MSHSAA All Access Podcast

In this episode of the MSHSAA All-Access Podcast, Dr. Jennifer Rukstad, Executive Director, and Craig Long, CFO/COO, shed light on the financial workings of the Missouri State High School Activities Association.

We'll address common myths about MSHSAA's funding and clarify the belief that the organization receives any state funding. The discussion will cover major revenue sources as we also explore the impact of weather and matchups on revenue and the association's fiscal policies aimed at reinvesting back into the member schools and activities.

Stay tuned as we continue breaking down many of the myths...

Join Dr. Jennifer Rukstad, MSHSAA Executive Director of the Missouri State High School Activities Association, as she discusses the key topics for the 2026 MSHSAA Area Meetings.

In this episode, we dive into MSHSAA's governance process, rule changes, updates on MSHSAA.TV streaming, district hosting procedures, Wrestling Championship changes and proposed changes to transfer rules.

We'll also cover topics related to Scholar Bowl, Speech and Debate, Dance competitions and Coaching Requirements.

Tune in to stay informed of what's coming up for Missouri schools in 2026!

Exploring MSHSAA's Streaming Evolution: A Deep Dive into MSHSAA TV

Join Dr. Jennifer Rukstad, Executive Director at MSHSAA, along with guests Andrew Kauffman, Craig Long, and Eric Kelly, as they discuss the evolution of MSHSAA TV, the association's streaming service. This episode covers the history and significance of streaming high school activities, addressing intellectual property, competitive fairness, and the impact of the pandemic on streaming advancements. Learn about the efforts made to enhance content delivery, including the use of the new studio, broadcasting history, and the involvement of student broadcasters. This detailed discussion reveals how MSHSAA is...

Join us in celebrating some of the amazing individuals that dedicate so much time and effort into the students of interscholastic sports in Missouri! This episode will highlight the NFHS MSHSAA nominee's for the 2024-25 Winter Coach of the Year - including Girls Wrestling, Boys Wrestling, Girls Swimming and Diving, Girls Basketball and Boys Basketball.

Listen as we share all the amazing things these coaches are doing in their schools and communities that provide such a dedicated support system that is vital to the success of young athletes they come in contact with each and every day.<...

In this episode of the MSHSAA All Access Podcast, Andrew Kauffman, Director of Communications, steps in for Dr. Jennifer Rukstad to discuss Winter Officials Appreciation Week. Joined by Tony Hill, Associate Executive Director at MSHSAA, they welcome three outstanding officials from Missouri - two first-year officials and 1 veteran official.

They share their experiences, challenges, and motivations for becoming officials. Listen to hear personal stories, mentoring relationships, and valuable advice for aspiring officials. Plus, discover how high school students can get involved in officiating and the importance of building positive relationships in the field. Tune in for an...

Tragedy at Davis Creek: A Centennial Reflection on the 1927 State Championship

Join Dr. Jennifer Rukstad, Executive Director, and retired Senior Associate Executive Director Stacy Schroeder, as they delve into the poignant history of the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) in this episode of MSHSAA All Access Podcast. They recount the tragic events of March 1927, known as the 'Tragedy at Davis Creek,' where a wagon carrying students from Central High School in Kansas City and Northeast Kansas City was swept into floodwaters, resulting in the deaths of two students. Discover the intricate details of this...

How has the MSHSAA Board of Directors evolved over the century? From the original five-member board in 1926 to today's diverse and representative body, learn about the pivotal changes that have shaped our association. Listen to our latest episode for the full story!

Exploring the Centennial Celebration: Behind the Scenes of MSHSAA's New Book!

In this episode of the MSHSAA All Access Podcast, we discuss the upcoming centennial year of the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) with retired Senior Associate Executive Director, Stacey Schroeder. Stacey takes us through the process of creating the centennial book, which features an abridged version of Mr. Keller's book from 1976. The coffee table book, rich with photographs and historical documents, captures the history and essence of the association. We delve into the book's structure, challenges faced during production, and the fascinating stories and...

Relive each and every game in this action-packed episode of the 2025 Show-Me Bowl Review as we recap the results from all 6 classes of 11-man and 8-man Championship Games. Our latest episode dives into the thrilling matchups, set in our new venue at Missouri Western University in St. Joseph. Catch every highlight and record breaking moment as see how the new location added to the electric atmosphere! 🏈

Get the full scoop on the thrilling 2025 Boys Soccer Championships held at World Wide Technology Soccer Park in Fenton, MO! Join Dr. Jennifer Rukstad, Alex Huck, and Andrew Kauffman as they break down the top moments and surprising outcomes! ⚽️ Relive all the action and join the conversation as we discuss the unforgettable matches and standout teams across all four competition classes!

Make a splash with us at the St. Peter's Rec Plex as we recap the 2025 MSHSAA Boys Swimming & Diving Championships! 🏆 Discover the thrilling highlights and dominant performances from both classes in this year’s intense competition.

Join us for an in-depth look at the historic feats and recap all of the incredible performances and unforgettable moments!!

