Southwestern
| Southwestern Piasa Birds | |
| |
|---|---|
| Location: Piasa, Illinois | |
| Coaches | Matt Hasquin |
| National Appearances | SSNCT: 2014-2016 |
| Program Status | Active |
| School Size | School Enrollment - 479 Team - 20-30 |
| NAQT Page | link |
Southwestern High School is a public high school in Piasa, Illinois, which draws students from southwestern Macoupin and eastern Jersey counties. From the program's creation until the spring of 2015, Southwestern competed in Class A, the "small school" division of the Illinois High School Association's (IHSA) State Championship Series. During the 2016 season, Southwestern competed in Class AA as the smallest public school in the class and qualified for the State Championship Tournament. Southwestern will return to the Class A division for the 2016-17 season.
Southwestern plays in the South Central Conference in all IHSA affiliated activities. The scholastic bowl team also competes in the South Central Scholastic League during the "fall" season.
Southwestern finished 4th at SSNCT in Chicago in 2016, tied for 7th at Altanta in 2015, and tied for 11th at the first SSNCT in 2014 in Minneapolis.
History
The team was created by Dr. Charles Guthrie in the autumn of 1986. "Doc" coached the team from 1986 until the spring of 1994. Gary Williams assumed sponsorship of the team in the autumn of 1994 and remained in the position until the spring of 2003. Upon the retirement of Mr. Williams, Matt Hasquin took the reins of the program in autumn of 2003.
Tournament Hosting
- 2015-16: IHSSBCA Novice, IHSSBCA Kickoff, SCSL Tournament, Piasa Bird Invitational, IHSA Regional
- 2014-15: IHSSBCA Novice, IHSSBCA Kickoff, SCSL Tournament, IHSA Regional
- 2013-14: SCSL Tournament, Macoupin County Tournament, Masonic Sectional, IHSA Regional
- 2012-13: Masonic Sectional, IHSA Regional
- 2008-09: Macoupin County Tournament
- 2007-08: IHSA Regional
- 2005-06: Macoupin County Tournament
- 1988-89: Macoupin County Tournament (Inaugural Tournament)
Notable Team Accomplishments
- IHSA State Championship Tournament: 4th Place 2015 Class A - Elite Eight 2016 Class AA
- IHSA Sectional Titles: (2) 2015 A; 2016 AA
- IHSA Regional Titles:(6) 2008, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
- Masonic Sectional Titles:(2) 2013, 2016
- NAQT Small School National Championship Tournament: 4th Place 2016; 7th Place 2015, 11th Place: 2014
- NAQT Small School State Championship Tournament Runners-up: (3) 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
- South Central Conference Champions:(2) 2013, 2016
- South Central Conference League Champions:(1) 2015
- Macoupin County Champions:(4) 2008, 2014, 2015, 2016
IHSSBCA Individual Awards
All-Sectional Honorees
- 2015-16: Kaeden Kessinger, Brandon Wyatt, Jacob Simmons (Class AA)
- 2014-15: Darby Jones, Kaeden Kessinger, Brandon Wyatt
- 2013-14: Darby Jones, Kaeden Kessinger, Daniel Woodman
- 2012-13: Cassidy Jones, Kaeden Kessinger, Jonathon Montgomery
- 2011-12: Cassidy Jones, Jonathon Montgomery
- 2009-10: Rudy Porter, Jake Schuenke
- 2008-09: Evan Keil
- 2007-08: Zach Lucker
- 2006-07: Blake McAfee
- 2005-06: Brett Decker
All-State Honorees
- 2015-16: Kaeden Kessinger (2nd Team) Class AA
- 2014-15: Kaeden Kessinger (1st Team) Class A
- 2013-14: Kaeden Kessinger (1st Team) Class A
- 2012-13: Jonathon Montgomery (2nd Team) Class A
- 2011-12: Jonathon Montgomery (2nd Team) Class A