MSHSAA All Access Podcast

Dr. Jennifer Rukstad, James Melton, and Andrew Kaufman recap the 2026 MSHSAA Boys Tennis Championships, highlighting the sport’s unique format with separate individual singles/doubles and team tournaments. They list the top four finishers in each class for singles and doubles, including Class 1 doubles champions Kyler Skidmore and William Shiel (Maryville), who joins this episode with their Head Coach Nicole McGinnis. The guests reflect on what it means to win the first tennis state title in Maryville history, the experience of competing at state and meeting top talent and sportsmanlike opponents such as Bolivar, and why sportsmanship matters in te...

Dr. Jennifer Rukstad, joined by Assistant Executive Director, Darryl Bradley and Communications Director, Andrew Kaufman, recaps the 2026 MSHSAA Scholar Bowl championships at the University of Missouri. With the top four teams in six different classes competing in a round robin competition resulting in a finals bracket for 1st -4th place as the group reviews all the results. Multiple teams would go 4–0, along with three back-to-back champions and one school would get their record 11th straight Final Four. The host and crew also thank the event staff for a smooth tournament.

Dr. Jennifer Rukstad and Alex Huck preview the MSHSAA 2026 Girls’ Soccer Championships, the final spring sport championship of the 2025–26 school year, set for June 5–6 at Worldwide Technology Soccer Park in Fenton, Missouri. They outline the four-class format, noting Classes 2–4 have eight districts feeding quarterfinals the prior Saturday, while Class 1 has four districts with champions advancing directly to the final four, and explain the two-field, two-day schedule with staggered start times (10:00 a.m. on Field 2 and 11:00 a.m. on Field 1) to reduce traffic and parking issues at a venue with one entrance/exit. They remind spectators about paid parking, encourage purchasi...

The MSHSAA All-Access Podcast previews the 2026 MSHSAA Baseball Championships with Assistant Executive Director, Daryl Bradley joining Executive Director Dr. Jennifer Rukstad.

The six-day tournament runs June 1–6 at the Ozark Mountain Sports Complex with four daily games at 10 a.m., 1 p.m., 4 p.m., and 7 p.m., rotating classifications: Class 1–2 early week, Class 3–4 midweek, and Class 5–6 June 5–6. The postseason includes six classes and 80 district tournaments: Classes 1–4 have 16 districts each and advance through sectionals (May 25–26) to quarterfinals (May 27–28), while Classes 5–6 have eight districts each and use best-of-three quarterfinal series May 29–30 at one site. Spectators are encouraged to buy digital tickets, with games...

Dr. Jennifer Rukstad and Associate Executive Director, James Melton, join together on this episode of the MSHSAA All-Access Podcast to talk about the 2026 State Music Festival for solo and small ensembles. This massive evaluative event occurs annually on the University of Missouri campus in Columbia, MO. Melton reviews the extensive year-long process of planning and preparation behind this 3-day event culminating in close to 7,000 students performing for their chance at Gold! Listen as they review the final results along with notes about a special moment shared during each of the three days.

On this championship preview on the MSHSAA All-Access Podcast, Dr. Jennifer Rukstad and Toni Hill preview the 2026 Boys’ Volleyball Championships, the sport’s third year and first with two classes after growth to 105 registered schools (94 postseason). The state tournament will be May 26–27 at the Show Me Center on SEMO’s campus in Cape Girardeau, with quarterfinals determining the final four in each class, semifinals on May 26 (Class 1 at 10 a.m. and noon; Class 2 at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.), and third-place and championship matches on May 27 (Class 1 at 10 a.m. and noon; Class 2 at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.). They dis...

Dr. Jennifer Rukstad and MSHSAA Assistant Executive Director Darryl Bradley preview the 2026 MSHSAA Spring Softball Championships, explaining how spring falls into an intensive three-week championship schedule with some events held Monday and Tuesday. They outline that spring softball has two classes (compared to five in fall) and is more southern in team geography. The championships return to the improved, newly turfed Killian Sports Complex in Springfield (home of Missouri State softball) and the final eight teams advancing to state will play on Memorial Day, May 25, and Tuesday, May 26. Monday includes Class 2 semifinals at 10:00 AM and Class 1 semifinals at 1:00 PM...