Get ready for a game-changing addition to Missouri football and some exciting news for Missouri high school football fans! Join us as we chat with Kenny Seifert and Lou Mazzocco about implementing instant replay for the 2025 MSHSAA championships. We're diving into the details of how instant replay will enhance the upcoming state championships. The game you love just got smarter!

We are continuing our review of each fall championship, and next up is the 2025 MSHSAA Cross Country Championships! This year brought much better weather, giving us two days of fantastic competition.

Once again, the event was held at the well-known Gans Creek Recreation Area on November 7th and 8th. Throughout each race, fans and athletes alike witnessed remarkable moments of achievement and personal bests. Join us as we celebrate all the participants and the impressive accomplishments they achieved!

The 51st Girls Volleyball Championships are officially in the record books! Held at the St. Joseph Civic Arena from November 5th through the 8th, this year’s tournament delivered four days of intense competition, unforgettable performances, and history-making moments.

Join us as we highlight all the top storylines—from which schools qualified, to how they finished, to the records that were not only broken, but absolutely shattered!

It’s the final championship of the 2025 MSHSAA Fall Championships — the 58th MSHSAA Show-Me Bowl Football Championships!

Join us as we get ready for another exciting weekend of action and highlight our new home for all classes of competition: Spratt Stadium at Missouri Western University. In this episode, we’ll cover everything you need to know about this year’s games — from the schedule to parking and more!

The 50th MSHSAA Fall Softball Championships was certainly one to remember! From every action-packed semifinal to each nail-biting trophy game, the 2025 Championships proved to be one of our best yet.

Join us as we spotlight each team and break down the results of this year’s competition. Discover which teams and players made the biggest impact throughout the event—and so much more!

We are nearing the end of the 2025 MSHSAA Fall Championship season, and next up is the 58th Boys Soccer Championships!

Held at the fantastic Worldwide Technology Soccer Park in Fenton, over the course of 2 days 16 teams will compete for their chance to make history and secure a championship title.

Listen as we highlight important reminders, key dates, and all the necessary information as we celebrate another exciting championship event!

Get ready to relive every thrilling moment from the 51st MSHSAA Girls Tennis Championships! From electrifying rallies to heart-stopping match points, both weekends were packed with intensity and unforgettable action that will go down in the record books!

Discover how each competitor performed, and dive into the full results from the Team Championships as we celebrate every athlete who gave it their all in this incredible showcase of talent and determination!

Join us as we take another behind-the-curtain look at our state championships, where we interview several members of the Springfield Parks and Recreation staff to gain insight into just one of the many layers that go into running a successful championship event.

There are many moving pieces when it comes to hosting an MSHSAA Championship, and we are thrilled to shine a spotlight on the incredible individuals who help make it all happen. From meticulous planning and coordination to the on-the-ground teamwork that keeps everything running seamlessly, these dedicated professionals play a vital role in creating an...

Up next in the 2025 MSHSAA Championships season is the 92nd Boys Swimming & Diving Championships! We're back once again at St. Peter’s Rec-Plex as competition kicks off on Thursday, November 13!

Tune in as we share everything from the tournament schedule and competition times to important details about tickets and spectator information.

We can’t wait to see all the incredible athletes in action and celebrate the spirit of competition at this year’s championships. Be sure to mark your calendars, gather your family and friends, and join us at St. Peter's Rec-Plex to cheer on the be...

Just a few weeks ago, the 51st MSHSAA Girls Golf Championships took place amid a brisk and windy start to the 2025 Fall Season at four different locations around the state. In this episode, we will share highlights of performances from each class of competition and the special moments that made this championship one for the record books!

Ready - Set - GO!! We're running right on to our next championship of the 2025 Fall Season - the MSHSAA Cross Country Championships!!

Join us as we share all the important reminders and updates for this spectacular event held at one of the nations premier cross country courses right in our one state!

We are all set for our next upcoming Championship in this historical 2025 Fall season! In this championship preview episode we are digging into the 51st Girls Volleyball Championships!

We have lots to cover as we talk about the new venue for the girls championships along with a few other changes coming for this spectacular event! Join us in celebrating another action-packed week of competition in the Missouri State High School Activities Association Championship series!

Get ready to dive into the excitement as we gear up for one of high school sports’ most anticipated weekends: the 50th Fall Softball Championships of the Missouri State High School Activities Association. Held at Meador Park in Springfield, MO, this milestone event brings together 4 teams from 20 classes to compete on October 30–November 1, 2025. MSHSAA+1

In this episode, we’ll cover everything from location to schedules and more!

Whether you’re a fan in the stands, a player on the field, or just drawn to the drama and triumph of high-school sport, this episode will set the stag...

Our second championship to kick off the fall season is the 51st Girls Tennis Championships! This event features competition at the individual and doubles levels, and also leads into a separate team championship. The top four teams qualify through bracketed play, culminating in the State Championship.

Listen as we share the "love" and highlight this unique championship event — and discover more about Girls Tennis in Missouri!

