MSHSAA All Access Podcast

2026 MSHSAA Boys Swimming & Diving Championships Preview (Dates, Location, Qualifying, and Fan Info)

Dr. Jennifer Rukstad and Assistant Executive Director Stephanie Turner preview the 93rd MSHSAA Boys Swimming and Diving Championships, set for November 12–14, 2026 at the RecPlex in St. Peters, Missouri, with Class 2 competing Thursday–Friday and Class 1 Friday–Saturday. They explain how diving qualifies through district meets (four districts split between St. Louis and Kansas City, with each district advancing eight divers per class) and how swimming qualifies without a single qualifying meet, instead using statewide qualifying times and a blind declarations process limited to four entries per event per school and four events per swimmer. They outline meet format details for prelims, finals, and the longer separate diving session, plus logistical reminders on team entry procedures, hallway closures, seating policies, sportsmanship expectations, and volunteer timer opportunities (age 16+, free admission with early signup).

MSHSAA Cross Country Championships Preview: Gans Creek, Schedule, Tickets & Mizzou Game Travel Tips

With the fall championship season underway, the podcast welcomes Doug Fessler, MSHSAA Assistant Executive Director for cross country, to preview the MSHSAA Cross Country Championships on November 6–7 at Gans Creek Recreational Area in Columbia. They highlight the venue’s collaboration between the City of Columbia, the University of Missouri, and MSHSAA, its championship-level course history, spectator-friendly viewing areas, permanent video board, live scoring, and strong streaming broadcast. The episode covers digital ticketing, the popular championship T-shirts sold during the preview night, and the two-day race format: six races Friday (Classes 2–4) and four Saturday (Classes 5 and 1), with girls running first this year. They also explain scheduling around a home Mizzou football game, advising extra travel time, hotel planning, and traffic considerations.

West Plains Zizzers Cross Country Tradition: Coach Alicia Gunter on Culture, Championships & Coaching

In this MSHSAA All-Access Podcast preview for the 2026 Boys and Girls Cross Country Championships, the host interviews West Plains Zizzers coach Alicia Gunter about the program being honored, its long-running cross country culture, and the legacy of longtime coach Joe Bill Dixon. Gunter, who returned to coach in 2003 and has led state-title teams since becoming head coach, discusses West Plains’ championship history, small roster sizes, and a team-first philosophy centered on character, consistency, and taking care of teammates. She explains how cross country scoring works, why sixth and seventh runners matter, and how her staff actively coaches races from key course spots. The conversation also covers memorable state-meet moments, her teaching and track roles, and how running shaped her life.

Previewing the 2026 MSHSAA Girls Volleyball Championships in St. Joseph

Dr. Jennifer Rukstad hosts Toni Hill on the MSHSAA All-Access Podcast to preview the 2026 Girls’ Volleyball Championships at the Civic Arena in St. Joseph, running November 4–7. They outline the four-day, five-class schedule, including semifinal and championship rotations across classes 1–5, and note St. Joseph is hosting for a second year with one more year remaining before the event returns to Cape Girardeau’s Show Me Center from 2028–2031. Hill explains that 12 officials are selected from across the state’s regions, including eight championship officials and four third-place officials gaining first-time championship experience. They also share that matches will stream on MSHAA.TV with professional announcers and discuss parking changes due to the demolition of the nearby parking garage, along with praise for the city’s community support and hosting.

Bismarck Volleyball’s First State Title: Coach Chelsea Hennes Relives the 2025 Championship Run

Bismarck High School volleyball coach Chelsea Hennes joins us as part of the girls’ volleyball 2026 championship preview, revisiting Bismarck’s first state championship season in 2025. Hennes describes the team’s progression from a quarterfinal loss to Winona to a senior-led, community-backed run highlighted by a sectional win over Leopold in a 16–14 fifth set and a state title clinched via reverse sweep. She reflects on the extensive travel, packed gyms, pep bus support, and a hometown parade, and shares her background as a longtime Bismarck teacher and coach. Hennes also previews the current season at 20–8, noting the challenge of replacing three all-state seniors and preparing for districts.

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.