Vermont-NEA Scholars' Bowl
History
High school academic competition began in Vermont in the fall of 1983 when the Vermont Scholars' Bowl was formed under the direction and sponsorship of Saint Michael's College. Saint Michael's remained the host and title sponsor of the event until the end of the 1994 season. During the 1994-95 school year the tournament was held without a major sponsor, thanks largely to the efforts of tournament director Erald Medlar. The Vermont Chapter of the National Education Association became the event's title sponsor in the fall of 1995 and remains the main contributor to the tournament. A regional phase of play was added to the state tournament at the beginning the 2000-2001 season.
State Tournament Results
Champlain Valley's 2006-07 team shows off the trophies after defeating Hanover in the state final.
| Year | State Champion | Runner-up | Finals score | Medlar Cup winner* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Champlain Valley Union High School | Hanover High School and Burlington High School | None% | Montpelier High School |
| 2023 | Burlington High School | Essex High School | 405-230 | Champlain Valley Union High School |
| 2022 | Champlain Valley Union High School | South Burlington High School | 385-315 | Burlington High School |
| 2021 | Essex High School | Hanover High School | 225-180# | Lyndon Institute |
| 2020 | State Finals Canceled Due to COVID-19 Pandemic | |||
| 2019 | Burlington High School | Champlain Valley Union High School | 450-390 | Middlebury Union High School |
| 2018 | Essex High School | Hanover High School | 415-355 | Middlebury Union High School |
| 2017 | Essex High School | Mt. Mansfield Union High School | 430-310 | Mt. Mansfield Union High School |
| 2016 | Burlington High School | Middlebury Union High School | 360-290 | Middlebury Union High School |
| 2015 | Essex High School | Burlington High School | 415-370 | South Burlington High School |
| 2014 | Essex High School | South Burlington High School | 395-325 | Spaulding High School |
| 2013 | Essex High School | South Burlington High School | 385-245 | Mt. Mansfield Union High School |
| 2012 | Hanover High School | South Burlington High School | 505-250 | Essex High School |
| 2011 | Hanover High School | South Burlington High School | 240-180 | Mt. Anthony Union High School |
| 2010 | Essex High School | Hanover High School | 237-235 (ot) | South Burlington High School |
| 2009 | Hanover High School | Mt. Mansfield Union High School | 305-250 | Bellows Free Academy of St. Albans |
| 2008 | Hanover High School | Essex High School | 370-210 | South Burlington High School |
| 2007 | Champlain Valley Union High School | Hanover High School | 325-305 | Burlington High School |
| 2006 | Middlebury Union High School | Mt. Mansfield Union High School | 280-225 | Mt. Mansfield Union High School |
| 2005 | St. Johnsbury Academy | Champlain Valley Union High School | 295-220 | |
| 2004 | Hanover High School | Colchester High School | 345-185 | |
| 2003 | Hanover High School | Champlain Valley Union High School | 330-270 | |
| 2002 | Essex High School | Champlain Valley Union High School | 210-180 | |
| 2001 | Burlington High School | Mt. Anthony Union High School | 330-150 | |
| 2000 | Burlington High School | Fair Haven Union High School | 320-150 | |
| 1999 | Burlington High School | Rice Memorial High School | 310-240 | |
| 1998 | Lyndon Institute | Essex High School | 260-130 | |
| 1997 | Burlington High School | St. Johnsbury Academy | 225-150 | |
| 1996 | Montpelier High School | St. Johnsbury Academy | 400-300 | |
| 1995 | Essex High School | Colchester High School | 415-175 | |
| 1994 | St. Johnsbury Academy | Hanover High School | 440-285 | |
| 1993 | Hanover High School | Mt. Mansfield Union High School | 385-135 | |
| 1992 | Bellows Free Academy of St. Albans | Enosburg Falls High School | NA | |
| 1991 | Mt. Mansfield Union High School | Hanover High School | 345-175 | |
| 1990 | St. Johnsbury Academy | Essex High School | NA | |
| 1989 | Colchester High School | Harwood Union High School | 190-130 | |
| 1988 | Fair Haven Union High School | NA | NA | |
| 1987 | Winooski High School | Fair Haven Union High School | 285-200 | |
| 1986 | Rice Memorial High School | Milton High School | NA | |
| 1985 | Middlebury Union High School | Burlington High School | NA | |
| 1984 | Rice Memorial High School | Fair Haven Union High School | 185-120 | |
| % - For the 2023-24
season, two playoff brackets were played in January and
April. CVU won both, clinching the state title without a
final. # - Played using alternate online format due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. * - The Medlar Cup was the tournament's second-tier playoff competition from 2006-23. If 2024 it was awarded to the most improved team between the January and April playoffs. |
Small-School
Championship
A seperate small-school championship was
first held alongside the state playoffs during the 2014-15
season.
