MSHSAA State Championship

A MSHSAA Scholar Bowl State Championship has been hosted annually since 1996.

Predecessor

Prior to 1996, a state tournament was hosted by the Missouri Academic Association.

Format and Distribution

2022-present

After a 2021 Board of Directors vote, the current MSHSAA format uses NAQT questions, with rounds of 22 tossups and 22 bonuses. All tossups are worth 10 points and there are no negs, so the maximum possible score is 880. Bonuses have three parts that bounce back to the other team. The question category must be read aloud before each question. There is no longer additional math computation beyond the normal amount in NAQT.

2021

In 2021, MSHSAA, due to NAQT's hesitance to support an in-person districts, MSHSAA chose Academic Hallmarks as their question provider, as Avery Enterprises and Questions Unlimited were the only other companies capable of providing questions. The packets consisted of 20 tossups and 20 bonuses, the first time a 20/20 set had been used at a MSHSAA tournament. Without powers or negs, the maximum possible score was 800. Question quality was bad.

According to Clever coach and committee member Scott Walker, the questions were "4/4/4/4/4. 4 math, 4 English, 4 History, 4 Science. The last 4 [were] a Miscellaneous catch-all of everything else."

2019

The MSHSAA Board of Directors approved a three-year trial of a 26 tossup with three part bonus format, using NAQT's standard distribution for a 22 tossup-bonus packet with additional math questions. All questions are worth 10 points each with no powers or negs, for a total of 1040 points possible.

Despite the three-year trial, this only saw use in 2019, as COVID-19 prompted the cancelling of Districts in 2020 and NAQT refused to license questions for in-person tournaments for the 2020-21 season. 26/26 packets were still created throughout the 2020-21 season for any conferences that decided to go online.

1996-2018

The MSHSAA state series originally used a four-quarter format:

• 1st quarter: 15 tossups
• 2nd quarter: 10 tossups with bonuses
• 3rd quarter: 15 tossups
• 4th quarter: 10 tossups with bonuses

All tossups were worth 10 points; all bonuses were worth 20 points. Previously, they contained four parts worth five points each, but in 2010, the four part bonuses were changed to two part bonuses worth ten points each. There were no powers or negs. The maximum score in a MSHSAA game was thus 900.

The Missouri distribution consisted of:

• Science: 10/4
• Math: 10/4
• Social Studies: 10/4
• Literature: 10/4
• Fine Arts: 6/2
• Miscellaneous/Vocational Education: 4/2

The format and distribution used before 2010 were inherited from the MAA tournament. The original distribution included 3 tossups and 1 bonus in language arts; these questions were reassigned to fine arts in 2010. Combined with the change in bonus format also in 2010, the updated Missouri four-quarter format was uniquely MSHSAA's.

Eligibility

To participate in the MSHSAA state series, schools must be full MSHSAA members and register to participate in Scholar Bowl for the current school year, which allows the school to participate in competitions against other MSHSAA member schools. Missouri schools that are not members of MSHSAA and home school associations can register to compete against MSHSAA member schools during the school year, but are not eligible to compete in the state series.

Classification

The schools registered for Scholar Bowl (usually a little over 400 each year) are divided into multiple classes based on enrollment. Starting in the 2018-2019 school year, enrollments are updated annually, using the enrollment of grades 9-11 on the last Wednesday in March for the next school year (when those students would be in grades 10-12).

After the 2021 MSHSAA Realignment, there are now six classes for Scholar Bowl. The classes are structured such that, except for the smallest (Class 1), the largest school in a class is no more than twice the size of the smallest school. A class also may not have more schools than each of the classes below it.

Championship Factor

Private schools and other schools with selective admissions policies can be moved up one or two classes based on a "championship factor" considering recent performance in the MSHSAA series. Schools accumulate points based on placement in the six previous state series:

• District Champion: 1 point
• State 3rd/4th Place: 2 points
• State 2nd Place: 3 points
• State Champion: 4 points

Schools accumulating 3-7 points over the previous six seasons move up one class and schools accumulating 8 or more points move up two classes.

Historical Classification Procedures

From 1996-2020, there were four classes in Scholar Bowl, each with roughly the same number of schools.

Through the 2017-2018 school year, enrollments were based on grades 9-12 and updated on a two year cycle, with enrollment numbers released early in even years used for the next two school years.

