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.
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 | Parkway West
410 |
St. Joseph Central
320 |
Ladue
480 |
Sullivan
290 |
Fair Grove
470 |
Houston
250 |
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) 600 (of 1040) |
470
2012 Savannah |
490
2018 Louisiana |
530
2012 Mound City |
| Highest score, second place team | 380
2003 Parkway Central |
400 (of 1040) 390 (of 900) |
340 (of 1040) 330 (of 900) |
380 (forcing OT)
2014 Pilot Grove |
| Highest combined score |
910 (of 1040) 860 (of 900) |
840
2017: Savannah 450, Orchard Farm 390 |
790 (of 1040) 770 (of 900) |
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 | 320
2023 St. Joseph Central |
290
2023 Sullivan |
250
2023 Houston |
230
2021 Palmyra |
290
2022 Eugene |
250
2022 North Shelby |
| Highest combined score | 740 2022: St. Joseph Central 430, Parkway West 310 |
770
2023: Ladue 480, Sullivan 290 |
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 | 90 points
2023: Parkway West 410, St. Joseph Central 320 |
190 points
2023: Ladue 480, Sullivan 290 |
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.