Screwup on Western

The Screwup on Western refers to one of the 2003 IHSA Sectional Tournaments which took place on March 15, 2003; in particular, the one hosted by St. Rita High School on Western Avenue on Chicago's South Side.

The four Regional Champions competing on that day were Richards High School of Oak Lawn, Marist High School of Chicago, Fenwick High School of Oak Park, and Lyons High School of LaGrange.

While not the strongest Sectional in the state, Fenwick was considered among the stronger schools in the state that season, putting up a 39-19 record in winning a Regional title. Fenwick, played in many tournaments against state ranked opponents, and while accruing 19 losses, had also beaten some above average teams. Lyons had a 25 and 4 record, but was considered having a padded record by virtue of having played in a relatively weak, uninvolved conference, and having played in few tournaments against state ranked opponents.

Prior to the 2002-03 season, Regional Champions and Runners-Up were advanced to the Sectional, where the eight teams were randomly placed into a bracket (Regional Champions were assured of playing a Regional Runner-Up in the first round), and played a three round single-elimination tournament to determine the Sectional Champion which advanced to the State Championship Tournament. However, starting in the 2002-03 season, only regional champions were advanced. These champions played a three match round-robin to determine a champion.

While this was in print and on the website, and communicated to numerous coaches through IHSSBCA briefings, for some reason the Sectional hosts at St. Rita decided on a different course of action.

As the round robin progressed, Fenwick emerged victorious, having defeated Lyons, Marist, and Richards in succession to claim the Sectional Title, and advance to the State Championship Tournament for the second time in three years.

However, when Fenwick wanted to claim its championship plaque, the hosts announced a fourth round would take place between 3-0 Fenwick and 2-1 Lyons as soon as the individual dispatched to find an old question set returned. Fenwick protested this based on its irregularity, that a fourth round had never been announced, that no rule existed to support the fourth round being played, and that the state had never sent four rounds of questions. Nonetheless, the hosts insisted, and the match was played. Lyons narrowly won, and was awarded the Sectional Title.

The next week, Lyons claimed 4th place in the State Tournament.

Fenwick did not protest to the IHSA on the grounds that the IHSA has a rule clearly stating that they will not review the decisions of Regional and Sectional moderators or tournament directors. Since this time, the IHSA has clarified that events like this are reviewable.

At no time did Lyons object to or protest the actions taken by the host. To date, their fourth place finish remains recognized by the IHSA. While the St. Rita hosts were relatively uninvolved in quiz bowl, and may have been ignorant of procedures, the Lyons coach of the time was a veteran coach, and should have been well aware of the situation.

Fenwick returned the next year and won what should have been their third Sectional in four years, their second in a row, and placed fourth in State for the second time.

St. Rita would not host another IHSA event (a Regional in this case) until 2008.