Marquette Catholic High School in Alton has been named the winner of the sixth annual IHSA Class 1A/2A Student Section Showdown. The school was presented with its championship banner on October 5, 2020, by IHSA Assistant Executive Director Beth Sauser, on behalf of the IHSA Student Advisory Committee (SAC), during a special pep rally on campus. The socially distanced ceremony included half of the Marquette student body, as the school is currently on a hybrid learning schedule. The celebration concluded with retiring principal Michael Slaughter leading the students in the famed roller coaster cheer.

The Student Section Showdown was sponsored by Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donation, Eversight, and LifeGoesOn.com.

Representatives from each of the three Class 1A/2A Student Section Showdown finalists, including Marquette, Chicago Christian High School, and Okawville High School were  invited to attend the 2020 IHSA Class 1A Boys Basketball State Finals at the Peoria Civic Center’s Carver Arena, where the winner was set to be revealed at halftime of the Class 1A Championship game. However, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the tournament. Okawville had won the Class 1A/2A crown the three previous years.

The Student Section Showdown entries were judged by the IHSA SAC, who graded each submission based on categories that include sportsmanship, spirit, student body participation, and the originality of cheers.

See Marquette’s winning video here: