Advertise on podcast: MSHSAA All Access Podcast

MSHSAA All-Access Podcast: Missouri Fall Coaches of the Year (2025–2026 Recognition) This MSHSAA All-Access Podcast episode recognizes Missouri’s 2025–2026 (last year’s) Fall Coaches of the Year as part of the NFHS Coach of the Year program pathway from state to section and national honors. Honorees include John Plankers (Raymore-Peculiar girls golf) for the school’s first state title; Chris Salaveria (Clayton girls tennis) after three straight Class 1 championships; Ali Jo Locher (Raymore-Peculiar softball) for the program’s first title since 2002; Aubri Janes (Lee’s Summit North volleyball) for the school’s first state trophy with a Class 5 runner-up finish; Andrew Pyatt (School of the Ozarks girls cross country) for a first program championship alongside a boys title; David Chatlos (Liberty North boys cross country) for another title; Ian Johnston (Staley boys swimming and diving) for a fifth-place Class 2 finish; Jesus Rodriguez (Van Horn boys soccer) for a first state title in school history; and Cody Hilburn (Seneca football) for a first state championship since 1995.

2026/27 Fall Softball State Championships Preview | Back at Killian Sports Complex Dr. Jennifer Rukstad and Assistant Executive Director Daryl Bradley preview the Missouri State High School Activities Association Fall Softball Championships, returning to the Killian Sports Complex in Springfield after time at Meador Park while turf was installed. They highlight the benefits of the upgraded all-turf facility, including auxiliary fields, an extra warmup field, and batting cages, and outline the championship schedule for October 29–31, with multiple classes playing semifinals, third-place games, and finals across several fields in a tightly rotating format. They also explain how championship umpires are selected from across all seven regions with a rotation system, and note that fans can buy digital tickets online and watch via streaming with updated pricing. The episode leads into a forthcoming coach conversation about last year’s state-title experience. Chillicothe’s First State Softball Title: AD/Coach Lee Rucker on the 2025 Championship Run Athletic director and head girls’ softball coach Lee Rucker joins the MSHSAA All-Access Podcast to discuss Chillicothe High School’s 2025 Class 3 softball state championship—the first softball title and first girls’ team sport championship in school history. He reflects on the program’s buildup through prior Final Four runs, high expectations, and key adversity when all-state pitcher Landry Marsh battled elbow pain midseason before returning healthy as the team hit its stride. Rucker describes the community impact in the town of 9,000, strong fan travel to Springfield and road games, and how high school success differs from travel ball through wider community support. He also explains juggling AD duties with coaching by sharing responsibilities with co-AD Tim Cunningham and relying on school leadership and veteran coaches, and he thanks event staff for hosting at Meador Park.

Previewing the 2026 MSHSAA Girls Tennis Championships | Dates, Format & Cooper Tennis Complex Dr. Jennifer Rukstad and Associate Executive Director James Melton preview the 2026 MSHSAA Girls Tennis Championships, outlining the sport’s unique setup with separate individual (singles and doubles) and team state tournaments. They share that championships will be held at the Cooper Tennis Complex in Springfield with extensive outdoor courts and limited indoor use to keep play on schedule. The individual tournament runs October 22–24 in Class 2, then Class 3, then Class 1, followed by the team tournament October 29–30 in the same class order, bringing four teams to the final site after district and sectional rounds. They explain qualification (16-player/teams brackets from district winners and runners-up), double-elimination structure, participation numbers (about 171 schools), and encourage spectators to prepare for changing fall weather, noting softball will be nearby at Killian during team tennis. Meet Brett Helbig: New MSHSAA Tennis Head Official & Fall State Tournament Preview The host introduces Brett Helbig as the new MSHSAA tennis head official for the fall state tournaments and discusses his background and goals in the role. Brett shares that he is a full-time teaching pro at Vetta Sports in St. Louis, runs USTA junior tournaments, and became interested in officiating to deepen his rules knowledge before discovering he enjoyed working matches on court. They talk about the head official’s responsibilities in supporting roving officials and helping manage tournament operations, emphasizing clear communication with coaches, players, and spectators. Brett explains what makes high school tennis unique—players make their own calls even at state with officials there to support—and highlights sportsmanship and character. The conversation also covers opportunities to strengthen the state tournament experience, develop future officials, and ends with Brett naming the US Open as his top tournament to attend.

