The blind drawing that determines the state final pairings in bracketed team sports was held at the IHSA Office on Wednesday, April 12. This drawing covered the spring sports of boys water polo, girls water polo, boys volleyball, girls soccer, girls softball, and boys baseball.
Bill Laude, longtime IHSA official who will be inducted into the National High School Hall of Fame in July, made the drawings. Since at least 1940, IHSA pairings have been made by ordering the sites that feed into the state finals in alphabetical order and numbering them from 1 to 4 (or 1 to 8). Then numbered peas are drawn from a bottle. The number on the first pea drawn represents the site whose winner will occupy the first position on the bracket, and so on. For more on the history of the "Rolling of the Peas", click here.
Girls Water Polo
Starting lineup:
Pea #1 represents winner of Chicago (St. Ignatius College Prep) Sectional
Pea #2 represents winner of Deerfield (H.S.) Sectional
Pea #3 represents winner of Hoffman Estates (H.S.) Sectional
Pea #4 represents winner of LaGrange (Lyons) Sectional
Pea #5 represents winner of Naperville (Neuqua Valley) Sectional
Pea #6 represents winner of New Lenox (Lincoln-Way Central) Sectional
Pea #7 represents winner of Northbrook (Glenbrook North) Sectional
Pea #8 represents winner of Oak Park (Fenwick) Sectional
Bracket drawing:
Quarterfinal bracket position #1: pea #5, Naperville (Neuqua Valley) Sectional
Quarterfinal bracket position #2: pea #7, Northbrook (Glenbrook North) Sectional
Quarterfinal bracket position #3: pea #3, Hoffman Estates (H.S.) Sectional
Quarterfinal bracket position #4: pea #8, Oak Park (Fenwick) Sectional
Quarterfinal bracket position #5: pea #1, Chicago (St. Ignatius College Prep) Sectional
Quarterfinal bracket position #6: pea #2, Deerfield (H.S.) Sectional
Quarterfinal bracket position #7: pea #4, LaGrange (Lyons) Sectional
Quarterfinal bracket position #8: pea #6, New Lenox (Lincoln-Way Central) Sectional
Boys Water Polo
Starting lineup:
Pea #1 represents winner of Chicago (St. Ignatius College Prep) Sectional
Pea #2 represents winner of Deerfield (H.S.) Sectional
Pea #3 represents winner of Hoffman Estates (H.S.) Sectional
Pea #4 represents winner of LaGrange (Lyons) Sectional
Pea #5 represents winner of Naperville (Neuqua Valley) Sectional
Pea #6 represents winner of New Lenox (Lincoln-Way Central) Sectional
Pea #7 represents winner of Northbrook (Glenbrook North) Sectional
Pea #8 represents winner of Oak Park (Fenwick) Sectional
Bracket drawing:
Quarterfinal bracket position #1: pea #8, Oak Park (Fenwick) Sectional
Quarterfinal bracket position #2: pea #3, Hoffman Estates (H.S.) Sectional
Quarterfinal bracket position #3: pea #7, Northbrook (Glenbrook North) Sectional
Quarterfinal bracket position #4: pea #4, LaGrange (Lyons) Sectional
Quarterfinal bracket position #5: pea #2, Deerfield (H.S.) Sectional
Quarterfinal bracket position #6: pea #6, New Lenox (Lincoln-Way Central) Sectional
Quarterfinal bracket position #7: pea #1, Chicago (St. Ignatius College Prep) Sectional
Quarterfinal bracket position #8: pea #5, Naperville (Neuqua Valley) Sectional
Boys Volleyball
Starting lineup:
Pea #1 represents winner of Burbank (Reavis) Sectional
Pea #2 represents winner of Chicago (De La Salle) Sectional
Pea #3 represents winner of Edwardsville (H.S.) Sectional
Pea #4 represents winner of Oswego (H.S.) Sectional
Pea #5 represents winner of Palatine (H.S.) Sectional
Pea #6 represents winner of River Grove (Guerin) Sectional
Pea #7 represents winner of Rockford (East) Sectional
Pea #8 represents winner of Winnetka (New Trier) Sectional
Bracket drawing:
Quarterfinal bracket position #1: pea #7, Rockford (East) Sectional
Quarterfinal bracket position #2: pea #6, River Grove (Guerin) Sectional
Quarterfinal bracket position #3: pea #3, Edwardsville (H.S.) Sectional
Quarterfinal bracket position #4: pea #8, Winnetka (New Trier) Sectional
Quarterfinal bracket position #5: pea #1, Burbank (Reavis) Sectional
Quarterfinal bracket position #6: pea #2, Chicago (De La Salle) Sectional
Quarterfinal bracket position #7: pea #5, Palatine (H.S.) Sectional
