Walter Payton

Walter Payton Grizzlies
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Coaches	Mark Taylor
State Championships	none]
National Appearances	PACE NSC: 2023
Program Status	active
School Size	1186
NAQT Page	link

Walter Payton College Prep High School is a public magnet high school in Chicago, Illinois. It competes in Class AA, the "big school" division, of the Illinois High School Association's State Championship series. The Grizzlies also compete in the North Metropolitan Scholastic Bowl League (NMSBL) and one of the few Chicago Public Schools (CPS) quiz bowl programs. The team is coached by Mark Taylor.

Walter Payton's quiz bowl program has only been around for a few years. However, the team has excelled as a rising star in recent years climbing the NMSBL, placing as finalists at the Reinstein Varsity Tournament, and winning the IHSSBCA Turnabout at Homewood-Flossmoor in 2023.

Coach Taylor was named IHSSBCA Coach of the Year as the at-large recipient for 2023 in recognition of the program's recent success.

Notable Team Accomplishments

• IHSA Regional titles: 2024-2A, 2023-2A
• Metro North Conference Champions: 2024
• IHSSBCA Turnabout Champions: 2023
• IHSSBCA NAQT Illinois State Championship: 2024 - 7th

Individual Awards

IHSSBCA All-Sectional Honorees

• 2023: Addison Baker, Karl Barnickol (2A)