IMSA
| IMSA Titans | |
| |
|---|---|
| Location: Aurora, Illinois | |
| Coaches | Noah Prince |
| State Championships | 1989 IHSA, 1990 IHSA, 1994 IHSA, 1996 IHSA, 1997 IHSA, 1998 IHSA, 1999 IHSA, 2001 IHSA, 2011 IHSA |
| Program Status | Unknown |
| School Size | Unknown |
| NAQT Page | link |
The Illinois Math and Science Academy (IMSA) is a 3-year public residential high school located in Aurora, Illinois. It is open exclusively to residents of the state of Illinois, based on a competitive application process.
As of 2011, IMSA has won more IHSA State Championships (9) in Scholastic Bowl than any school. It has recently ended its longest drought (10 years without a title) by winning the 2011 IHSA State Championship Tournament.
The school has no conference affiliation. It competes in Class AA, the "large school" division, of the Illinois High School Association's State Championship Series. Its nickname is the Titans.
History
IMSA has had at least 12 coaches since 1989. The current coach is Noah Prince.
After its first state title in 1989, IMSA did not play again until the start of the 1990 IHSA State Series. At the time, winning the state title required winning a five round Sectional, and then winning a four round State Championship Tournament. IMSA went 9-0, and remains the only undefeated State Champion in Illinois history.
Over the course of its 12 State Championship Tournament appearances, IMSA racked up an impressive 34-5 record. Quincy Senior is the only team to have defeated them in an actual championship match. Stevenson is the only team to defeat them twice (opening round elimination in 2000, and in pool play in 2001). Bloomington is the only other team to eliminate IMSA in an opening round match (1991), with a loss to Hinsdale Central in the 1992 semifinals being the only other loss the school has suffered in the tournament.
IMSA's lack of success in the 2000s occurred at the conjunction of several notable events. First, their last State Title before then was the last year non-pyramidal questions were in predominate use in the State Series. At the same time, Wheaton North began to rise as a power, and as the schools were now in the same Sectional Tournament, IMSA found itself unable to defeat the improved Falcons from Wheaton.
Under coach Czerny, IMSA developed a reputation for no-showing and being late, in addition to rarely playing good quizbowl. Although IMSA has been known in the past to support and play bad quizbowl, after Dr. Noah Prince took over the program at the start of the 2009-2010 season, the quizbowl program has received a revival, embracing good quizbowl and winning good tournaments.
In the 2010-2011 season, despite losing noted IMSA quizbowler Bonny Jain, the team emerged from the shambles to becoming a top 20 team (according to the Fred Morlan rankings) in the nation. In addition, the team ended their 10-year IHSA state title drought with a 1st place finish at the State tournament by defeating both Auburn and Stevenson. They set the records for most points scored at the state finals and most season losses by a state champion. They went on to place 13th at HSNCT and 25th at NSC.
Noted Team Accomplishments
IHSA State
- IHSA Regional Titles (4): 2001, 04, 05, 08
- IHSA Sectional Titles (12): 1989-95, 96-2001
- IHSA Championship Tournament Champions (8): 1989-90, 94, 96-99, 2001, 2011
- IHSA Championship Tournament Runner-Up: 1993
- IHSA Championship Tournament Third Place: 1992, 2010
Nationals
- 2011 HSNCT: T-13th Place
- 2011 NSC: 25th Place (missing half of "A" team)
IHSSBCA Individual Awards
Playing for Team Illinois
- Peter McFerrin (1999)
- Yogesh Raut (2000, 2001)
All-Sectional Honorees
2010-2011: Webster Guan, Nolan Maloney, Eric Ordonez
All-State Honorees
2010-2011: Webster Guan (1st team), Nolan Maloney (2nd team), Eric Ordonez (2nd team)
Notable Alumni
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