STEVENS POINT, Wis. – The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association and the Sun Prairie School District have agreed to conduct the first three years of the State Boys and Girls Lacrosse Championship Finals at Bank of Sun Prairie Stadium at Ashley Field in Sun Prairie, Wis.
“We’re looking forward to our inaugural State Championships at Sun Prairie Stadium at Ashley Field next spring. We appreciate Sun Prairie School District’s willingness to serve as host of this event,” WIAA Executive Director Stephanie Hauser said. “Destination Madison and the Madison Area Sports Commission has consistently welcomed our staff, teams and communities to the Madison area for championship events.”
In December 2022, the WIAA Board of Control approved the sanctioning of lacrosse as a sponsored sport with a tournament series for boys and girls beginning in the spring of 2024. The inaugural championship games will be held Saturday, June 8, 2024.
Bank of Sun Prairie Stadium at Ashley Field, which opened in 2021, has a capacity of 4,100 with two concession stands, four ticket windows, three full-sized locker rooms, an officials’ locker room, an athletic training room and nine booths in its press box.
“We are excited that the Sun Prairie community has been selected as the host for this event,” Sun Prairie City-Wide Athletic Director Eric Nee said. “Designed with a commitment to community engagement, our facility will showcase the athletes and events and also stimulate local commerce at restaurants, hotels, and retail establishments.”
Sun Prairie serving as the site of the boys and girls lacrosse tournament championship games increases the number of State Tournaments held in the Madison area to 16, including boys basketball, 11-player football, girls and boys golf, boys and girls hockey, softball, boys and girls individual and team tennis, boys and girls individual and team wrestling.
“Going to a WIAA championship in the state capitol is a dream for many young Wisconsin athletes. Fifteen other State Championships have experienced this incredible opportunity in the Madison area, and we are excited for the history-making lacrosse players to join in this legacy as they embark on the first WIAA State Championship,” said Jamie Patrick, Vice President of Sales, Sports and Services for Destination Madison and the Madison Area Sports Commission. “We know our local community will offer great support and hospitality to the WIAA and competing teams that come to Sun Prairie next year to play for the State Championship.”
The WIAA, as defined by its Constitution, is a voluntary, unincorporated, and nonprofit organization. The membership oversees interscholastic athletic programs for 515 senior high schools and 43 junior high/middle level schools in its membership.
# WIAA #