There is nothing like the IHSA State Series. No matter what sport the competition is in, the urgency surrounding each game of the regional, every performance in the sectional makes for quite an event. At the State Final, the stakes are clearly higher, but so it the competition: these are the best the state has to offer. The first time I went to an IHSA State Final, I figured it was just something I ought to do while I was still in high school. Now I make it a point to attend at least one every year, and I have T-shirts from each of the last six.

Year Sport Site Contests attended
1992-93 Boys Soccer Naperville North High School Single-Class Championship Game
1992-93 Boys Football Illinois State University, Normal Class 5A and 6A Championship Games
1993-94 Boys Soccer Naperville North High School Single-Class Quarterfinals #1 and #2
1994-95 Boys Basketball University of Illinois, Champaign Class A Quarterfinals #3 and #4
1996-97 Boys Football Illinois State University, Normal Class 5A and 6A Championship Games
1997-98 Girls Soccer Naperville Central High School Single-Class Quarterfinals #1-#4, Third-place Game, Championship Game
1998-99 Girls Bowling Cherry Bowl, Rockford Single-Class Preliminary and Final Sessions (Friday and Saturday)
1998-99 Girls Soccer Naperville Central High School Single-Class Semifinals #1 and #2
1998-99 Boys Volleyball Hoffman Estates High School Single-Class Third-place and Championship Matches
1998-99 Girls Softball Northern Illinois University, DeKalb Class AA Quarterfinals #1-#4
1999-00 Boys Volleyball Hoffman Estates High School Single-Class Quarterfinals #1-#4

So have fun. Attend an IHSA State Final. To find one near you, check the IHSA Calendar of Events on the IHSA's Web Site, www.ihsa.org.