IHSSBCA All State Program

The IHSSBCA All-State Program is a program designed to annually recognize the best players in Illinois, as well as to encourage players and coaches to continually improve. It has been sponsored by the IHSSBCA since the 2001-02 season.

History

The All-State program dates back to at least 1998 when it was originally proposed by Tom Egan. Egan met resistance with some coaches serving on the Board of Directors who thought it would distract from the selection of Team Illinois, the all-star team sent each year to the Panasonic Academic Challenge. A team was selected in 1999 at the Team Illinois Selection Event, independent of Egan's specific plans. Egan had certificates made up, but neglected to use the terminology "All-State", instead labeling them as "Team Illinois". They were given to the players who made the team, with "honorable mention" certificates given to the players who gained the most favor with the committee, but did not make the team.

In 2001, the program was expanded to include some players who were not necessarily present at the selection event. They were the first group to be termed "All-State", but were drawn from very limited nominations, and were mixed Class A and Class AA players. As doubts began to surface about this methodology, Egan's plan was finally approved for the 2002 season.

Each of the eight sectionals in each of the two classes (A, small school and AA, large school) would vote for ten players in each sectional to comprise an “All-sectional” team. Players would be nominated by their coaches, with coaches restricted to nominating no more than two players-per-team. The top five players from each sectional would then have their nominating materials forwarded for All-State consideration.

Each sectional would also name one coach to serve on that class’ selection committee. Originally, coaches were barred from ranking players from their own sectional, though this rule was changed after one year.

When the IHSA experimented with splitting the sectionals into sub-sectionals, each sub-sectional was given six “All-Sectional” slots to vote for, with the top four advancing for “All-State” consideration.

Egan ran the program for seven years (2001-02 to 2006-07). The program was taken over by Matt Laird for the 2007-08. A non-unanimous vote of the Board expanded the number of All-Sectional slots to 15 for each sectional, and for each coach to now nominate 3 players from their team.

One rule, in place since the first year, allows coaches to appeal directly to the All-State coordinator, if they feel that a legitimate All-State player has not been advanced. Some problems had emerged earlier, such as coaches from a particular conference voting as a bloc, or coaches refusing to vote for a second, legitimate player from a team, in order to “spread the wealth”. Through 2008, this had only occured twice, and in one case led to a player being named All-State.

Until 2005, all coaches who appeared at the seeding meeting were permitted to vote for the All-Sectional teams. After which, only coaches who had coached in a minimum of six matches or who had nominated a player were eligible to vote.

For three years (2002-2004), the All-State recipients were invited to the IHSA State Finals (if they were not already scheduled to appear) to receive their awards, which could involve driving several hours for seconds of recognition. In 2005, there was no formal recognition for the All-State players. Starting in 2006, All-State players were invited to attend the annual IHSSBCA banquet held at Illinois State University in Normal.

The All-State Team

At the Team Illinois Selection Committee Meeting in 2001, an "All-State" team was selected from among the players who had assembled. Selection was based on a small pool of players, and some top players were excluded, not having been in attendance for the tryout. The selection was limited to the coaches and officials already selecting Team Illinois. Even though the IHSSBCA does not recognize this group as being an "All-State" team, they are listed here:

FIRST TEAM

Player	School	Player	School	Eric Bellm	Carlinville	Matthew Marjan	Marist	Jim Davis	Latin School	Shawn Peters	Streator	Chintan Desai	Downers Grove North	Nick Poulos	New Trier	Michael Feltes	Warrensburg-Latham	Yogesh Raut	IMSA	Gary Leuty	Salem	David Werner	Lake Zurich

SECOND TEAM

Player	School	Player	School	Robert Brown	Lake Forest	Stephen Moore	MacArthur	Colby Burnett	Fenwick	Matthew Plunk	Blue Ridge	Toby Harris	Niles West	David Raines	Richards (Oak Lawn)	John Keig	Moline	Paul Rehder	Orion	Jason Konik	Lake Zurich	Mark Siegel	Stevenson	Eapen Mathew	Sterling	Robert Weitzel	PORTA

Voting Procedure

At the sectional seeding meeting, the selection of the All-Sectional team occurs after the seeding of teams. Coaches review the nomination forms and letter of support for each player. They then rank the players, with the top ten (now 15) players named All-Sectional. The top players have their materials forwarded for All-State consideration.