Through the 2019-2020 school year, enrollments for schools with selective admissions policies were multiplied by 1.35. The doubling of enrollments for single-gender schools, intended to equalize enrollment for single-gender sports, was also unfairly applied to co-educational activities like Scholar Bowl.

District Tournaments

Districts are held in early April, with eight districts in each class. District tournaments of four or more teams begin with three preliminary rounds with matchups based on random draw by teams. Based on the results of these games, the top 4 teams based on record then average points per game advance to a four team single-elimination bracket. District tournaments of three teams play a full round robin in the three rounds, then play a championship game between the top two teams. District tournaments with only two teams play a best two of three series.

Quarterfinals

The quarterfinals are the first round of the state tournament. The winners of two adjacent districts meet on a weekday after school to play a best two-of-three series to determine which four teams in each class advance to the state tournament.

Due to a limited number of questions, the best two-of-three format could not be played in 2021; instead, each series that year was reduced to a single game.

Sectionals

From 1996-2008, there were four classes with eight districts each, with the winner of each district advancing directly to the state tournament. From 2009 to 2020, each class had sixteen districts, so the sectionals round was added to keep the state tournament at eight teams. Sectionals were structured the same way as the current quarterfinals format.

State Finals

The state finals are held in early May in Columbia. The tournament was previously hosted at Stephens College in 1996 and 1997, Columbia College in 1998, and Rock Bridge High School from 1999-2008 (except for 2000 when the tournament was held at Gentry Middle School). Since 2009, the tournament has been hosted in Memorial Union on the University of Missouri campus. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 tournament was canceled and the 2021 tournament was held at the MSHSAA office.

Since 2008, the tournament is split over two days, with the smaller classes competing on Friday and larger classes competing on Saturday. Due to limited room availability, the 2021 tournament was split over three days instead of two. Until 2007, all four classes competed on Saturday.

Schedule

The four teams in each class play a preliminary round robin. Based on record then average points per game, the top two teams advance to the championship game, while the other two teams advance to the third place game.

Historical Schedules

From 1996-2019, the state tournament featured eight teams in each class and used the same schedule as districts. Each team played three preliminary rounds with predetermined matchups based on district/sectional number. Based on the results of these games, the top four teams based on record then average points per game advance to a four team single-elimination bracket.

In 2021, the limited number of Academic Hallmarks packets led MSHSAA to forgo the prelim rounds, instead seeding the four-team single-elimination bracket by which sectional teams came from.

Question Providers

• 1996, 1997, 1998: unknown
• 1999-2002: The Question Bank (Bob Brown)
  • Following the 2002 season, Bob Brown began teaching at Richland
• 2003: Champions Quiz Prep
• 2004: Straight A
• 2005-2007: Bryce Avery
• 2008: Shawn Pickrell
• 2009-2010: Questions Galore
• 2011-2019: NAQT
• 2021: Academic Hallmarks
• 2022-Present: NAQT

Color Key

	Current record across all classes by available point percentage
	Set/matched record in all classes during that era
	Set/matched class record during that era

Championship Game Results

Indicated records are for highest score by a team with their placement in the championship game.

Four Class Era (1996-2020)

900 points were possible in the four quarter format used from 1996-2018. 1040 points were possible in the 26 tossup-bonus format in 2019. If a game was tied after regulation, overtime consisted of reading tossups until one team has answered three correctly, scored as one point each.

