiday Classic will boast six new teams to strengthen what is regarded as one of the strongest tournaments in the state.
One of the largest coed high school holiday tournaments in the nation tips off Dec. 26, 27, 28 & 30, and marks the 15th consecutive year with State Farm Insurance® as the title sponsor. Overall, the 64-team field boasts 22 teams that recently won Regional championships in their respective state tournaments.
Widely considered to be one of the most competitive girls’ tournament fields, the two brackets on this side of the event will once again feature some of the best teams throughout Illinois. The small school field will remain the same as last year, featuring three teams that took home state trophies in Class 2A state runner-up Champaign St. Thomas More, El Paso-Gridley (2A third place) and Annawan (1A third place). Other teams in this field include perennial powerhouses in Bloomington Central Catholic, Brimfield, Camp Point Central, Fairbury Prairie Central, Kankakee Bishop Mac, Pana, Rock Island Alleman, Rochester, St. Joseph-Ogden and Peoria Christian.
The large school girls’ tournament will welcome newcomers Wheaton Warrenville South (sectional champion) with DePaul recruit Meghan Waldron, along with Chatham Glenwood and Mahomet-Seymour who will join their boys’ teams as part of the tournament field. Other headliners include Morton (Class 3A fourth place), Chicago Morgan Park, Champaign Centennial, Geneseo, Springfield, Peoria Richwoods Rock Island, Normal U-High and Normal West.
Making a return trip to the large school boys’ field will be Mesa High School out of Arizona. The Jackrabbits played here in 2011 and feature several D-1 recruits on a team that made it to their state tournament quarterfinals. New to this field is Super-sectional finalist Chatham Glenwood and junior sharpshooter Peyton Allen who has received several D-I scholarship offers. These two teams will join a high-profile field lead by Normal U-High and Ohio State recruit Keita Bates-Diop, Champaign Centennial and Illinois recruit Michael Finke, and defending tournament champ and Super-sectional finalist North Chicago and their talented trio of JaVairius Amos-Mays, JayQuan McCloud and Kurt Hall.
The boys’ small school bracket will welcome back Kankakee Bishop McNamara (Class 2A Regional champ), while Chillicothe IVC will return to this bracket after competing in the 2012 Large School field. St. Joseph-Ogden, who took fourth place in 2A this past weekend, will return with defending Classic champion Rockford Lutheran, tournament runner-up Quincy Notre Dame, Minonk Fieldcrest and 1A Super-sectional finalist Cissna Park.
“We are looking forward to this year’s Holiday Classic and recognizing our 35th year as a tournament and 15th anniversary of State Farm’s support,” said Tournament Vice-President Dave Oloffson. “Our goal each year is to place this event among the elite tournaments in the country based on competition, hospitality and fan experience. Our non-profit organizing committee accepts nothing less than creating a positive, unforgettable experience for everyone involved with our event.”
For a complete list of the 64 participating teams, go to https://theclassic.org/team-list/, and “Like” the tournament facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/sfclassic. In addition, information on the Holiday Classic Scholarship program, which is currently accepting applications, can be found at https://theclassic.org/about-2/holiday-classic-scholarship/.
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