Each year the Missouri State High School Activities nominates coaches through the NFHS Coach of the Year program.

Join us in recognizing and celebrating our 2024-2025 NFHS MSHSAA Coach of the Year Recipients for Fall Sports!

It’s hard to believe, but the Fall 2025 Championship Season is already upon us! Kicking things off is the 51st Girls Golf Championships, marking the beginning of an exciting season of competition and school spirit.

Join us as we spotlight our first upcoming championship event. We’ll be sharing all the important details—from dates and locations to key reminders and what to expect throughout the championship season!

In this podcast episode we will give a brief update for the Ad-Hoc Committee regarding Transfers. Join us as we explain what current steps are being taken and how the committee has been working on ideas about the transfer rules and how those changes could be implemented through board direction and membership voting.

After serving two years in the armed forces, Jack returned to Columbia, MO, where he began his role as Assistant Executive Director of the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA), a position he held for 15 years. In 1977, he became the MSHSAA Executive Director, a role he fulfilled until his retirement in 1992. Jack’s lifelong dedication to sports and education left a lasting impact, promoting inclusivity and sportsmanship across the state. His career reflects a steadfast commitment to enhancing high school activities. He took particular pride in the significant growth of women’s sports during his 30-year tenure, which effe...

Digging back into our MSHSAA Myths series, this episode focuses on the Championship Factor. How are schools that achieve consistent success year after year affected by it? Who developed the initial policies that were put in place? How has the association reviewed and adjusted its implementation over time? Join us as we explore how the association currently determines classifications based on the Championship Factor.

In this episode of the MSHSAA All-Access Podcast, we visit with a few members of the MSHSAA Board of Directors as we kick off the 2025–26 school year with our first quarterly Board of Directors meeting and appeals session. Join us as we hear the perspectives of one of our newly elected members and compare them with those of a veteran board member. Discover how these individuals grow in their roles, the different viewpoints they encounter, and more in this episode!

In another episode of MSHSAA Myths, we take a look at postseason assignments and the process behind how and why district assignments are determined. A look back at the early days of interscholastic sports provides insight into the purpose and ideology that continue to influence today's practices. Join us as we explore and learn more about postseason assignments.

What was previously known as the MSHSAA 101 — the MSHSAA Annual Membership Update sessions is now underway, as members of the MSHSAA staff visit the eight board districts to share updates with administrators of member schools. Learn about the changes approved by our Board of Directors, along with other ballot results and important information.

In another episode celebrating the MSHSAA Centennial we will highlight one of our major projects we've been diligently preparing - a new page to the MSHSAA website all about the MSHSAA Centennial! Listen and find out what we have been putting together from a historical timeline to photos of the past and more!

Kicking off the year, we held our first Student Advisory Committee leadership meeting in conjunction with the August MIAAA Conference. During this time, we sat down with some of our senior members to reflect on their experience at the National Federation Student Leadership Summit in Indianapolis this summer. Join us as we learn more about these amazing student representatives, what they learned at the summit, and how they plan to bring that knowledge back to their schools and communities.

The MSHSAA All-Access Podcast is launching a new series focused on common MSHSAA myths. Kicking off the series is our first episode, where we sit down to talk all about Class and District Assignments. Join us as we dive into how classifications and district assignments are determined—and why this information is released when it is.

The MSHSAA Sports Medicine Advisory Committee met in August to discuss changes to be implemented based on the current recommendations approved by the MSHSAA Board of Directors. Join us as committee members Dr. Mark Halstead and Blaise Kriley share important reminders and updates for the upcoming school year.

A wet bulb globe thermometer, or WBGT, measures heat stress combining ambient air temperature, humidity, wind and solar radiation into a single number to help monitor athlete safety and protocols when participating in outdoor activities. As awareness has increased due to catastrophic events involving exertional heat illness MSHSAA Board of Directors approved the use of the WBGT for measuring acceptable levels for all practices and contests. In this episode we share how we got here and what steps schools can do to ensure student health and safety.

In this heartfelt episode of the MSHSAA All-Access podcast, members of the MSHSAA staff come together to reflect on the life and legacy of Emry Dilday, a remarkable individual whose impact on the world of interscholastic activities has been both profound and enduring. Through personal stories, cherished memories, and meaningful anecdotes, the staff honor Emry’s unwavering dedication, his countless contributions to student athletics and activities, and the lasting impression he has left on schools, communities, and colleagues across the state. This episode serves not only as a tribute but also as a celebration of a life devoted to th...

Welcome to the 2025–26 school year!

We are excited to kick off this historic year for the association with the MIAAA/MSHSAA Summer Workshop session! Each August, prior to the start of the school year, athletic directors from across the state assemble at the MSHSAA office for two days of professional development, keynote speakers, and networking opportunities.

During this year’s workshop session, we took the time to interview the MIAAA Executive Director, Josh Scott. Join us as we talk about this amazing organization—why it is vital to Missouri schools and how much the role has ev...