The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Board of Control unanimously decided Tuesday to keep the high school boys basketball state tournament in Madison through 2020.
The board also approved a decision to move the girls state basketball tournament to the Resch Center in Green Bay, where it will tentatively remain through 2014. The decision came via a recommendation from WIAA Executive Director Dave Anderson.
The WIAA additionally recommended that the high school wrestling, softball, golf and football tournaments remain in Madison through 2020.
The statement effectively ceased heated negotiations over where to host the tournaments, which stemmed from scheduling conflicts in the Kohl Center. The university will be hosting the NCAA Women’s Frozen Four at the Kohl Center in March of 2014, which coincides with the girls state basketball tournament.
Madison officials displayed their support for the resolution. “I am delighted that WIAA officials and Board of Control members have decided to retain the majority of their tournaments in Madison,” said Mayor Paul Soglin in a statement.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison also met the decision to keep the boys tournament in Madison with approval.
“People have made the tournaments an annual tradition in Madison, and we’re happy that our friends from around the state will continue enjoying coming to the state capital to watch some of our state’s most talented athletes in person,” said UW-Madison Athletic Director Barry Alvarez, in a statement.
A statement from the university also said he the decision was popular among WIAA basketball coaches, citing a December survey in which 72 percent of coaches voiced their preference for Madison as the host city for the tournament.
