Published on February 20, 2026 3:58 pm
Last Updated on February 20, 2026 3:58 pm
The Illinois High School Association is excited to announce the 26 members who were selected to be a part of the 2026 IHSA All-State Academic Team.
Honorees will be recognized at a banquet in Bloomington on Sunday, April 12, 2026.
Liv Hoene of St. Anthony High School has been named an All-State Academic Team member. Max Buzzard of Effingham High School is a member of the All-State Academic Honorable Mention Team.
“The students named to the IHSA All-State Academic Team embody what education-based athletics and activities are all about,” said IHSA Assistant Executive Director Stacy Lambert. “They have challenged themselves in the classroom, committed to their teams and organizations, and found ways to give back to their schools and communities. Excelling at such a high level in all of these areas requires discipline and heart, and we are incredibly proud to recognize them as representatives of the IHSA and the state of Illinois.”
Every IHSA member school was invited to nominate one female student and one male student to be a part of this prestigious team. Nominees needed to possess a minimum 3.50 grade point average on a 4.0 scale after their 7th semester, have participated in at least two IHSA sponsored sports or activities during each of the last two years of high school, and demonstrated outstanding citizenship.
The nominations were evaluated by a committee up of IHSA principals, athletic directors, and activities directors. One male winner and one female winner from each of the seven IHSA Board of Directors Divisions were selected initially, while the final 12 spots on the team were then rounded out with at-large candidates from anywhere in the state.
