Bloomington

Bloomington Purple Raiders
Location: Bloomington, Illinois
Coaches	Tom Waterson and Michael Riley
Program Status	Unknown
School Size	Unknown
NAQT Page	link

Bloomington High School is a public high school in Bloomington, Illinois. Its nickname is the Purple Raiders. It competes as a member of the Big 12 Conference, which represents most of the large public schools in eastern and central Illinois. It also competes in Class AA, the "large school" division, of the Illinois High School Association's (IHSA) State Championship Series.

Tournament Hosting

As the most involved school in the greater Bloomington-Normal area, Bloomington has hosted numerous IHSA Regional and Sectional matches, as well as Masonic Sectional matches. The team is fed by a strong middle school program.

Noted Team Accomplishments

• IHSSBCA Kickoff wins (7): 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2021, 2022, 2023
• IHSSBCA Novice wins (3): 2012, 2013, 2023
• IHSA Regional Titles (14): 1990, 1991, 1996, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2021, 2022, 2023
• IHSA Sectional Titles (10): 1990, 1991, 1996, 2006, 2007, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2022, 2023
• Masonic Sectional Titles (7): 2007, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2022, 2023
• IHSA State Tournament: Fourth Place: 2023
• Masonic State Tournament, Third Place: 2007, Second Place: 2015, Fourth Place: 2023
• NAQT State, Third Place: 2014
• PACE NSC, 15th Place: 2014, 13th Place: 2015
• HSNCT: (t-49) 2007, (105th) 2014, (t-34) 2015

IHSSBCA Individual Awards

The following were honored by the Illinois High School Scholastic Bowl Coaches Association (IHSSBCA) for outstanding play through their All-Sectional/All-State Program. Each sectional comprises roughly 24 geographically concentrated teams, and thus roughly 125 starting players. Through the 2006-07 season, the top ten players were recognized in each sectional,(starting with 2007-08, the number was raised to 15) with teams restricted to no more than two nominations (three nominations starting in 2007-08). There are twenty All-State awards given each year (10 First Team, 10 Second Team) in each of Illinois' two classes.

All-Sectional Honorees

• 2001-02: Chris Temple, Ryan O'Shea
• 2002-03: Nicole Weidner, Sarmad Gilani
• 2003-04: Anthony Gardner
• 2004-05: Kristina Warren
• 2005-06: Michael Lieder, Kristina Warren
• 2006-07: Hunter Fast, Kristna Warren
• 2007-08: Hunter Fast
• 2008-09: Calvin Quilty
• 2010-11: Stae Schipper-Reyes
• 2011-12: Stae Schipper-Reyes, Spencer Tracy
• 2012-13: Stae Schipper-Reyes, Spencer Tracy
• 2013-14: Alston Boyd, Stae Schipper-Reyes, Nathaniel Smith
• 2014-2015: Alston Boyd, Sam Emmerson, Evan Johnson
• 2015-2016: Hanson Hao, Meredith Pounds
• 2016-2017: Vinay Vattakuti
• 2021-2022: Soren Gjesfjeld
• 2022-2023: Soren Gjesfjeld
• 2023-2024: Soren Gjesfjeld

All-State Honorees

• 2001-02: Chris Temple (2nd Team)
• 2005-06: Kristina Warren (1st Team)
• 2006-07: Hunter Fast (1st Team), Kristina Warren (1st Team)
• 2007-08: Hunter Fast (1st Team)
• 2008-09: Calvin Quilty (2nd Team)
• 2013-14: Alston Boyd (1st Team)
• 2014-2015: Alston Boyd (1st Team)
• 2014-2015: Sam Emmerson (2nd Team)
• 2021-2022: Soren Gjesfjeld (1st Team)
• 2022-2023: Soren Gjesfjeld (1st Team)
• 2023-2024: Soren Gjesfjeld (1st Team)

Playing for Team Illinois

• Kristina Warren (2006)
• Hunter Fast (2007)
• Soren Gjesfjeld (2022, 2024)

Notable Alumni

• Andrew Ullsperger (Illinois)
• Alston Boyd (Chicago)