| Year | Small-School Champion | Runner-up | Finals score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Mt. Abraham Union High School | Montpelier High School | 270-120 |
| 2023 | Woodstock Union High School | Lyndon Institute | 290-230 |
| 2022 | Montpelier High School | Lyndon Institute | 235-200 |
| 2021 | Lyndon Institute | Lamoille Union High School | 195-155* |
| 2020 | Cabot School | Woodstock Union High School | 320-235 |
| 2019 | Cabot School | Montpelier High School | 240-220 |
| 2018 | Montpelier High School | Woodstock Union High School | 365-225 |
| 2017 | Montpelier High School | Bellows Free Academy of Fairfax | 445-75 |
| 2016 | Bellows Free Academy of Fairfax | Mt. Abraham Union High School | 255-210 |
| 2015 | Mt. Abraham Union High School | Montpelier High School | 305-260 |
| * - Played using alternate online format due to COVID-19 pandemic. |
Vermont Teams at National Tournaments
The 2000-2001 Burlington High School team poses for a team picture at the 2001 Panasonic Academic Challenge. The Seahorses became the first New England school to reach the final round of a national tournament by finishing in fourth place.
Top Finishing
Teams
Vermont teams that have reached the
playoff rounds of national tournaments:
| NAQT National Championship Tournament | Panasonic Academic Challenge | |
| 2024 - Champlain Valley Union High School (97th) | 2008 -- Team Vermont (semifinalists)* | |
| 2023 - Hanover High School (97th) | 2007 -- Champlain Valley Union High School (semifinalists) | |
| 2022 - Champlain Valley Union High School (82nd) | 2004 -- Team Vermont (semifinalists)* | |
| 2018 -- Hanover High School (77th) | 2001 -- Burlington High School (finalists, fourth place) | |
| 2016 -- Burlington High School (53rd) | 2000 -- Burlington High School (semifinalists) | |
| 2015 -- Essex High School (77th) | 1997 -- Burlington High School (semifinalists) | |
| 2014 -- South Burlington High School (77th) | National Academic Championship | |
| 2012 -- Hanover High School (33rd) | 2020 -- South Burlington High School (quarterfnalists) | |
| 2011 -- Champlain Valley Union High School (33rd) | 2020 -- Essex High School (quarterfinalists) | |
| 2011 -- Hanover High School (65th) | 2020 -- Burlington High School (Round of 16) | |
| NAQT Small-School National Championship Tournament | 2020 -- Champlain Valley Union High School (Round of 32) | |
| 2016 -- Middlebury Union High School (fifth place) | 1984 -- Rice Memorial High School (Round of 16) | |
| PACE National Scholastics Championship | ||
| 2000 -- Burlington High School (quarterfinalists) | ||
| *-Panasonic Academic Challenge Team Vermonts consisted of: 2004: Hanover's Niall Prendergast, Harker Rhodes, Evan Gardner and Iain Prendergast; Essex's Jack McClintock; Colchester's Alan West. 2008: Essex's Will Begley and Brendan Farmer; Champlain Valley's Eli Goldberg and Max Keve; Rice's Judy Contompasis; Lamoille's Margaret Lund. | ||
All-American
Players
Vermont players that were named
All-American or All-Star at national tournaments:
| NAQT National Championship Tournament | Panasonic Academic Challenge | |
| 2016 -- Sterling Ford, Burlington High School | 2005 -- Peter Golubock, St. Johnsbury Academy | |
| 2007 -- Dylan Matthews, Hanover High School | 1996 -- Matt Johnson, Montpelier High School | |
| PACE National Scholastics Championship | 1993 -- Elise London, Mt. Mansfield Union High School | |
| 2000 -- Andrew Malcovsky, Burlington High School |
Other Vermont tournaments
Top-finishing teams, where available, from tournaments put on by the Vermont-NEA Scholars' Bowl or its affiliated teams since the 1995-96 season.
