Wrestling and basketball championships to be held in Columbia, while track and field to remain in Jefferson City.

The Missouri State High School Activities Association Board announced the host sites for 2010-2013 MSHSAA Championships in wrestling, basketball and track and field in all classes today.

After evaluating proposals from entities around the state, the Board voted unanimously to accept the joint proposals from the Columbia Convention and Visitors Bureau and the University of Missouri Athletic Department to keep the wrestling and basketball championships in Columbia on the University of Missouri campus for the next four years.    

Likewise, through the joint proposal of the Jefferson City CVB and Lincoln University the track and field championships will remain in Jefferson City at Lincoln University for 2010 and 2011, with an option of extending the venue through the 2013 championships.

“We are very excited about returning to venues for which we have received many positive comments on championships,” said MSHSAA Executive Director Dr. Kerwin Urhahn. “We appreciate the work that everyone put into this bid process and we have taken this process very seriously. We have an obligation to our membership to find not only the best facilities to host our championships, but also the best support from the host sites to serve our schools needs.”

In other action, the MSHSAA Board of Directors wanted to see a change made in the format of the Class 1, 2 and 3 basketball championships.  The Board approved further study of using two facilities on the first day of the Class 1, 2, 3 championships which would be more advantageous for the student participants.  A portion of Columbia’s proposal included the use of Hearnes Arena for this use.