Year	Class 4 Champion	Class 4 Second Place	Class 3 Champion	Class 3 Second Place	Class 2 Champion	Class 2 Second Place	Class 1 Champion	Class 1 Second Place
1996	North Kansas City 350	Raytown 315	Cuba 385	Lexington 270	Richland 385	South Callaway 210	Mound City 320	Pilot Grove 255
1997	North Kansas City 425	Kirksville 290	Cuba 390	New Madrid Co. Central 240	Richland 415	Lockwood 280	Mound City 340	North Shelby 225
1998	North Kansas City 495	North County 135	Cuba 415	Lexington 190	Richland 400	North Platte 315	Mound City 465	North Shelby 155
1999	North Kansas City 415	Blue Springs 340	Priory 395	Lexington 295	Richland 420	Elsberry 170	Mound City 295	Pilot Grove 180
2000	Nixa 395	Savannah 260	Boonville 435	Cameron 265	Richland 390	Lincoln 300	Koshkonong 385	Thomas Jefferson 245
2001	Nixa 480	Liberty 290	Salem 335	Savannah 285	Richland 430	Lincoln 280	Koshkonong 300	Thomas Jefferson 230
2002	Cape Girardeau Central 375	Parkway Central 310	Savannah 415	Priory 260	Bernie 275	Purdy 200	Thomas Jefferson 320	Mound City 255
2003	Liberty 410	Parkway Central 380	Savannah 460	Montgomery County 255	Richland 350	Bernie 220	Thomas Jefferson 365	St. Joseph Christian 205
2004	Parkway Central 310	Liberty 255	Savannah 390	Westminster Christian 290	Richland 275	Viburnum 220	Mound City 270	Thomas Jefferson 245
2005	Liberty 390	Parkway Central 245	Westminster Christian 385	Savannah 280	Richland 295	Barstow 225	Thomas Jefferson 255	St. Joseph Christian 240
2006	Ladue 290	Liberty 150	Savannah 245	Westminster Christian 200	Richland 170	McAuley Catholic 135	Thomas Jefferson 175	Tarkio 160
2007	North Kansas City 370	St. Louis University High 210	John Burroughs 325	Savannah 245	Richland 240	College Heights Christian 150	Thomas Jefferson 210	Bradleyville 175
2008	North Kansas City 450	Kirksville 300	Notre Dame 400	Priory 260	Richland 340	Plattsburg 195	Thomas Jefferson 215	St. Joseph Christian 205
2009	Ladue 400	North Kansas City 235	Priory 225	Notre Dame 160	Richland 280	St. Paul Lutheran 275	Tarkio 255	Leeton 60
2010	Kirksville 340	Ladue 290	Priory 240	Smithville 210	Barstow 173	St. Paul Lutheran 170	Heartland 190	St. Joseph Christian 140
2011	Ladue 470	Rock Bridge 350	Savannah 460	Centralia 220	Richland 390	Barstow 300	Heartland 343	Mound City 340
2012	Ladue 590	Rock Bridge 230	Savannah 470	Priory 170	Barstow 340	Richland 270	Mound City 530	Columbia Independent 150
2013	Ladue 600	Hickman 260	Priory 400	Hallsville 390	Saxony Lutheran 390	Richland 300	Thomas Jefferson 360	Pilot Grove 240
2014	Ladue 560	Hickman 240	Hallsville 373	Savannah 371	Richland 480	Saxony Lutheran 290	Thomas Jefferson 383	Pilot Grove 380
2015	Clayton 380	St. Joseph Central 340	Hallsville 380	Savannah 310	Saxony Lutheran 350	Richland 330	Tuscumbia 320	Thomas Jefferson 300
2016	Hickman 430	Ladue 310	Orchard Farm 350	Priory 330	Calvary Lutheran 370	Louisiana 280	Thomas Jefferson 410	Columbia Independent 330
2017	Washington 490	Ladue 360	Savannah 450	Orchard Farm 390	Louisiana 390	Calvary Lutheran 320	Thomas Jefferson 430	Lakeland 240
2018	Ladue 400	St. Joseph Central 330	Hallsville 390	Priory 340	Louisiana 490	College Heights Christian 260	Lakeland 340	Thomas Jefferson 320
2019	Ladue 600	St. Joseph Central 310	John Burroughs 410	Hallsville 400	College Heights Christian 450	Thayer 340	Exeter 310	Columbia Independent School 300
2020	Canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Six Class Era (2021-present)

880 points are possible in the current 22 tossup-bonus format. Only 800 points were possible in 2021 when limited question availability shortened games to 20 cycles. If a game was tied after regulation, overtime consisted of reading tossups until one is answered correctly and scored as one point.

