A 12-Year-Old Finished First Out Of 12 Million In ESPN's Bracket Game

It's guaranteed to happen every year.

There's always one bracket in the middle of the country, from the unlikeliest of participants, that ends up crushing March Madness.

This year, that bracket belongs to 12-year-old Sam Holtz from Lake Zurich, Illinois.

The sixth grader finished at the top of the ESPN Bracket Challenge, thanks to Duke's 68-63 victory over Wisconsin in the final, besting 11.57 million other submissions in the process.

In an interview with WLS-TV, Hotlz said,

Just rushed right through it. I think it was skill, some people say it was luck, but I think I studied enough.

Here's the real kicker, though: The contest winner is supposed to receive a $20,000 Best Buy gift card and a trip to the 2015 Maui Jim Maui Invitational in Hawaii, but that's also contingent upon the participant being at least 18 years of age.

Even though Holtz entered the bracket through his father, it's unclear whether the prize will be awarded.

It's also not a lock that Holtz will win. Believe it or not, there is another bracket tied with Holtz's.

A raffle will determine the overall winner.

Citations: 12 year old filled out ESPNs top NCAA bracket (UPI )