| New Berlin Pretzels
|
Location:
New Berlin, Illinois
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| Coaches |
Laura Kapinus
|
| State Championships |
2019 (Masonic 1A), 2026 - NAQT (Small Schools), 2026 (Masonic 1A)
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| National Championships |
SSNCT: 2026 VSS
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| National Appearances |
SSNCT: 2025, 2023, 2022, 2019, 2018, 2017
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| Program Status |
Unknown
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| School Size |
Unknown
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| NAQT Page |
link
|
New Berlin High School is a public high school just west of Springfield in downstate Illinois. It competes in Class A, the "small school" division, of the Illinois High School Association's State Championship series.
They traditionally are one of the stronger Class A (small school) teams in Illinois and in the Springfield area along with Williamsville & Pleasant Plains. New Berlin are also historically rivals with Southwestern, representing one of the most competitive IHSA Sectionals in downstate Illinois.
During the 2000's, the Pretzels have had two distinct eras. In 2010, New Berlin finished 2nd in Class A in the 2010 IHSA State Championship Tournament under Coach Teresa Woodard and behind top players Aaron Staley and Sam Stowell. Following the arrival of Coach Erin Limestall, the team returned to the top of Illinois quiz bowl winning its first Masonic state championship in 2019. After the COVID-19 pandemic, New Berlin has continued this momentum as a perennial contender. In 2025, the Pretzels finished as State Runnersup for Class A at the Illinois Masonic Bowl, won their IHSA Regional, & went on to finish in 3rd in Very-Small-Schools (T-8th overall) at NAQT SSNCT.
During the 2025-26 season, the Pretzels posted a banner year. New Berlin kicked off their season by winning their IHSSBCA Kickoff, and then went on to win the Macomb Rotary and Barron Robinson Memorial Invitational over larger 2A competition. New Berlin nearly completed the Illinois quiz bowl triple crown winning two of three State championship tournaments including the NAQT Illinois State Championship over Metro-East Lutheran and another Masonic State title. However, the Pretzels would fall in a close match at the 2026 IHSA State Championship Tournament quarterfinals to Keith Country Day, whom New Berlin had bested for the Masonic state title a few weeks before. Keith Country Day would go on to win the IHSA Class 1A state title. In the IHSA consolation match, New Berlin uniquely would win a rematch against Conference & County rival Pleasant Plains to finish 3rd. The team was led by IHSSBCA All State ace, Matthew Kapinus.
Since 2018, New Berlin has hosted its Pretzel Tournament attracting programs from around Central & Western Illinois.
For the last decade the Pretzels have been coached by Erin Limestall. Who after several top performances at the local, state, & national level was named 2019 IHSSBCA Coach of the Year.
Notable Team Accomplishments
- NAQT Small School National Championship Very Small Schools: 2026 - 1st Place
- IHSSBCA/NAQT Illinois State Championship: 2026 - 1st Place Small Schools
- Masonic State Tournament: 2026 - 1st Place Class 1A, 2019 - 1st Place Class 1A, 2022 - 4th Place, 2025 - 2nd Place
- IHSA State Tournament: 2026 - 3rd Place Class 1A, 2010 - 2nd Place Class 1A
- IHSA Sectional Titles: (2) 2026, 2010 (1A)
- IHSA Regional Titles: (9) 2026 (1A), 2025 (1A), 2023 (1A), 2021 (1A), 2019 (1A), 2018 (1A), 2011 (1A), 2010 (1A), 2009 (1A)
- Masonic State Qualifier: (8) 2026 (1A), 2025 (1A), 2022 (1A), 2020 (1A), 2019 (1A), 2010 (A), 2009, 2004
- NAQT Small School National Championship Tournament: 2026 T-5th (1st VSS), 2025, T-8th (3rd VSS), 2023 T-47th (26th VSS), 2022 T-37th, 2019 T11th (7th VSS), 2018 T-33rd (15th VSS), 2017 T-62nd (32nd VSS)
- Sangamo Conference Champions: 2025, 2022
- IHSSBCA Kickoff Champions: 2025
- Sangamon County Scholastic Bowl Champions: 2025
- Macomb Rotary Tournament Champions: 2026
- Barron Robinson Memorial Invitational Champions: 2026
Individual Awards
IHSSBCA All-Sectional Honorees
- 2022-23: Tyler Hulett, Landon Hagerman (1A)
- 2021-22: Tyler Hulett (1A)
- 2019-20: Connor Schutz, Jared Johnson, Daniel Kloppe (1A)
- 2018-19: Wren Markley, Levi Petty, William Beddingfield (1A)
- 2017-18: Wren Markley, Levi Petty, William Beddingfield (1A)
- 2016-17: Wren Markley, Logan van Ravenswaay, Benjamin Stowell (1A)
- 2013-14: Drew LaKamp (1A)
- 2011-12: Rachel Stowell (1A)
- 2010-11: Rachel Stowell, Nick Klein (1A)
- 2009-10: Aaron Staley, Sam Stowell (1A)
- 2008-09: Aaron Staley, Sam Stowell (1A)
IHSSBCA All-State Honorees
- 2025-26: Matthew Kapinus (First Team) Class 1A
- 2024-25: Matthew Kapinus (First Team) Class 1A
- 2022-23: Tyler Hulett (Second Team) Class 1A
- 2019-20: Connor Schutz (First Team) Class 1A
- 2018-19: Wren Markley (First Team) Class 1A
- 2017-18: Wren Markley (Second Team) Class 1A
- 2011-12: Rachel Stowell (Second Team) Class 1A
- 2009-10: Aaron Staley (First Team), Sam Stowell (Second Team) Class 1A
- 2008-09: Sam Stowell (First Team), Aaron Staley (Second Team) Class 1A
- 2026: Matthew Kapinus (Illinois Orange)
NAQT Individual National Championship
- 2026: Matthew Kapinus - T49th
NAQT SSNCT All Stars
- 2026: Matthew Kapinus - 1st
- 2025: Matthew Kapinus - 5th
| Illinois Masonic State Tournament Class A Champion
|
|
| Preceded by |
Year |
Succeeded by
|
| Keith Country Day |
2026 |
Defending Champions
|
|
|
| Preceded by |
Year |
Succeeded by
|
| Morris |
2026 |
Defending National Champion
|
See Also