Year	Class 6 Champion	Class 6 Second Place	Class 5 Champion	Class 5 Second Place	Class 4 Champion	Class 4 Second Place	Class 3 Champion	Class 3 Second Place	Class 2 Champion	Class 2 Second Place	Class 1 Champion	Class 1 Second Place
2021	Raymore-Peculiar 440	Washington 210	Ladue 490	Smithville 190	College Heights Christian 360	St. James 190	Fair Grove 340	Palmyra 230	North Platte 250	Greenwood Lab 170	North Shelby 250	Lutheran (Kansas City) 200
2022	St. Joseph Central 430	Parkway West 310	Clayton 650	Priory 70	College Heights Christian 560	Sullivan 170	Houston 510	Tolton Catholic 150	Columbia Independent 370	Eugene 290	St. Elizabeth 310	North Shelby 250
2023	To be decided Saturday, May 6						Columbia Independent 410	Lutheran (Kansas City) 220	Weaubleau 270	Thomas Jefferson Independent 230	North Shelby 260	Mound City 220

Championship Game Statistics

Four Class Era (1996-2019)

900 points were possible in a MSHSAA four-quarter format game (50 tossups worth 10 points each and 400 bonus points), with the 26/26 format allowing an additional 140 points to be scored in 2019. If the record would be different based on absolute points or percentage of available points, both are listed.

Statistic	Class 4	Class 3	Class 2	Class 1
Highest score, champion	600 (of 900) 2013 Ladue 600 (of 1040) 2019 Ladue	470 2012 Savannah	490 2018 Louisiana	530 2012 Mound City
Highest score, second place team	380 2003 Parkway Central	400 (of 1040) 2019 Hallsville 390 (of 900) 2013 Hallsville; 2017 Orchard Farm	340 (of 1040) 2019 Thayer 330 (of 900) 2015 Richland	380 (forcing OT) 2014 Pilot Grove
Highest combined score	910 (of 1040) 2019: Ladue 600, St. Joseph Central 310 860 (of 900) 2013: Ladue 600, Hickman 260	840 2017: Savannah 450, Orchard Farm 390	790 (of 1040) 2019: College Heights 450, Thayer 340 770 (of 900) 2014: Richland 480, Saxony Lutheran 290	760 2014: Thomas Jefferson 380, Pilot Grove 380 (OT)
Lowest combined score	440 2006: Ladue 290, Liberty 150	385 2009: Priory 225, Notre Dame 160	305 2006: Richland 170, McAuley Catholic 135	315 2009: Tarkio 255, Leeton 60
Smallest margin	30 points 2003: Liberty 410, Parkway Central 380	3-1 in overtime 2014: Hallsville 370, Savannah 370	3-0 in overtime 2010: Barstow 170, St. Paul Lutheran 170	3-0 in overtime 2011: Heartland 340, Mound City 340; 2014: Thomas Jefferson 380, Pilot Grove 380
Largest margin	360 1998: North Kansas City 495, North County 135; 2012: Ladue 590, Rock Bridge 230	300 2012: Savannah 470, Priory 170	250 1999: Richland 420, Elsberry 170	380 2012: Mound City 530, Columbia Independent 150

The lowest combined scores occurred in years in which poorly written and excessively difficult questions were used, lowering scores across the board. A notoriously difficult Bryce Avery set was used in 2006, and Questions Galore wrote the questions in 2009.

Six Class Era (2021-present)

880 points are possible in the current 22 tossup-bonus format. Only 800 points were possible in 2021.

Statistic	Class 6	Class 5	Class 4	Class 3	Class 2	Class 1
Highest score, champion	440 2021 Raymore-Peculiar	650 2022 Clayton	560 2022 College Heights Christian	510 2022 Houston	370 2022 Columbia Independent	310 2022 St. Elizabeth
Highest score, second place team	310 2022 Parkway West	190 2021 Smithville	190 2021 St. James'	230 2021 Palmyra	290 2022 Eugene	250 2022 North Shelby
Highest combined score	740 2022: St. Joseph Central 430, Parkway West 310	720 2022: Clayton 650, Priory 70	730 2022: College Heights Christian 560, Sullivan 170	660 2022: Houston 510, Tolton Catholic 150	660 2022: Columbia Independent 370, Eugene 290	560 2022: St. Elizabeth 310, North Shelby 250
Smallest margin	120 points 2022: St. Joseph Central 430, Parkway West 310	300 points 2021: Ladue 490, Smithville 190	170 points 2021: College Heights Christian 360, St. James 190	110 points 2021: Fair Grove 340, Palmyra 230	40 points 2023: Weaubleau 270, Thomas Jefferson Independent 230	40 points 2023: North Shelby 260, Mound City 220
Largest margin	230 points 2021: Raymore-Peculiar 440, Washington 210	580 points 2022: Clayton 650, Priory 70	390 points 2022: College Heights Christian 560, Sullivan 170	360 points 2022: Houston 510, Tolton Catholic 150	80 points 2021: North Platte 250, Greenwood Lab 170; 2022: Columbia Independent 370, Eugene 290	60 points 2022: St. Elizabeth 310, North Shelby 250

