Southwest Louisiana keeps four state tournaments
Published 9:18 am Saturday, June 1, 2024
For more than a decade, Southwest Louisiana has been a major player in hosting Louisiana High School Athletic Association state championship .
That won’t be changing anytime soon.
Southwest Louisiana successfully bid on Thursday to keep four of the 17-sanctioned state tournaments.
“These championships are a highlight for student-athletes and their families,” LHSAA Executive Director Eddie Bonine said in a news release. “The facilities and hospitality in Southwest Louisiana consistently provide a first-class experience for everyone involved.”
Baseball, softball and swimming will stay in Sulphur, while boys basketball will call Burton Coliseum in Lake Charles for two more years.
The state softball tournament has called North Frasch Park in Sulphur home since 2001, while McMurry Park, also in Sulphur, has hosted all classes of the state baseball tournament since 2014. The state swim meet moved from New Orleans to Sulphur 19 years ago.
“At Sulphur Parks and Recreation, we’re thrilled to extend our role as hosts for these prestigious championships,” SPAR Executive Director Laurie Koelzer said in the release.
The state baseball tournament will see a change next year with a finals-only format. The change was brought about when nonselect and select Divisions I, II, and III voted to go to a best-of-three format for all five rounds of the playoffs. Nonselect and select Divisions IV and V will remain single elimination.
Burton Coliseum has been the home of the boys basketball state tournament since 2014.
“We are committed to providing an outstanding venue for these talented athletes and ensuring a fantastic experience for all attendees,” said Jason Barnes, director of the Burton Complex.
The lone state tournament to change locations for the next two years is powerlifting from the Cajundome in Lafayette to the Pontchartrain Center in Kenner.