The Ohio High School Athletic Association has finalized details for several upcoming state tournaments, including cross country, volleyball and soccer. In addition, updates are included for football regional final and state semifinal sites, along with divisional breakdowns for the 2021 softball and baseball seasons.
SOCCER STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES TO BE HOSTED AT MAPFRE STADIUM
In partnership with the Columbus Crew SC, the OHSAA girls and boys soccer state championship games will once again be hosted at MAPFRE Stadium in Columbus. The girls finals will be Friday, November 13, followed by the boys finals on Saturday, November 14. The OHSAA applauds the Crew SC for working with the OHSAA to make it possible for the finals to remain at MAPFRE Stadium, where they have been since 1999.
“We would like to thank the Crew SC for being such a great partner during these uncertain times,” said Kathleen Coughlin, OHSAA Director of Sport Management and soccer administrator. “Due to the attendance restrictions this year, we didn’t know if it would be possible to have our finals in such an outstanding venue, but the Crew SC made it happen and we couldn’t be happier to once again crown our soccer state champions at MAPFRE Stadium.”
The stadium will be cleared and cleaned after each game.
VOLLEYBALL STATE TOURNAMENT TO BE HOSTED BY VANDALIA-BUTLER HIGH SCHOOL NOV. 13-15
The upcoming volleyball state tournament will take a hiatus from the Nutter Center at Wright State University and be hosted by Vandalia Butler High School. In addition, the event will move to a Friday-Saturday-Sunday format (November 13-15). School will not be in session at Butler High School that Friday.
“We are very thankful that Butler High School stepped forward to host our volleyball state tournament,” said Emily Gates, OHSAA Director of Sport Management and the volleyball administrator. “We look forward to our return to Wright State University in the future, but with the small number of fans who can attend this year, we needed to find a smaller venue that was still an exceptional site. We found that at Butler High School and are very excited to work together on this great state tournament.”
The facility will be cleared and cleaned after each match, so the state tournament schedule will be adjusted to the following:
Friday, November 13: Division II semifinals at 10 AM and 1 PM; Division I semifinals at 4 PM and 7 PM
Saturday, November 14: Division IV semifinals at 10 AM and 1 PM; Division III semifinals at 4 PM and 7 PM
Sunday, November 15: Division II final at 9 AM; Division I final at 12:30 PM; Division IV final at 4 PM; Division III final at 7:30 PM.
CROSS COUNTRY REGIONAL AND STATE TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
The OHSAA will now conduct all regional and state cross country races on Saturdays (Oct. 31 and Nov. 7, respectively). The schedule for the regional and state tournaments is as follows:
Division III Boys: 9 AM
Division III Girls: 10 AM
Division II Boys: Noon
Division II Girls: 1 PM
Division I Boys: 3 PM
Division I Girls: 4 PM
UPDATE ON FOOTBALL PLAYOFF SITES
On October 22, the OHSAA informed schools that the better-seeded team would determine the site for the regional finals, which can be at the better-seeded team’s home stadium or another site of their choosing. The Division I regional finals are this Friday, Oct. 30, while the regional finals for Divisions II through VII are November 6-7.
Later this week, the OHSAA will announce how the regions will be paired for the Division I state semifinal games. Next week, the OHSAA will announce how the regions will be paired for the state semifinals in Divisions II through VII. The OHSAA will select neutral sites for the state semifinal games and the state championship games. Sites will be announced as soon as possible. Of note, many traditional host sites are not available to serve as neutral sites due to the COVID-19 pandemic.