| Sue Pasco Opening
Tournament Held in September at Essex High School |
| Season | First-place team | Second-place team |
| 2024 | Hanover | Champlain Valley |
| 2023 | Champlain Valley | Hanover |
| 2022 | Essex | Champlain Valley |
| 2021 | South Burlington | Hanover |
| 2020 | No Touranment (COVID-19 Pandemic) | -- |
| 2019 | South Burlington | Essex |
| 2018 | Champlain Valley | Hanover |
| 2017 | Essex | Burlington |
| 2016 | Essex | Burlington |
| 2015 | Burlington | North Country |
| 2014 | Hanover | Essex |
| 2013 | Essex | South Burlington |
| 2012 | Hanover | Essex |
| 2011 | South Burlington | Hanover |
| 2010 | South Burlington | Champlain Valley |
| 2009 | Hanover | Champlain Valley |
| 2008 | South Burlington | Mt. Mansfield |
| 2007 | Champlain Valley | Hanover |
| 2006 | Hanover | Champlain Valley |
| 2005 | Champlain Valley | Esssex |
| 2004 | Champlain Valley, Hanover and St. Johnsbury | Three-way tie for first |
| 2003 | Hanover/North Country (mixed team) | St. Johnsbury |
| 2002 | Hanover | Champlain Valley |
| 2001 | Champlain Valley | Hanover |
| 2000 | Rice Memorial | Hanover |
| 1999 | Hanover/Rice/Mt. Abraham (mixed team) | South Burlington |
| a |
| Vermont NAQT
Championship Held in February or March at Spaulding High School |
| Season | First-place team | Second-place team |
| 2024 | Champlain Valley | South Burlington |
| 2023 | Hanover | Champlain Valley |
| 2022 | South Burlington | Champlain Valley |
| 2021 | South Burlington | Hanover |
| 2020 | Champlain Valley | Essex |
| 2019 | Champlain Valley | Burlington |
| 2018 | Champlain Valley | Essex |
| 2017 | Essex | Champlain Valley |
| 2016 | Burlington | Champlain Valley |
| 2015 | Essex | Burlington |
| 2014 | Essex | Portsmouth Christian (N.H.) |
| 2013 | Hanover | Essex |
| 2012 | South Burlington | Hanover |
| 2011 | Champlain Valley | South Burlington |
| 2010 | Champlain Valley | South Burlington |
| 2009 | South Burlington | Champlain Valley |
| 2008 | Champlain Valley | South Burlington |
| 2007 | Hanover | South Burlington |
| a |
| Pre-Holiday Academic
Tournament Held in December at South Burlington High School or Essex High School |
| Season | First-place team | Second-place team |
| 2024 | Hanover | Champlain Valley |
| 2023 | Champlain Valley | Hanover |
| 2022 | Champlain Valley | Burlington |
| 2021 | South Burlington | Champlain Valley |
| 2020 | Hotchkiss (CT) | South Burlington |
| 2019 | Plymouth Regional (NH) | Boston Latin (MA) |
| 2018 | Hanover | South Burlington |
| 2017 | Plymouth Regional (NH) | Hanover |
| 2016 | Essex | Northampton (MA) |
| 2015 | Burlington | Champlain Valley |
| 2014 | Burlington | Champlain Valley |
| 2013 | Essex | Portsmouth Christian (NH) |
| 2012 | Middlebury | Mt. Mansfield |
| 2011 | Hanover | Middlebury |
| 2010 | Champlain Valley | South Burlington |
| 2009 | Essex | Champlain Valley |
| 2008 | Burlington | Champlain Valley |
| 2007 | Mt. Mansfield | Champlain Valley |
| a |
| Great Halloween
States Tournament Vermont vs. New Hampshire competition Held in October or November at Hanover High School |
| Season | First-place team | Second-place team | Winning State |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | N.H., 31-19 | ||
| 2019 | New Hampshire | ||
| 2021 | Vermont | ||
| 2019 | Plymouth Regional (NH) | Essex | Vt., 70-42 |
| 2018 | Plymouth Regional (NH) | Hanover and South Burlington | Vermont |
| 2017 | Plymouth Regional (NH) | Essex | Vt., 67-44 |
| 2016 | Essex | Plymouth Regional (NH) | Vt., 32-28 |
| 2015 | Burlington | Plymouth Regional (NH) | N.H., 41-30 |
| 2014 | Bishop Guertin (NH) | Burlington | N.H., 38-36 |
| a |
| Scholars' Bowl Online
Tournament Held Online in May of 2020 after the Corona Virus Pandemic Forced the Cancelation of the State Finals |
| Season | First-place team | Second-place team | Finals score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | South Burlington | Champlain Valley | 230-190 |
| a |
| Fall Hanover Round
Robin Held in October at Hanover High School |
| Season | First-place team | Second-place team |
| 2008 | Spaulding | Hanover |
| 2007 | Phillips Exeter (N.H.) | Hanover |
| 2006 | Hanover | Burlington |
| 2005 | Hanover | Essex |
| 2004 | Hanover A | Hanover B |
| 2003 | Essex | Hanover |
| 2002 | Hanover | Seton Hall (N.J.) |
| 2001 | Burlington | Hanover |
| 2000 | Hanover | Salem (N.H.) |
| 1999 | Keene (N.H.) | Mt. Anthony |
| 1998 | Hanover | Burlington |
| 1996 | St. Johnsbury | Burlington |
| a |
| Spring Hanover Round
Robin Held in March at Hanover High School |
| Season | First-place team | Second-place team |
| 2005 | Hanover | Portsmouth Christian (N.H.) |
| 2004 | Hanover A | Hanover B |
| 2003 | Hanover | Phillips Exeter (N.H.) |
| 2002 | Hanover | Burlington |
| 2001 | Burlington | Hanover |
| 2000 | Burlington | Lebanon (N.H.) |
| 1999 | Salem (N.H.) | Burlington |
| 1998 | Burlington | Winnisquam (N.H.) |
| 1997 | Burlington | Hanover |
| 1996 | Colchester | Burlington |
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