MSHSAA All Access Podcast

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 effectively doubled the size of Missouri’s interscholastic athletic programs.We were fortunate enough to speak with Jack prior to his passing in January of this year, as we began preparations for the MSHSAA Centennial. Listen as he describes his path to the MSHSAA office and the programs and policies he oversaw during his tenure as Assistant and Executive Director of the Missouri State High School Activities Association.

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 the growth and enrichment of young people through education-based activities.

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 evolved over the years.

It's a new school year and today marks the first day for Fall sports practices! In just a few short weeks competition will soon begin. This short episode is simply a welcome and thank you to all of the individuals that dedicate so much time and energy into the students of Missouri!

We are taking another look at how the association will move forward following the passing of Senate Bill 63 and its impact on schools across Missouri. Listen as we share the next steps being taken to prepare all of our members for this upcoming law change, and the actions underway to ensure that all schools comply and understand how to navigate this shift in student eligibility and participation.

In this episode, Dr. Rukstad provides a brief explanation of a new bill signed into law on July 9 — Senate Bill 63. Who does it impact? What are its provisions? How will MSHSAA adapt to serve its members? We answer many of these questions and more in this summary of what lies ahead for the association as it heads into the 2025–26 school year.

Join us in welcoming our newest Assistant Executive Director - Mr. Alex Huck! MSHSAA is thrilled to have Alex join the MSHSAA staff and all the experience and expertise he brings with him! Find out more about Alex, what role will he have with the office and more!