FHSAA ranks top venues for fall and winter championships
GAINESVILLE – The FHSAA Office announced today the venues that received the highest rankings by the Association to host its fall and winter championships in the next two to three years.
Most notably, Polk County Sports Marketing and the Lakeland Center received the highest ranking to retain both boys and girls basketball, and wrestling. Both of these would be three-year deals.
"The experience with the folks in Lakeland is what made the difference," said FHSAA Executive Director Dr. Roger Dearing. "The center has a great staff and adequate facilities. We felt that staying with an organization that knows how to run state high school championships at this level was in our best interest.
"Having championships in Lakeland is such a great experience. Everything is fast-paced and always moving, but the staff at the Lakeland Center can handle it."
The FHSAA ranked all proposals it received from the bidding venues for each sport's championship. The highest ranked bid in each sport was notified of its standing and was subsequently offered a contract. All but one venue and the FHSAA are currently in contract negotiation.
The one venue with a signed contract in place is for bowling. Boardwalk Bowl in Orlando will remain the host of the state championship for another three years. Boardwalk Bowl has hosted the FHSAA Finals for seven straight years after the inaugural championship in 2003 was held in Kendall.
Other venues with top rankings include:
Cross Country – Little Everglades Ranch, Dade City (two years)
Cross country finals have been held at Little Everglades Ranch since 2005. This ranking beat out Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee and Ernie Weaver Youth Park in Brooksville.
Golf – Mission Inn, Deer Island Golf and Lake Club, and Harbor Hills Country Club, Lake County (two years)
First time FHSAA Golf Finals will be held in Lake County. Finals have been in Marion County for the past two years and Polk County the two years before that. This ranking beat out bids from St. Lucie County and Marion County.
Swimming & Diving – YMCA Aquatic Center, Orlando (three years)
Swimming & diving finals have been held at the Orlando YMCA for the past four years, and also from 1997-2000. This ranking beat out the bid from The Long Center in St. Petersburg.
Girls Volleyball – Silver Spurs Arena, Kissimmee (three years)
Kissimmee Convention and Visitors Bureau also currently hosts the competitive cheerleading, girls weightlifting and boys weightlifting finals at Osceola Heritage Park. Girls volleyball had been at the Lakeland Center for the past nine years, and submitted the other bid to the FHSAA for this championship.
Dearing added, "We were impressed with Kissimmee as well. The city did not have any FHSAA finals just two years ago, but now the sports commission there is hosting four of our championships and had very good bids on a couple others."
Securing these venues is subject to successful contract agreement.
About the FHSAA
The Florida High School Athletic Association is the governing body for interscholastic athletics in Florida. It has a membership of more than 770 middle and senior high schools, and sponsors postseason competitions to determine the official state high school champions in 30 different sports.
Contacts:
Seth Polansky
Media Relations Specialist, FHSAA
(352) 372-9551 ext. 400
spolasky [at] fhsaa [dot] org