The nomination forms and letters are copied and then forwarded to the selectors, who generally have three weeks to review the forms and letters, and then rank their top 20 players. After the votes are tallied, the top ten players in each class are named “First Team All-State” and the next ten are named “Second Team All-State”.

Awards

Each All-Sectional player receives a certificate. Each All-State honoree receives two certificates (one of which is given to the player’s coach) and a medal. The certificates included a handwritten citation of the player’s name and school. Since 2006, each All-State player also received free tickets to the annual IHSSBCA banquet.

Special Individual Award Groups

Honored as All-Sectional Three Times

Player	School	Years	Player	School	Years	Nik Brendler	Lincoln-Way East	2002-04	Tyler Kerr	Auburn	2004-06	Braxton Boren	Pittsfield	2002-04	Erin Li¹	Maine East	2005-07	Thane Floreth	Litchfield	2002-04	Jordan Silver	Stevenson	2003-05	Catie Flynn	Springfield	2006-08	Dylan Troxel	Peoria Heights	2004-06	Greg Gauthier	Wheaton North	2006-08	Kristina Warren	Bloomington	2005-07	Eric Grebing	Bunker Hill	2002-04	Ben Weiss²	Latin School	2003-06	Adam Janzen	Illini Bluffs	2002-04	Alex Zhukovitskiy¹	Maine East	2005-07

Honored as All-State Three Times

Player	School	Years	Thane Floreth	Litchfield	2002 (2nd); 03-04 (1st)	Greg Gauthier	Wheaton North	2006-08 (1st)	Eric Grebing	Bunker Hill	2002 (2nd); 03-04 (1st)

Honored as First Team All-State Twice

Player	School	Years	Player	School	Years	Stefan Aydt	Paris	2006 & 07	Rob Koehler	Roanoke-Benson	2004 & 05	Alex Beata	Fremd	2005 & 06	Greg Peterson	Maine South	2006 & 07	Nik Brendler	Lincoln-Way East	2003 & 04	Jon Ryherd	Decatur Lutheran	2006 & 07	Tom Burke	Bloomington Cent. Catholic	2002 & 03	Patrick Shanley	Byron	2005 & 06	Hunter Fast	Bloomington	2007 & 08	John Smillie	Morton	2004 & 05	Brad Fischer	Winnebago	2005 & 06	Lian States	Fairfield	2007 & 08	Thane Floreth	Litchfield	2003 & 04	Justin Stoncious	Carbondale	2006 & 07	Andrew Friedman	Latin School	2006 & 07	Siva Sundaram	Auburn	2007 & 08	Greg Gauthier	Wheaton North	2006, 07, & 08	Ben Taylor	Guilford (Rockford)	2002 & 03	Paul Gauthier	Wheaton North	2003 & 04	Donald Taylor	MacArthur	2004 & 05	Eric Grebing	Bunker Hill	2003 & 04	Kelly Tourdot	Stillman Valley	2002 & 03	Shauna Gunaratne	Lisle	2005 & 06	Dylan Troxel	Peoria Heights	2002 & 03	Matt Keenan	New Trier	2002 & 03	Kristina Warren	Bloomington	2006 & 07	Tyler Kerr	Auburn	2005 & 06	Derek Zabransky	Princeton	2002 & 03

Honored as First Team and Second Team All-State

In all cases, the first year of the award was the year in which the player earned Second Team honors.

