University (Normal)

U-High Pioneers
Location: Normal, Illinois
Coaches	Meghan Flanagan
State Championships	1999 IHSA
Program Status	Unknown
School Size	Unknown
NAQT Page	link

University High School, often referred to as U-High, is a public high school in Normal, Illinois on the campus of Illinois State University. Its name is derived from its affiliation as a laboratory school. It competes in Class AA, the "small school" division, of the Illinois High School Association's (IHSA) State Championship Series.

The team was very competitive for many years under the leadership of Tom Holbrook, a member of the IHSSBCA Hall of Fame. It won a State Championship in 1999, finished 2nd in 2000, and finished 3rd in 2002. Its top player probably was Tim Holbrook, the coach's son, who graduated in 1999. Tim cofounded Illinois Questions, a question company that lasted for about two years, along with Ben Ricca of Streator and David Shalowitz of New Trier.

Since Holbrook's retirement, the program has remained fairly competitive finishing in the top spots of various tournaments like IHSSBCA Kickoff, IHSSBCA Turnabout, & the Peoria Area World Affairs Council over the years. In the 2020's, U-High has begun venturing outside of its local & regional circuits competing in bigger tournaments with modest success including the 2025 NAQT HSNCT.

Notable Team Accomplishments

• IHSA State Tournament: 2002 - 3rd Place (1A), 2000 - 2nd Place (1A), 1999 - 1st Place (1A)
• IHSA Sectional titles: 2000 (1A), 1999 (1A), 1995 (1A), 1994 (1A), 1992 (1A), 1989, 1987
• IHSA Regional titles: 2017 (2A), 2014 (2A), 2003 (1A), 2002 (1A)
• Masonic State Qualifier: (3) 2016 (3A), 2009, 1998
• IHSSBCA Turnabout Champions: 2025
• Bloomington-Normal Intercity Champions: (1+) 2025, 2010
• Cornbelt Conference Champions †: (3+) 2014, 2011, 2010
• River City Classic Tournament †: 2011
• NAQT High School National Championship Tournament: 2025-207th

Individual Honors

IHSSBCA All-Sectional Honorees

• 2025: Nathan Bargmann (2A)
• 2017: Charlie Cutting (2A)
• 2016: Charlie Cutting (2A)
• 2003: Ryan Meier, TJ Turner (1A)
• 2002: Anna Creswell (1A)

IHSSBCA All-State Honorees

• 2017: Charlie Cutting (Second Team, Class 2A)
• 2002: Anna Creswell (First Team, Class 1A)

IHSA State Championship 1987-91 Quincy (1987) · Quincy (1988) · IMSA (1989) · IMSA (1990) · Centralia (1991) Class AA (1992-present) Hinsdale Central (1992) · Quincy (1993) · IMSA (1994) · Richwoods (1995) · IMSA (1996) · IMSA (1997) · IMSA (1998) · IMSA (1999) · Stevenson (2000) · IMSA (2001) · Wheaton North (2002) · Wheaton North (2003) · Wheaton North (2004) · Stevenson (2005) · Fremd (2006) · New Trier (2007) · Auburn (2008) · Carbondale (2009) · IMSA (2010) · IMSA (2011) · IMSA (2012) · IMSA (2013) · IMSA (2014) · Auburn (2015) · Hinsdale Central (2016) · IMSA (2017) · Stevenson (2018) · University Lab (2019) Class A (1992-present) Rockridge (1992) · Winnebago (1993) · Latin (1994) · Winnebago (1995) · Niantic-Harristown (1996) · St. Teresa (1997) · Latin (1998) · University (Normal) (1999) · Byron (2000) · Warrensburg-Latham (2001) · Latin (2002) · Stillman Valley (2003) · Latin (2004) · Latin (2005) · Latin (2006) · Decatur Lutheran (2007) · PORTA (2008) · Latin (2009) · Lisle (2010) · Lisle (2011) · Peoria Christian (2012) · Peoria Christian (2013) · Litchfield (2014) · University Lab (2015) · Latin (2016) · Timothy Christian (2017) · Williamsville (2018) · Chicago Christian (2019)