IMSA
| IMSA Titans | |
| |
|---|---|
| Location: Aurora, Illinois | |
| Coaches | Noah Prince |
| State Championships | 1989 IHSA, 1990 IHSA, 1994 IHSA, 1996 IHSA, 1997 IHSA, 1998 IHSA, 1999 IHSA, 2001 IHSA, 2011 IHSA |
| Program Status | Unknown |
| School Size | Unknown |
| NAQT Page | link |
The Illinois Math and Science Academy (IMSA) is a 3-year public residential high school located in Aurora, Illinois. It is open exclusively to residents of the state of Illinois, based on a competitive application process.
As of 2011, IMSA has won more IHSA State Championships (9) in Scholastic Bowl than any school. It has recently ended its longest drought (10 years without a title) by winning the 2011 IHSA State Championship Tournament.
The school has no conference affiliation. It competes in Class AA, the "large school" division, of the Illinois High School Association's State Championship Series. Its nickname is the Titans.
History
IMSA has had at least 12 coaches since 1989. The current coach is Noah Prince.
After its first state title in 1989, IMSA did not play again until the start of the 1990 IHSA State Series. At the time, winning the state title required winning a five round Sectional, and then winning a four round State Championship Tournament. IMSA went 9-0, and remains the only undefeated State Champion in Illinois history.
Over the course of its 12 State Championship Tournament appearances, IMSA racked up an impressive 34-5 record. Quincy Senior is the only team to have defeated them in an actual championship match. Stevenson is the only team to defeat them twice (opening round elimination in 2000, and in pool play in 2001). Bloomington is the only other team to eliminate IMSA in an opening round match (1991), with a loss to Hinsdale Central in the 1992 semifinals being the only other loss the school has suffered in the tournament.
IMSA's recent lack of success has occurred at the conjunction of three notable events. First, their last State Title was the last year non-pyramidal questions were in predominate use in the State Series. Finally, at this time, Wheaton North began to rise as a power, and as the schools were now in the same Sectional Tournament, IMSA found itself unable to defeat the improved Falcons from Wheaton.
Although IMSA has been known in the past to support and play bad quizbowl, after Dr. Noah Prince took over the program at the start of the 2009-2010 season, the quizbowl program has received a revival, taking 4th in the Illinois Masonic Tournament and 3rd in the IHSA State tournament.
Under the tenure of Prince, IMSA has also started embracing good quizbowl. In the 2010-2011 season, despite losing noted IMSA quizbowler Bonny Jain, the team emerged from the shambles to becoming a top 20 team (according to the Fred Morlan rankings) in the nation. In addition, the team ended their 10-year IHSA state title drought with a 1st place finish at the State tournament by defeating both Auburn and Stevenson.
Controversy
Since IMSA began its run of success, there has been a certain level of controversy surrounding the school. As a magnet school that attracts top talent from across the state, there was the usual criticism directed at private schools (which recruit), but far magnified giving the scope of the school's recruitment.
Other controversy erupted when it was discovered that certain students may have been targeted to apply for admission based upon their performance in Scholastic Bowl at either the elementary school level or at the freshman level. While one report surfaced of a player receiving a letter to this effect, it remains unsubstantiated. Noah Prince, IMSA's coach and not part of the IMSA admission committee, denies any attempts at recruitment via IMSA's admissions process.
Perhaps equally as controversial is the fact that some tournament hosts refused to invite IMSA, based on the belief that IMSA's appearance would scare off a large portion of the field. In fact, IMSA always attended some tournaments for most of its years, and attendance did not substantially drop off.
IMSA's only national tournament was part of Questions Unlimited's Quiznet. IMSA is the only school to have won both the Fall and Spring tournaments in a single year (doing so in 2000), and then won the Spring tournament in 2001.
Noted Team Accomplishments
- IHSA Regional Titles (4): 2001, 04, 05, 08
- IHSA Sectional Titles (12): 1989-95, 96-2001
- IHSA Championship Tournament Champions (8): 1989-90, 94, 96-99, 2001
- IHSA Championship Tournament Runner-Up: 1993
- IHSA Championship Tournament Third Place: 1992, 2010
IHSSBCA Individual Awards
Playing for Team Illinois
- Peter McFerrin (1999)
- Yogesh Raut (2000, 2001)
All-State Players
- Webster Guan, 1st Team (2011)
- Eric Ordonez, 2nd Team (2011)
- Nolan Maloney, 2nd Team (2011)
Notable Alumni
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