2026 MSHSAA Girls Golf Championships: Dates, Venues, Qualifying & Live Scoring Coach Matt Frey on Eldon Girls Golf’s Class 2 State Title and Building a Championship Program The episode kicks off the MSHSL’s 2026 championship year and fall season by previewing the girls’ golf postseason with Assistant Executive Director, Doug Fessler. They outline key dates, with district tournaments beginning October 7 and the girls’ state championships held October 19–20 across four class sites: Class 1 at Paradise Pointe (Posse Course) in Smithville, Class 2 at Bogey Creek (formerly Crown Point) in Farmington, Class 3 at Meadow Lake in New Bloomfield, and Class 4 at Rivercut in Springfield. The conversation explains the districts-only format (no sectionals), two-day 36-hole state format when weather allows, qualifying procedures for teams and individuals, team scoring using the best four of up to five golfers each day, and recognition for top teams and top 15 individual scores. They also highlight the MSHSAA golf app for live postseason scoring and close by transitioning to a 2025 championship coach interview with Matt Frey. Coach Matt Frey of Eldon High School recounts his team’s Class 2 Girls State Championship at Meadow Lake Country Club in New Bloomfield, describing cold, windy conditions, a mindset shift after day one, and how the girls extended their lead to win. He shares that it was his first girls title and his third overall after two boys championships, reflecting on 15 years coaching and teaching middle school PE while also coaching boys basketball. Fry explains how the team improved after placing second at districts, the emotional reaction of the players, and the strong community celebration back in Eldon. He discusses the program’s long-term development, players who have gone on to college golf, differences in coaching girls versus boys, and optimism for returning with four seniors and another state run in Farmington.

Officials Appreciation Week: Soccer Referee Gaou Boukari on Officiating, Preparation, and Getting Started In this MSHSAA All-Access Podcast episode for Officials Appreciation Week, Dr. Jennifer Rukstad talks with soccer official Gahou Boukari and Assistant Executive Director Alex Huck about officiating in Missouri high school soccer and beyond. Boukari, an IT professional at the University of Missouri and a longtime player originally from Central Africa, shares his path into officiating through USSF and nine years with MSHSAA, including working the boys state championships the past four years. He discusses handling fan and player pressure, preparing through research and rest, differences among USSF, high school, and college rules, and how officiating changed how he views the game as a former player and coach. Huck provides an update on statewide official numbers and recruiting needs, and Boukari offers tips for new officials, including where to sign up.

Officials Appreciation Week: Celebrating Missouri Fall Sports Officials | MSHSAA All-Access Podcast During Officials Appreciation Week, Dr. Jennifer Rukstad hosts the MSHSAA All-Access Podcast highlighting volleyball with Associate Director Toni Hill and veteran Missouri officials Dixie Wescott and Cathy Viets. Wescott, a Kansas City/NW Missouri official in her 20th year and former assistant principal, and Viets, a central Missouri official in her 51st year and retired teacher, discuss their roles as rules interpreters, observers, and mentors who help develop officials and inform postseason assignments. They describe the varied backgrounds of officials, recruiting parents and students into officiating, and the enjoyment of staying connected to the sport and meeting former students and players. They also address challenges such as loud misconceptions from spectators, nerves in big matches, coach interactions, and the importance of emphasizing students, sportsmanship, education, and positive instruction, especially at the middle school level.

