The Missouri State High School Activities Association announced today it is canceling a number of events, including events that were scheduled to take place in Springfield. The cancelations are due to the ongoing pandemic and recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

“As of today, the CDC has recommended that for the next eight weeks organizers cancel or postpone in-person events that consist of 50 people or more throughout the U.S.,” said Dr. Kerwin Urhahn, MSHSAA executive director. “Many of the host venues and facilities for our events are connected with colleges and universities that are closing their campuses. These issues directly and wholly affect MSHSAA districts and state series events.”

Speech, Debate and Theatre

District Tournaments and the State Speech, Debate and Theatre Championships are canceled. Due to the loss of host sites and judges, the two remaining District Tournaments could not be completed and the events exceed the current recommendations regarding the size of gatherings.

The championships were scheduled to be in Springfield April 23-25. About 1,500 people were expected for the event that would have generated 600 room nights for area hotels.

Music Festival

For the same reasons, the remaining District Festivals for large groups, and solo and ensembles and the State Music Festival are canceled. Only two of twenty district festivals been completed. Alternative methods of submission were discussed but found to be lacking in consistency and suitability to maintain a valid process.

Scholar Bowl

Districts are scheduled to take place on April 18. MSHSAA will evaluate if the post-season tournaments may be completed as that date nears.

Spring Sports

MSHSAA is not canceling spring sports championships. The MSHSAA office will stay in communication with state and local officials to help determine the possibility of having the championships as scheduled or rescheduling them as long as schools are in session.