All-Time Records

• Highest score, champion: 650 (2022 Clayton)
• Highest score (absolute), second place team: 400 (2019 Hallsville)
• Highest score (percentage of available points), second place team: 390 of 900 (2013 Hallsville; 2017 Orchard Farm)
• Highest combined score (absolute): 910 (2019: Ladue 600, St. Joseph Central 310)
• Highest combined score (percentage of available points): 860 of 900 (2013: Ladue 600, Hickman 260)
• Smallest margin: 3-1 in overtime (2014: Hallsville 370, Savannah 370)
• Largest margin: 580 points (2022: Clayton 650, Priory 70)

Top Individuals

Four Quarter Era (1996-2018)

This table lists the individual with the highest average points per game through 5 rounds in each class in each year. Bold averages indicate the highest average in all classes that year. An asterisk indicates a different player had a higher average but did not advance to the playoffs, or a different player had a higher number of total tossups due to the listed player having a bye due to forfeit; see notes below the table for details.

Unknown top scorers answered fewer than 70 tossups correctly.

Year	Class 4	Class 3	Class 2	Class 1
1996	unknown	unknown	unknown	unknown
1997	Mike Wehrman, North Kansas City 26.6 (133/5)	unknown	unknown	unknown
1998	Andy Wehrman, North Kansas City 18.0 (90/5)	unknown	unknown	Joshlin Yoder, North Shelby 11.0 (55/5)
1999	Andy Wehrman, North Kansas City 18.4 (92/5)	unknown	unknown	unknown
2000	Adam Hill, Nixa 18.2 (91/5)	Sean Phillips, Boonville 19.8 (99/5)	Jason Mueller, Lincoln 18.6 (93/5)	Kevin Moore, Mound City & Jim Driscoll, Koshkonong 11.0 (55/5)
2001	Adam Hill, Nixa 22.2 (111/5)	Greg Martin, Savannah 15.8 (79/5)	Jason Mueller, Lincoln 19.0 (95/5)	Jim Driscoll, Koshkonong 14.0 (70/5)
2002	Chris Ottolino, Parkway Central 11.8 (59/5)	Melissa McCush, Savannah 23.4 (117/5)	Cliff Brown, Glasgow 14.4 (72/5)	Rebecca Porte, Thomas Jefferson 9.0 (45/5)
2003	Chris Ottolino, Parkway Central 22.2 (111/5)	Justin Hofstetter, Lexington 15.4 (77/5)	Derik Moore, Bernie 10.6 (53/5)	James Black, Galena 13.6 (68/5)
2004	Jimmy Li, Parkway Central 15.2 (76/5)	Kim Kerr, Savannah 13.6 (68/5)	Matt Chadbourne, Viburnum 13.4 (67/5)	Travis Eakin, Bell City 13.5 (54/4)*
2005	Jimmy Li, Parkway Central 20.2 (101/5)	Andrew Hoekzema, Westminster Christian 12.8 (64/5)	Josh Chittum, South Shelby 10.2 (51/5)	Travis Eakin, Bell City 17.8 (89/5)
2006	Jason Wu, Ladue 13.8 (69/5)	Andrew Hoekzema, Westminster Christian 14.2 (71/5)	Sam Hooker, Richland & Cody Couch, Knox County 8.4 (42/5)	Nate Kinast, Thomas Jefferson 10.6 (53/5)
2007	Charlie Dees, North Kansas City 18.0 (90/5)	Cory Honer, Richland 15.4 (77/5)	Woody Smelser, New Madrid County Central 10.8 (54/5)	Nate Kinast, Thomas Jefferson 13.6 (68/5)
2008	Charlie Dees, North Kansas City 19.4 (97/5)	Terin Budine, Savannah 19.0 (95/5)	Logan Goad, Richland 12.2 (61/5)	Nate Schuster, Pilot Grove 12.8 (64/5)
2009	Julia Price, Fort Zumwalt West 9.8 (49/5)	Taylor Smith, Hallsville 13.6 (68/5)	Ben Simpson, Belle 9.2 (46/5)*	Kevin Lang, Tarkio 15.4 (77/5)
2010	Ravi Fernando, Kirksville 14.0 (70/5)	Matt Menendez, Priory 8.8 (44/5)	Ian Jessee, Plattsburg 7.4 (37/5)	Tim Schmitz, St. Joseph Christian 8.8 (44/5)*
2011	Max Schindler, Ladue 27.0 (135/5)	Aaron Seider, Centralia 14.6 (73/5)	Ian Jessee, Plattsburg 14.4 (72/5)	Antonio Perilli, Heartland & Paul Grant, Mound City 15.4 (77/5)*
2012	Max Schindler, Ladue 26.4 (132/5)	Austin Kerns, Savannah 17.2 (86/5)	Aidan Coyle, Barstow 13.6 (68/5)*	Paul Grant, Mound City 25.4 (127/5)
2013	Max Schindler, Ladue 26.4 (132/5)	Alexander Noddings, Priory 13.0 (65/5)	Luke Voyles, Twin Rivers 21.0 (105/5)	Luke Schuster, Pilot Grove 17.8 (89/5)
2014	Ben Zhang, Ladue 19.6 (98/5)	Jared Lockwood, Hallsville 18.0 (90/5)	Luke Voyles, Twin Rivers 22.2 (111/5)	Luke Schuster, Pilot Grove 20.6 (103/5)*
2015	Omkar Venkatesh, Clayton 14.4 (72/5)	Jared Lockwood, Hallsville 17.6 (88/5)	Josh Vogel, Saxony Lutheran 17.6 (88/5)	Ross Sparrow, Tuscumbia 20.6 (103/5)
2016	William Gentry, St. Joseph Central 18.2 (91/5)	Tyler Woosencraft, Orchard Farm 11.2 (56/5)*	Em Powers, Louisiana 18.0 (90/5)	Will Devoy, Columbia Independent 16.0 (80/5)
2017	William Gentry, St. Joseph Central 16.8 (84/5)	Sophie Lockwood, Hallsville 17.6 (88/5)*	Em Powers, Louisiana 27.6 (138/5)	Gage Smith, Wellsville 18.4 (92/5)
2018	William Gentry, St. Joseph Central 18.4 (92/5)	Sophie Lockwood, Hallsville 27.2 (136/5)	Em Powers, Louisiana 31.0 (155/5)	Savannah Dillard, Thomas Jefferson 19.2 (96/5)