Quarterfinal bracket position #8: pea #4, Oswego (H.S.) Sectional
Girls Class 1A Soccer
Starting lineup:
Pea #1 represents winner of Hampshire Super-Sectional
Pea #2 represents winner of TBA Super-Sectional (central Illinois)
Pea #3 represents winner of River Forest (Concordia University) Super-Sectional
Pea #4 represents winner of TBA Super-Sectional (southern Illinois)
Bracket drawing:
Semifinal bracket position #1: pea #1, Hampshire Super-Sectional
Semifinal bracket position #2: pea #2, TBA Super-Sectional (central Illinois)
Semifinal bracket position #3: pea #4, TBA Super-Sectional (southern Illinois)
Semifinal bracket position #4: pea #3, River Forest (Concordia University) Super-Sectional
Girls Class 2A Soccer
Starting lineup:
Pea #1 represents winner of Darien (Hinsdale South) Super-Sectional
Pea #2 represents winner of DeKalb Super-Sectional
Pea #3 represents winner of River Forest (Concordia University) Super-Sectional
Pea #4 represents winner of Rochester Super-Sectional
Bracket drawing:
Semifinal bracket position #1: pea #1, Darien (Hinsdale South) Super-Sectional
Semifinal bracket position #2: pea #3, River Forest (Concordia University) Super-Sectional
Semifinal bracket position #3: pea #2, DeKalb Super-Sectional
Semifinal bracket position #4: pea #4, Rochester Super-Sectional
Girls Class 3A Soccer
Starting lineup:
Pea #1 represents winner of Barrington Super-Sectional
Pea #2 represents winner of Bartlett Super-Sectional
Pea #3 represents winner of TBA Super-Sectional (southwest suburbs and beyond)
Pea #4 represents winner of Romeoville (Lewis University) Super-Sectional
Bracket drawing:
Semifinal bracket position #1: pea #2, Bartlett Super-Sectional
Semifinal bracket position #2: pea #3, TBA Super-Sectional (southwest suburbs and beyond)
Semifinal bracket position #3: pea #4, Romeoville (Lewis University) Super-Sectional
Semifinal bracket position #4: pea #1, Barrington Super-Sectional
Girls Class 1A Softball
Starting lineup:
Pea #1 represents winner of Bloomington (Illinois Wesleyan U.) Super-Sectional
Pea #2 represents winner of TBA Super-Sectional (southern Illinois)
Pea #3 represents winner of Springfield (UIS) Super-Sectional
Pea #4 represents winner of Sterling (H.S.) Super-Sectional
Bracket drawing:
Semifinal bracket position #1: pea #3, Springfield (UIS) Super-Sectional
Semifinal bracket position #2: pea #4, Sterling (H.S.) Super-Sectional
Semifinal bracket position #3: pea #1, Bloomington (Illinois Wesleyan U.) Super-Sectional
Semifinal bracket position #4: pea #2, TBA Super-Sectional (southern Illinois)
Girls Class 2A Softball
Starting lineup:
Pea #1 represents winner of Athens Super-Sectional
Pea #2 represents winner of East Peoria (Illinois Central College) Super-Sectional
Pea #3 represents winner of Johnston City Super-Sectional
Pea #4 represents winner of Rosemont (Rosemont Stadium) Super-Sectional
Bracket drawing:
Semifinal bracket position #1: pea #3, Johnston City Super-Sectional
Semifinal bracket position #2: pea #1, Athens Super-Sectional
Semifinal bracket position #3: pea #4, Rosemont (Rosemont Stadium) Super-Sectional
Semifinal bracket position #4: pea #2, East Peoria (Illinois Central College) Super-Sectional
Girls Class 3A Softball
Starting lineup:
Pea #1 represents winner of Bloomington (Illinois Wesleyan U.) Super-Sectional
Pea #2 represents winner of Maple Park (Kaneland) Super-Sectional
Pea #3 represents winner of Mattoon Super-Sectional
Pea #4 represents winner of Rosemont (Rosemont Stadium) 1 Super-Sectional
Bracket drawing:
Semifinal bracket position #1: pea #3, Mattoon Super-Sectional
Semifinal bracket position #2: pea #1, Bloomington (Illinois Wesleyan U.) Super-Sectional
Semifinal bracket position #3: pea #4, Rosemont (Rosemont Stadium) 1 Super-Sectional
Semifinal bracket position #4: pea #2, Maple Park (Kaneland) Super-Sectional
Girls Class 4A Softball
Starting lineup:
Pea #1 represents winner of Barrington Super-Sectional
Pea #2 represents winner of Normal (ISU) Super-Sectional
Pea #3 represents winner of Orland Park (Sandburg) Super-Sectional
Pea #4 represents winner of Rosemont (Rosemont Stadium) 2 Super-Sectional
Bracket drawing:
Semifinal bracket position #1: pea #1, Barrington Super-Sectional
Semifinal bracket position #2: pea #4, Rosemont (Rosemont Stadium) 2 Super-Sectional
Semifinal bracket position #3: pea #3, Orland Park (Sandburg) Super-Sectional
Semifinal bracket position #4: pea #2, Normal (ISU) Super-Sectional
Boys Class 1A Baseball
Starting lineup:
Pea #1 represents winner of Bloomington (IWU) Super-Sectional
Pea #2 represents winner of Carbondale (SIU) Super-Sectional
Pea #3 represents winner of Lisle (Benedictine U.) 1 Super-Sectional
Pea #4 represents winner of Springfield (Lincoln Land C.C.) 1 Super-Sectional
Bracket drawing:
Semifinal bracket position #1: pea #2, Carbondale (SIU) Super-Sectional
Semifinal bracket position #2: pea #1, Bloomington (IWU) Super-Sectional
Semifinal bracket position #3: pea #4, Springfield (Lincoln Land C.C.) 1 Super-Sectional
Semifinal bracket position #4: pea #3, Lisle (Benedictine U.) 1 Super-Sectional
Boys Class 2A Baseball
Starting lineup:
Pea #1 represents winner of Lisle (Benedictine U.) 2 Super-Sectional
Pea #2 represents winner of Rock Island (Augustana College) Super-Sectional
Pea #3 represents winner of Sauget (GCS Park) Super-Sectional
Pea #4 represents winner of Springfield (Lincoln Land C.C.) 2 Super-Sectional
Bracket drawing:
Semifinal bracket position #1: pea #4, Springfield (Lincoln Land C.C.) 2 Super-Sectional
Semifinal bracket position #2: pea #1, Lisle (Benedictine U.) 2 Super-Sectional
Semifinal bracket position #3: pea #2, Rock Island (Augustana College) Super-Sectional
Semifinal bracket position #4: pea #3, Sauget (GCS Park) Super-Sectional
Boys Class 3A Baseball
Starting lineup:
Pea #1 represents winner of Crestwood (Standard Bank Stadium) 1 Super-Sectional
Pea #2 represents winner of Naperville (North Central College) Super-Sectional
Pea #3 represents winner of Rock Island (Augustana College) Super-Sectional
Pea #4 represents winner of Sauget (GCS Park) Super-Sectional
Bracket drawing:
Semifinal bracket position #1: pea #1, Crestwood (Standard Bank Stadium) 1 Super-Sectional
Semifinal bracket position #2: pea #4, Sauget (GCS Park) Super-Sectional
Semifinal bracket position #3: pea #3, Rock Island (Augustana College) Super-Sectional
Semifinal bracket position #4: pea #2, Naperville (North Central College) Super-Sectional
Boys Class 4A Baseball
Starting lineup:
Pea #1 represents winner of Champaign (U of I) Super-Sectional
Pea #2 represents winner of Crestwood (Standard Bank Stadium) 2 Super-Sectional
Pea #3 represents winner of Schaumburg (Boomers Stadium) 1 Super-Sectional
Pea #4 represents winner of Schaumburg (Boomers Stadium) 2 Super-Sectional
Bracket drawing:
Semifinal bracket position #1: pea #3, Schaumburg (Boomers Stadium) 1 Super-Sectional
Semifinal bracket position #2: pea #4, Schaumburg (Boomers Stadium) 2 Super-Sectional
Semifinal bracket position #3: pea #1, Champaign (U of I) Super-Sectional
Semifinal bracket position #4: pea #2, Crestwood (Standard Bank Stadium) 2 Super-Sectional
Sectional Pairings
In all spring sports except water polo, some sectionals are seeded in their entirety ("sectional complexes") and some are seeded in two separate groups ("subsectionals"). The seeds are then distributed among four regionals for the first level of competition. In the sectional semifinals, the regional champions are paired as follows:
Sectional complex: The regional containing the #1 seed is paired with the regional containing the #4 seed, while the regional containing the #2 seed is paired with the regional containing the #3 seed.
Two subsectionals: The regional containing the #1 seed of subsectional A is paired with the regional containing the #2 seed of subsectional B, while the regional containing the #1 seed of subsectional B is paired with the regional containing the #2 seed of subsectional A. An exception to these pairings is made for the southernmost sectional in Class 4A. In these sectionals, the two regional winners from the Metro-East area will play at a local site. The winners of the central Illinois regionals will play their semifinal at another site. The sectional championship game will be played at the sectional site.