MSHSAA All Access Podcast

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 championships in Missouri.

Celebrating 100 Years: Missouri State High School Activities Association's CentennialJoin 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 series celebrating 100 years of enhancing student activities and competitions.

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 around MSHSAA in this series!

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 TVJoin 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 leading the way in providing accessible and high-quality streaming experiences for high school sports and activities.

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 inspiring discussion about dedication and passion in sports officiating.