Notes

• In Class 1 in 2004, Bell City only played 4 games due to a district winner declining to attend the tournament. Alex Moore from Mound City had 58 total tossups over 5 games.
• In Class 2 in 2009, John Prewitt from Thayer answered 34 tossups in the three preliminary rounds (11.33 per game) but did not advance to the playoffs.
• In Class 1 in 2010, Grant Monnig of Glasgow had 31 tossups and Matthew Willia of King City had 30 tossups in the three preliminary rounds, but their teams did not advance to the playoffs.
• The message board post with the 2011 All-State teams indicated 17.8 tossups per game but only 77 total tossups for the Class 1 leaders, so it is not known if 77 or 89 tossups is correct.
• In Class 2 in 2012, Luke Voyles of Twin Rivers had 45 tossups in the three preliminary rounds (15.0 per game) but did not advance to the playoffs.
• In Class 3 in 2016, Ross Simmons of Lafayette County had 46 tossups in the three preliminary rounds (15.33 per game) but did not advance to the playoffs.
• In Class 3 in 2017, Ross Simmons of Lafayette County had 69 tossups in the three preliminary rounds (23 per game) but did not advance to the playoffs. This set a record for most tossups by a player who only played the three preliminary rounds, and was the second highest number of total tossups answered correctly by an individual in Class 3 that year.

Tossup-Bonus era (2019-present)

In 2019, MACA announced all-stars based on the three preliminary rounds, listed on the 2019 MSHSAA State Championship page. Individual totals in the playoff rounds are not known. This was the last year that individual performances were recognized at MSHSAA State.