MSHSAA TV Announces New Fall Postseason Pricing: One Pass Per Round + Final Site Options On the MSHSAA All Access podcast, CFO/COO Craig Long and Communications Director Andrew Kauffman announce a new MSHSAA TV pricing structure for fall postseason championships. Previously $10 bought one individual postseason game; now football is $10 per round for access to all games statewide that weekend, while other fall sports (girls volleyball, boys soccer, fall softball) are $5 per round for all games in that round. Final site passes include $25 for the football Show-Me Bowl (all seven games) and $25 for cross country (all 10 races), with fall softball finals priced at $20 due to semifinal logistics and no announcers; an additional $20 single-game option is offered for the Show-Me Bowl. They explain buying through mshsaa.org and school pages, confirm the 20% revenue share to host schools remains, emphasize supporting commercial broadcasters, and note purchases allow rewatching games in that round, with games becoming free after June 30 each year.

MSHSAA Championship Venue Updates (Through 2031) + How the RFP Process Works | Craig Long On the MSHSAA All Access Podcast, Executive Director Dr. Jennifer Rukstad and CFO/COO Craig Long explain how MSHSAA selects championship venues through a competitive RFP process and why the association is shifting from multiple staggered five-year cycles to a consolidated, shorter three-year approach, with the next comprehensive RFP planned around January 2029. They recap board-approved venue decisions designed to align all agreements by 2030–2031: football remains at Missouri Western in St. Joseph; wrestling stays with Mizzou, using Hearnes Center for girls and Mizzou Arena for boys on consecutive weekends due to added girls classes; basketball remains at Mizzou despite higher costs; boys and girls volleyball move to Cape Girardeau’s Show-Me Center with host support bringing net cost to zero; and theater transitions in spring 2027 with speech and debate staying in Springfield one more year before both move to Jefferson City/Lincoln University starting 2027–2028.

Rock Bridge’s Two-Sport Star: Nicholas Timbrook Balances Soccer & Football, Scores Big, Commits to South Dakota State In this MSHSAA All-Access Podcast episode, Rock Bridge High School senior Nicholas Timbrook and head football coach Matt Perkins discuss how Nick simultaneously plays varsity boys soccer and football in the same season. Nick, a lifelong soccer player and first-time football wide receiver, explains how he splits practices and coordinates daily with both coaching staffs, while Coach Perkins describes the planning and cooperation with the soccer program to keep the arrangement student-focused. They highlight Nick’s standout early-season feat of scoring a varsity soccer goal, then scoring his first football touchdown about 45 minutes later, plus a week in which he recorded a soccer hat trick and three football touchdowns two days later. The conversation also covers Nick’s commitment to play college football at South Dakota State after being noticed during spring practice.

MSHSAA All-Access Podcast: Board Members Reflect on Appeals, Leadership, and Strategic Planning Following the September MSHSAA board meeting, the All-Access Podcast features board members Craig Gibbs (Southeast District, principal at Valle Catholic), Dr. Lori Wilson (new member, Southwest District, superintendent of Ozark School District), and Dr. Josh Hoener (South Central District, superintendent of New Haven) discussing key themes from the meeting. Wilson shares first-time lessons from the student appeals process, emphasizing applying bylaws fairly while ensuring schools and families feel heard. Gibbs, in his first meeting as board president, describes increased preparation, managing agendas, and adhering to Missouri Sunshine Law and proper closed-session procedures. Hoener reflects on seven years of service, noting turnover, longer and deeper board discussions, and a shift toward examining practices through strategic planning. The group discusses changing pressures on schools since COVID, accountability, evolving learning models, member-school engagement, and the complex tradeoffs in playoff structures, including geographic representation, travel, and equity across Missouri’s diverse schools.

How Emerging Sports Become MSHSAA Championship Activities (and What’s Next for Girls Flag Football & Esports) Dr. Jennifer Rukstad, Executive Director of the Missouri State High School Activities Association, explains how “emerging” sports and activities are recognized and what it takes for them to become fully interscholastic with MSHSAA-sponsored championships and services. She outlines the 2026–2027 list of emerging offerings (including girls field hockey, girls lacrosse, boys and girls water polo, girls stunt, unified track and field, bass fishing, bowling, chess, and target shooting) and clarifies what schools do and do not receive when registering an emerging program. Rukstad details the bylaw 5.2 registration thresholds (50+ schools across at least three board districts in consecutive years) and highlights girls flag football’s rapid growth toward a membership vote, esports’ provisional status after a failed vote, and the push to expand unified track and field participation.