Dr. Jennifer Rukstad is joined by Alex Huck and Andrew Kauffman on the MSHSAA All-Access Podcast to recap the 2026 Speech & Debate Championships held April 24–25 at Missouri State University in Springfield. They review Class 1 results (Pembroke Hill wins debate with 24 points; Bolivar wins speech with 52 points; Bolivar edges Pembroke Hill 68–67 in combined sweeps) and Class 2 results (Jefferson City dominates speech with 72 points; Rock Bridge wins debate 26–24 over Lee’s Summit North; Jefferson City is the overall combined sweeps leader). They explain why combined sweepstakes points are calculated for championship-factor classification even though the community does not publicly award an overall sweeps c...

This episode of the MSHSAA All-Access Podcast recaps the spring Theatre Championships with Dr. Jennifer Rukstad, Alex Huck and Andrew Kauffman, covering both the One-Act Play and Reader’s Theatre competitions in Missouri’s single theatre class. Platte County won the One-Act team championship, followed by Excelsior Springs, Raymore-Peculiar, and Republic, with Excelsior Springs highlighted for adjusting to an emergency schedule change and still earning second. In Reader’s Theater, Willard took the team title over Raymore-Peculiar, Kirksville, and Carthage; Andrew notes Willard’s historic success, including its 15th overall theatre championship and recent dominance, despite missing the One-Act finals v...

MSHSAA Executive Director Dr. Jennifer Rukstad and Assistant Executive Director Stephanie Turner preview the 2026 Missouri High School Track & Field championships, describing it as the largest spring event. They outline dates and location: Classes 1–3 on May 22–23 and Classes 4–5 on May 29–30 at Addkins Stadium in Jefferson City, with Memorial Day between the two weekends. The episode explains the postseason path from districts (40 total across five classes) to sectionals and state, with top-four advancement at each level, plus how prelims/finals work and why scheduling track and field events is complex. They detail staffing (300+ workers/officials), emphasize parking, walking, and buying digital tickets...

As the excitement from our recent spring activity championships and festivals starts to settle, it’s time to gear up for another thrilling season—the 2026 MSHSAA Boys Golf Championships. This year’s tournament is set to unfold at five venues across the state. Find out how teams and individuals qualify for this prestigious event along with what makes the 2-day tournament in Missouri special! Dr. Jennifer Rukstad, Executive Director of MSHSAA, joins forces with Doug Fessler, Assistant Executive Director for the sport of golf, to deliver an engaging preview of what’s to come.

Excitement is in the air! Boys' tennis is leading the charge for our spring sports championships with amazing individual and team events lined up. Mark your calendar for May 14th-16th & 21st-22nd. Be there to cheer on the future stars of tennis!

Dr. Jennifer Rukstad and James Melton preview this spectacular two-part event explaining the history of the event as this year marks the 97th Championship along with important details involving the role of the official throughout the event.

This episode previews the spring season’s final activity championship, the 2026 Scholar Bowl Championships! Dr. Jennifer Rukstad and Daryl Bradley, Assistant Executive Director overseeing the event, will go over all the details! Held at the Memorial Union on the University of Missouri campus, with small classes (1–3) competing Friday, May 8, and larger classes (4–6) on Saturday, May 9, We'll explain the postseason structure beginning with 48 districts and six classes, followed by a semifinal bracket to crown district champions. Quarterfinals will determine the qualifying four teams per classification for state. At the final site, the four teams for each class play pool rounds starti...

Dr. Jennifer Rukstad, Executive Director, reviews and explains all 11 proposals on the 2026 Missouri State High School Activities Association Annual Ballot. The proposals include standardizing coach/director requirements and creating an approval pathway for non-certificated coaches; multiple transfer-rule exceptions for children of active-duty military, students of non-resident school employees, and refugee/asylum students; expanding the non-school competition exception to all sports; allowing cooperative sponsorship schools to train together out of season; adding a preseason team tennis jamboree; permitting an extra speech/debate contest after April 1 and removing Friday start-time restrictions; modernizing scholar bowl limits to competition dates; and increasing dance...

