Moline Wins Masonic Tournament
by Tracee Orman
February 21, 2007
1st Place: Moline High School ($500 award) & State qualification
2nd Place: Rock Island High School ($400 award)
3rd Place: Morrison High School ($300 award)
4th Place: Princeton High School ($100 award)
Consolation Champion: Geneseo High School ($200 award)
Moline and last-year's winner Rock Island faced off for the championship, with Moline taking the traveling trophy home. Moline finished with 1,080 points in just four matches; Rock Island had 795 in four matches. Moline freshman Bonny Jain--a crowd favorite--was singled out during the awards ceremony for his outstanding contribution to Moline’s success.
Erie lost its first round match against Bureau Valley, 130-55. They bounced back in the third round, defeating Prophetstown 210-190. In the fifth round EHS defeated Fulton 145-90. They played right away in the sixth round against eventual consolation champions, Geneseo. They lost 195-85.
Sophomore Jes Sasko led in toss-ups for the day with 13, sophomore Joe Bright had three, junior Sam Berk three, and seniors Brennan Pasvogel and Kristin Sattizahn each had two. Other students who contributed to the team during bonus questions were junior Kody Olsen and freshman Sean Leeds.
The varsity team finished their regular season 12-15. They face Riverdale (at Port Byron) March 6 in the opening round of the IHSA regional tournament. The fresh-soph team has one last tournament Saturday, Feb. 24 at Orion High School.
A big thank you to Dale Thayer, Fulton City Lodge No. 189 and Illinois Academic Bowl Committee Chairperson, who made it possible for EHS to host this event and to Thomas Warner, Fulton City Lodge No. 189, who presented the opening and awards ceremonies and served as the tournament committee representative.
Special thanks to all the local Masons for not only paying all of the teams’ entry fees, but organizing the brackets, providing the questions for seven rounds, serving as greeters, door monitors, providing lunch for the coaches, workers, and EHS team, and helping wherever needed! Members representing the Erie Masonic Lodge No. 667 were: David Meyer, Roland Mose, and Jacob Steffes. Representing the Fulton City Lodge No. 189 was: Thomas Warner, Jr., Wayne Anglese, and Lynn Stoecker. Representing the Chadwick Lodge No. 867 was: John Janssen, Vernon Kness, and Richard Ayres. Also thanks to Erie Lodge No. 667 member Curt Steffes for his help in organizing this event.
The EHS team and Coach Orman would also like to thank all the people who gave up their Saturday to help work the tournament: moderators Kathy Wiersema, Cindy Drummond, Rex Young, Carolyn Aiken, and Carol Berk; score-keepers and timers Tom Drummond, Jason Orman, Cilia Maloney, Kim Jochum, Sandy Newton, Gina Epperly, Nancy Poling, Wendy Wigant, Sean Leeds, and Chris Wigant; board scorers Laykin Mlekush, Ashley Heppner, Brittany Schmidt, Dawn Lackey, and Sammy Jo Tiffany. Many others contributed to the tournament’s success including: Cindy Weaver and the yearbook staff, Nancy & Keith McKay, Barb Fuller-Curry, Kitty Waldbusser, Bud Hunter, Jon Cooper, Moline coach Nick Pitz, and Thelma Warner. And finally, thanks to Mr. Orman, Mr. Winckler, Mr. Geisz, Mrs. Quick, Mr. Howell, and Mr. Rickels for allowing us to use their classrooms.