Player	School	Years	Player	School	Years	David Abram	Hoffman Estates	2003 & 04	Adam Janzen	Illini Bluffs	2003 & 04	George Atsaves	Maine East	2002 & 03	Jaya Kalra	Sterling	2003 & 04	John Brown	Auburn	2007 & 08	Erin Li	Maine East	2006 & 07	Nick Buttrick	Latin School	2003 & 04	Ben Lyons	Riverton	2005 & 06	Chad Cassarotto	Auburn	2003 & 04	Mike Mangialardi	Maine South	2004 & 05	Aaron Deets	Byron	2007 & 08	Ben Post	Timothy Christian	2004 & 05	Steven DeVience	Notre Dame (Niles)	2004 & 05	Colleen Powers	Auburn	2005 & 06	Thane Floreth	Litchfield	2002 & 03-04	Jordan Silver	Stevenson	2004 & 05	Catie Flynn	Springfield	2007 & 08	William Szumski	Seneca Twp.	2007 & 08	Eric Grebing	Bunker Hill	2002 & 03-04	David Vock	Wheaton North	2002 & 03	Mark Hedden	Downers Grove North	2003 & 04

Honored as Second Team All-State, Twice

Player	School	Years	Player	School	Years	Clint Frederick	Cisne	2004 & 05	Amy Minas	Bradley-Bourbonnais	2003 & 04	Jacob Mauck	Sullivan	2002 & 03	Brooks Smith	Fenwick	2006 & 07

Special Team Award Groups

Teams with Two Players Honored as First Team, Same Year

Team	Players	Year	Auburn ⁴	Tyler Kerr, Colleen Powers	2006	Auburn ³	John Brown, Siva Sundaram	2008	Auburn ⁴	Michael Jiang, Siva Sundaram	2009	Bloomington ⁴	Hunter Fast, Kristina Warren	2007	[[Carbondale³	Tony Cao, Jerry Chang	2009	Fairfield ⁴	Isaac Etheridge, Lian States	2007	Fremd ⁵	Alex Beata, Alex Inman	2005	PORTA ³	Cody Dirks, Issac Shelton	2008	PORTA	Justin Brooks, Tucker Lynn	2009	Springfield ⁴	Carl Butt, Catie Flynn	2008	Stillman Valley ³	AJ Newhousen, Kelly Tourdot	2003	Wheaton North ³	Paul Gauthier, David Vock	2003

Teams with both First Team and Second Team Players, Same Year

Team	First Team Player	Second Team Player	Year	Auburn ⁴	Tyler Kerr	Colleen Powers	2005	Auburn ⁴	Siva Sundaram	John Brown	2007	Auburn ³	⁶	Michael Jiang	2008	Carbondale ³	Tony Cao, Jerry Chang	Paul Botros	2009	Litchfield ⁴	Evan Daigle	Elizabeth York	2008	Litchfield ⁴	Evan Daigle	Peter York	2009	Loyola Academy ⁴	Joe Ahmad	Jack Glerum	2009	Macomb	Cullen Seaton	Derek Lessard	2009	Maine East	Erin Li	Alex Zhukovitskiy	2007	Maine South	Greg Peterson	Jeff Wear	2007	New Berlin	Sam Stowell	Aaron Staley	2009	New Trier ³	Carlo Angiuli	Nick Matchen	2007	New Trier	Ben Cohen	Robert Sido	2008	Notre Dame (Niles)	David Kaye	Steven DeVience	2004	St. Bede	Nick Tonozzi	Adam Trebs	2002	Wheaton North ⁴	James Nyenhuis	Devin Patel	2005	Wheaton North ⁴	Greg Gauthier	Ian Slack	2006	Wheaton North ⁴	Greg Gauthier	Jonathan Irving	2008	Wheaton Warrenville South ⁴	Ashok Poozhikunnel	Alex Cash	2009	Winnebago ⁴	Brad Fischer	Edward Visel	2005

Teams who have had Six or More All-State Awards Conferred

Team	# of All-State Awards	Auburn	12	Wheaton North	12	New Trier	9	Litchfield	8	Fairfield	7	Latin School	6	Maine South	6	Winnebago	6

Notes

Li and Zhukovitskiy are the only teammates to concurrently earn All-Sectional honors three times.
Ben Weiss is the only player to be named All-Sectional four times.
Team won the IHSA State Title.
Team won its IHSA Sectional Tournament, and advanced to the State Championship Tournament.
Team did not advance to the State Championship Tournament, but was voted first in the end of the year coaches poll.
John Brown and Siva Sundaram were both named First Team All-State. It was the first year teams were able to nominate three players.