2026 State Music Festival Preview | Dates, Locations & Details

This episode previews MSHSAA’s 2026 State Music Festival, an evaluative “festival” rather than a competitive championship, featuring state solo and ensemble events. Associate Executive Director, James Melton, shares that the festival will be held at the University of Missouri in Columbia over three days—April 30, May 1, and May 2—with school groups rotating B, then C, then A, using multiple buildings including Memorial Union. They explain classifications, district qualification via exemplary ratings (about 45% advancing), and expected participation of roughly 4,500–5,000 events representing about 7,000 students across 31–32 rooms in seven-minute recital-style performances. They cover performance ru...

Dr. Jennifer Rukstad, Executive Director of the Missouri State High School Activities Association, interviews Alex Huck, Assistant Executive Director overseeing Speech and Debate, to preview the 2026 Speech and Debate Championships. The tournament will be held April 24–25 in Springfield at Missouri State University, headquartered in Plaster Student Union and spread across campus. They explain how the championship scoring for speech and debate events work, with placements first through fourth for the two classifications. The championship schedule is also detailed leading up to Saturday's awards ceremony. Listen in as we highlight this spectacular event!

On the MSHSAA All-Access Podcast, Executive Director Dr. Jennifer Rukstad and Assistant Executive Director Alex Huck discuss the 2026 Theater Championships as part of the spring activity championship season. The championships will be held April 22–23 in the greater Springfield, Missouri area, with prelims for Readers Theater and One Act on Wednesday at Republic High School and Ozark High School, and finals on Thursday at Stratford High School. We'll explain theatre's 2 events — Readers Theater and One Act — along with how the association is looking at the growth of this activity in the hopes to possibly increase to two classes once more school...

As we dive into the Spring Sports Season we want to take a moment to recognize some special individuals. In this episode of the MSHSAA All-Access podcast we will highlight the recipients of the NFHS MSHSAA high school Coach of the Year for MSHSAA Spring Sports and their landmark seasons. Join us as we celebrate the many individuals responsible for educating and mentoring all the interscholastic athletes in our state! We will also announce the individual that received a sectional award!

Dr. Jennifer Rukstad and Toni Hill spotlight our spring sports officiating with an interview of veteran track & field official Charley Welker from SE Missouri and new official Kennede Coleman from Central Missouri. This episode will highlight the stories and experiences of two dedicated officials, showcasing how officiating has enriched their lives and the lives of many others. We get an interesting perspective between the Veteran and the Newcomer as we take this chance to thank the larger community of officials throughout the state of Missouri that dedicate their time and energy into encouraging others through this unique and rewarding...

Dr. Jennifer Rukstad, Doug Fessler, and Scott Lunte come together once again to recap the second weekend of the 2026 MSHSAA Show Me Showdown (Classes 4–6), noting the first-time split of girls (Wed–Thu) and boys (Fri–Sat) at Mizzou Arena.

Join us as they review all the results from each class of girls and boys competition all the way from semifinal action to record making plays. Who earned their third straight championship? Which team shot a Show Me Showdown record with 73.5% shooting? We'll share all the details and more!!

Dr. Jennifer Rukstad, Doug Fessler, and Scott Lunte sit down to recap the first weekend of the 2026 MSHSAA Basketball Championships held at Mizzou Arena (March 11–14), featuring a new format that grouped girls (Classes 1–3) on Wednesday–Thursday and boys (Classes 1–3) on Friday–Saturday.

In this wrap-up we'll highlight all the results from both the Girls & Boys games including details on player and team statistics. Find out who made it to the top and how the teams performed throughout the tournament!