Unified Track & Field in Missouri: MSHSAA Partners with Special Olympics Missouri On the MSHSAA All-Access Podcast, Dr. Jennifer Rukstad is joined by Luke Lamb and Ben Johnson of Special Olympics Missouri to discuss Unified Champion Schools and the launch of Unified Track and Field as an emerging MSHSAA sport. They explain Unified Sports as teams made up of roughly a 50/50 mix of students with intellectual disabilities (Unified Athletes) and students without intellectual disabilities (Unified Partners), with everyone competing and team points determining meet results. The group addresses Missouri’s historically limited relationship with Unified Sports, notes growth to about 250 Unified Champion Schools (about 20% elementary) with a goal of 300, and contrasts that with just 11 MSHSAA-registered Unified Track and Field programs in year one. They share early success stories like McDonald County’s small roster and Webb City’s state title celebration, emphasize the benefits and community impact, and encourage schools to connect special education and athletics departments to expand participation and move toward full sanctioning.

Inside MSHSAA’s New Medals: Design, History & the Partnership with Collegiate Awards On the MSHSAA All Access podcast, Executive Director Dr. Jennifer Rukstad and CFO/COO Craig Long welcome Frank Boster of Collegiate Awards to discuss the history and scale of MSHSAA trophies and medals and reveal the association’s newly redesigned medals. They explain MSHSAA’s long-standing bidding process and vendor partnerships, the production volume (nearly 30,000 engraved medals plus additional music medals, thousands of plaques, and hundreds of trophies), and how Collegiate’s in-house laser engraving supports fast turnaround. The group details how the new Missouri-shaped medal evolved from the centennial design, featuring topographic relief, the Missouri and Mississippi rivers, “Established 1926,” the MSHSAA logo with eight stars for board districts, and updated ribbons, along with how the medals are manufactured and engraved.

Building Student Leaders: Lee’s Summit North’s Student Activities Advisory Council (SAC) In this MSHSAA All-Access episode, Executive Director Dr. Jennifer Rukstad interviews Lee’s Summit North Athletic/Activities Director Mike McGurk about the school’s Student Activities Advisory Council (SAC). McGurk explains how the program evolved over the past 13 years from a liaison group into a leadership development “train-the-trainer” model that equips about 30 students across sports and activities to bring lessons back to their teams and clubs. He describes how students are selected for representation and balance, including bringing in freshmen to build leadership early. The conversation highlights book studies, monthly student-led community service projects, role-play scenarios, and structured debriefs that teach trust, accountability, feedback, and learning from failure, along with examples of student growth and alumni returning to share real-life applications.

MSHSAA Annual Membership Update: Transfer Exceptions, Coaching Requirements, Championship Factor & 2027–28 District Changes This episode explains MSHSAA’s annual membership updates required for member-school principals and activities administrators, held in early September across eight board districts, and previews key topics for the new school year. It covers by-law changes including new transfer exceptions (military, nonresident parent employee, and refugee/asylum with I-94), expanded preseason non-school competition allowances across all sports, expanded cooperative sponsorship participation beyond the regular season, and sport-specific updates (team tennis jamborees, speech/debate contest and start-time changes, Scholar Bowl competition-date limits, and dance contest increases). It also outlines revised coach/director minimum requirements with a five-year NFHS-based training progression, board policy updates to the championship factor using a depreciating point system and removing the two-class cap, a new sending-school response-time policy for transfers, postseason streaming and media credential updates, a pilot point-based district seeding system for 2026–27 leading to implementation in 2027–28, district host-site selection changes beginning 2027–28, officials reminders, girls flag football reaching provisionally interscholastic status for a 2027 vote, enrollment type reviews, and a possible special ballot to expand the board from 10 to 11 members and increase at-large positions.