Big 4

The "Big 4" refers to the four dominant teams in the 2023–2024 Metro East Quad League (MEQL) Scholastic Bowl season: Belleville East, Mascoutah, Metro-East Lutheran, and O'Fallon. Unlike in previous years, where it was uncommon for more than two teams to be highly competitive simultaneously, these four squads stood out for their consistent performance and rivalry. Each team featured a "one-man army" structure, with a standout captain often accounting for roughly half of their squad's points through quick buzzing and deep knowledge across categories.The key players were:

Milo Hathaway (Belleville East)

Wyatt Curry (Mascoutah)

Garrett Murphy (O'Fallon)

Harry Mueller (Metro-East Lutheran)

Belleville East emerged as the MEQL champions, showcasing strong teamwork and strategic play. However, in the IHSA Class 2A Sectionals, the three 2A teams from the Big 4—Belleville East, Mascoutah, and O'Fallon—were all eliminated by a formidable Carbondale squad. Metro-East Lutheran, competing in Class 1A, went on to claim the IHSA state title with a 300–200 victory over Winnebago in the championship match