Dr. Jennifer Rukstad is joined by Daryl Bradley, Assistant Executive Director and executive in charge of Wrestling, along with Scott Lunte, Communications Assistant to recap the 2026 Boys and Girls Wrestling Championships. In this episode we get to share exciting news coming up for the 2026-27 school year as this was the final year to have both genders competing simultaneously at Mizzou Arena. Listen and find out all of the details from individual champions to how teams finished throughout the event.

MSHSAA Executive Director Dr. Jennifer Rukstad, Assistant Executive Director Stephanie Turner, and Communications Assistant Scott Lunte recap the 2026 MSHSAA Girls Swimming & Diving Championships held in February at the St. Peters RECplex.

Listen as they review Class 1 and 2 team standings plus individual champions with no event records broken all weekend. We'll also spend some time listening to an on-sight interview with reflections on retiring after 26+ years with coach Steve Boyce.

On this episode of the MSHSAA All-Access Podcast, Executive Director Dr. Jennifer Rukstad and Assistant Executive Director Doug Fessler, preview the 2026 MSHSAA Basketball Show-Me Showdown Championships! Join us as we highlight the two-week high school championships held at Mizzou Arena in Columbia. Classes 1-3 play March 11-14 and classes 4-6 will play March 18-21. A new schedule feature separates girls and boys tournaments and adjustments to the trophy game schedule are just a few of the topics we'll cover as we get ready for our next championship event!

Dr. Jennifer Rukstad, Executive Director of the Missouri State High School Activities Association, explains the 2026 Annual Questionnaire process, open in the last few weeks of February for member schools, with results reviewed by the Board of Directors in March for potential by-law and constitutional changes voted on via the April ballot.

In this episode Dr. Rukstad highlights the varying questionnaire topics from transfer-rule proposals to tournament seeding. Join the discussion and learn what key items the membership is looking to discuss in our governance season.

The 2026 Missouri State High School Activities Association Wrestling Championships are here!! Boys & Girls, multiple classes, and endless action will all happen at Mizzou Arena in Columbia! It's a four-day marathon of matches featuring 2, 436 bouts from the best young wrestlers in Missouri! Beginning Feb. 25th - 28th, this will be the last wrestling championship for boys and girls hosted under one roof - listen and find out what exciting news we have coming for the future of boys and girls wrestling in Missouri!

Join Dr. Jennifer Rukstd, Executive Director of MSHSAA, and Stephanie Turner, Assistant Executive Director, as they preview the 2026 Girls Swimming and Diving Championships in this episode of the MSHSAA All Access Podcast.

Learn about the schedule, location, and unique qualifying process for the event, as well as special insights and tips for athletes, coaches, and spectators.

In this episode of the MSHSAA All-Access Podcast, Communications Director Andrew Kauffman, along with Associate Executive Director James Melton and Assistant Executive Director Alex Huck, invite two special guests to celebrate their selections as “Directors of the Year.” Daniel Henderson, Orchestra Director for Clayton High School, and Jordan Heart, Speech and Debate Director for Jefferson City, share their passion for mentoring students and young educators. The group discusses their impact on student success, the importance of mentorship and community support, and the value of participation in activities like the arts.

Join Dr. Jennifer Rukstad and CFO/COO Craig Long in this episode as we explore another misconception in our MSHSAA Myths series. Listen as they dive into the intricate process behind selecting championship venues. Discover the evolution from early member school hosts to utilizing collegiate facilities. Learn how vital the role of community Convention and Visitors Bureau's and Sports Commissions play in organizing and supporting these events, and the importance of creating memorable experiences for student athletes.

Don't miss this insightful discussion on the logistical challenges and strategic decisions that shape the hosting of high school sports...

Celebrating 100 Years: Missouri State High School Activities Association's Centennial

Join Dr. Jennifer Rukstad, Executive Director of the Missouri State High School Activities Association, and retired Senior Associate Executive Director Stacy Schroeder as they highlight the centennial year of MSHSAA. In this special episode, they delve into the Association's history, focusing on key dates leading up to its official formation on February 4th, 1926. Learn about the origins of interscholastic competition in Missouri, the pivotal role that various teaching colleges and districts played, and the milestones that marked the foundation of MSHSAA. This episode is a part of a...

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!