METAMORA — Practice, study, teamwork, good coaching, and prayers to St. Thomas Aquinas were all crucial ingredients in the recipe for victory of the Scholastic Bowl team of St. Mary’s School in Metamora.

St. Mary’s brought home the Class A trophy last Friday from the Illinois Elementary School Association state tournament at Heartland Community College in Normal, capping their season with a 16-1 overall record.

Their trail to state was blazed with a 200-105 win over Tonica Grade School for the regional title on April 29, followed by a 229-116 defeat of Streator-Woodland for the sectional trophy on May 4.

“We’ve never gone to state before, so it was astounding that we were able to win, and against a strong opponent, too — Bloomington Holy Trinity,” said Mary Grabenstetter, one of the three coaches of St. Mary’s Scholastic Bowl team.

Holy Trinity’s team was pleased with its showing as well. “We were thrilled. This was also our first time going to state,” said Holy Trinity assistant coach Kelly Schanaberger, “so I think coming in second is not too shabby.”

St. Mary’s won all four of its matches at the tournament.

The most memorable moment in the tournament, according to St. Mary’s team captain Dave Gualandri, was “when we were down going into our last question in that match, and we pulled ahead.”

The victory also was due to the guidance of the coaches, Grabenstetter, Alan Anderson and Linda Force. “Without them, it would never have been possible,” Gualandri said.

Grabenstetter is confident that heavenly assistance was also at work. “One of the things we’d been doing all season, which has kind of become our mantra, is praying to St. Thomas Aquinas for wisdom,” she said.

St. Mary’s School will celebrate the state championship with a banquet for the team on Friday, May 19, at Michael’s Italian Banquet in Germantown Hills.