It is time once again for the greatest sporting event of year. It is that time known as March Madness. The NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.
Once again, I will be sponsoring a pool. There is not cost to enter the pool, except for pride.
The winner gets a trophy. The dead last place person gets a trophy known as The Sara.
By winning, you get your name etched on the list of immortals:
PAST ROUNDBALL ORACLE CHAMPIONS
Past Roundball Oracle Champions:
2018 – Paul Golden
2017 – Paul Golden
2016 – Michelle Haupt
2015 – Derek Dohrman
2014 – Brandon Kahler
2013 – William McAlpine
2012 – Lowell Davis
2011 – Carrie Baier
2010 – Mark Wolfram
2009 – Mark Wolfram
2008 – Mark Wolfram
2007 – Tim Peterson
2006 – William McAlpine
2005 – William McAlpine
Paul’s repeat championship definitely puts a target square on his back.
But I said that there are 2 trophies. The 2nd trophy, The Sara, goes to the adult that finishes dead last, while trying. A person can not tank on purpose and win The Sara. The reason The Sara winner has to be an adult is that I don’t want to mock children, to their face. Probably a better rule would be that to “win” The Sara, you have to be at least a teenager. I have no problem mocking teenagers to their face. I do it pretty much every Wednesday night at Youth Group.
Past “The Sara” Winners:
The Sara
2018 – Robert Henning
2017 – Shannon Bardole – now Bardole-Foley
2016 – Laura Priest – now Miller
2015 – Derrick Gorshe
2014 – Sara Lockner
The Sara doesn’t have the long storied history of the championship trophy, but it will get there. I have no doubts.
Last year, 35 combatants threw their hats into the ring. Here are the standings from last year:
2018 STANDINGS | ||||||
RANK | TEAM NAME | SCORE | CORRECT | BEST SCORE | BEST CORRECT | CHAMPION |
1 | Paul Golden | 248 | 40 | 248 | 40 | Duke (175) |
2 | Dawn Krause | 243 | 38 | 243 | 38 | Villanova (132) |
3 | Christopher Bennett | 243 | 37 | 243 | 37 | Villanova (153) |
4 | tim peterson | 232 | 41 | 232 | 41 | Michigan St. (165) |
5 | Michelle Haupt | 232 | 35 | 232 | 35 | Villanova (182) |
6 | Nate Miller | 230 | 37 | 230 | 37 | Villanova (159) |
7 | Jordan Toot | 224 | 33 | 224 | 33 | Villanova (108) |
8 | Corey Faust | 223 | 34 | 223 | 34 | Villanova (153) |
9 | Angie DeWaard | 221 | 34 | 221 | 34 | Villanova (201) |
10 | Rachel Johnson | 219 | 39 | 219 | 39 | Kansas (178) |
11 | Lowell Davis | 215 | 38 | 215 | 38 | Virginia (152) |
12 | Benjamin Baier | 213 | 33 | 213 | 33 | Virginia (112) |
13 | Derek Dohrman | 205 | 36 | 205 | 36 | Virginia (155) |
14 | Cathie Raley | 204 | 35 | 204 | 35 | Virginia (138) |
15 | Bill Wentworth | 200 | 34 | 200 | 34 | N. Carolina (97) |
16 | Sean Gildersleeve | 198 | 35 | 198 | 35 | Michigan St. (145) |
17 | Linda Bennett | 195 | 36 | 195 | 36 | Kansas (145) |
18 | Jesse Howard | 195 | 35 | 195 | 35 | Duke (146) |
19 | Olivia Baier | 188 | 33 | 188 | 33 | Virginia (133) |
20 | Toby Sebring | 185 | 32 | 185 | 32 | Arizona (148) |
21 | Russell Kennerly | 184 | 33 | 184 | 33 | Virginia (161) |
22 | Jackson Faust | 182 | 32 | 182 | 32 | Auburn (124) |
23 | Sean Clubine | 173 | 33 | 173 | 33 | N. Carolina (151) |
24 | Jason Baier | 173 | 30 | 173 | 30 | Virginia (159) |
25 | Michael Augustin | 167 | 31 | 167 | 31 | Virginia (186) |
26 | Brandon Kahler | 166 | 33 | 166 | 33 | Kansas (133) |
27 | Nader Parsaei | 166 | 33 | 166 | 33 | St. Bona. (170) |
28 | Andree Jauhari | 165 | 32 | 165 | 32 | Virginia (145) |
29 | Elizabeth Nordeen | 165 | 32 | 165 | 32 | N. Carolina (173) |
30 | Carrie Baier | 162 | 31 | 162 | 31 | Gonzaga (144) |
31 | Laura Priest | 158 | 32 | 158 | 32 | Duke (125) |
32 | FHMeiners | 156 | 31 | 156 | 31 | Kansas (167) |
33 | Becky Perky | 152 | 32 | 152 | 32 | Kansas (168) |
34 | Will Baier | 148 | 25 | 148 | 25 | Marshall (113) |
35 | Robert Henning | 141 | 28 | 141 | 28 | Kansas (156) |
Roundball Oracles – Year 15
Good luck! I know you will fare well!