GAINESVILLE, Fla. –  In newly formed partnerships between Polk County Tourism and Sports Marketing (PCTSM), the RP Funding Center, Polk State College, and Polk County Public Schools (PCPS), the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) has announced that all championship roads in the sports of Boys & Girls Basketball, Boys & Girls Volleyball, and Boys & Girls Weightlifting will lead to Central Florida and Polk County. Multiyear deals are in place across all six sports, with events taking place during each of the traditional fall, winter, and spring high school sport seasons.

The RP Funding Center in Lakeland will continue to host the Boys & Girls Basketball State Championships but will also begin serving as the host venue for the Boys & Girls Weightlifting State Championships as well. Polk State College’s Winter Haven Campus will serve as the host location for each the Boys & Girls Volleyball State Championships. All of this will come together by way of the operational and logistical support being supplied by PCPS and PCTSM. 

“The commitments being made by each of these organizations, along with Polk County’s overall location, amenities and track record for hosting state championship events in the past, makes this a winning formula for all involved,” said FHSAA Executive Director Craig Damon. “The FHSAA and its member schools would like to thank everyone for their time, energy and willingness to promote high-level championship experiences for all involved.”

“PCPS is honored to work with PCTSM and our local partners to host state championships for the FHSAA,” said Senior Director of Athletics Dan Talbot. “PCPS will collaborate with the RP Funding Center and Polk State College to host championship matchups for basketball, volleyball and weightlifting. Each competition will bring significant numbers of visitors, creating a tremendous economic impact for our area. Polk County is well known for hosting high profile FHSAA events, and we look forward to continuing that tradition.”

Having already served as the site of the Boys & Girls Basketball State Championships for three decades, the RP Funding Center and FHSAA have each renewed their commitment to keep the event in Lakeland. The 2023 events will once again be held on consecutive weeks, with the girls competing February 22-25, and the boys the following week of March 1-4. Additionally, the RP Funding Center and Jenkins Arena will be converted a weight room twice per year, as it serves as the host site for both the Boys & Girls Weightlifting State Championships. A winter sport for the girls, event dates in 2023 will be February 17 & 18, while the boys are a spring sport and will take the stage on April 14 & 15. The FHSAA’s partnership with the RP Funding Center for both events will run through 2025 and will have an option to renew the arrangement longer if mutually agreed.

“The City of Lakeland, Polk County and the RP Funding Center have enjoyed a rich tradition for more than 30 years of hosting the Boys & Girls Florida High School State Basketball Championships, not to mention wrestling, volleyball and cheerleading,” said Tony Camarillo, the Executive Director of the RP Funding Center. “We are excited to add the Boys and Girls State Weightlifting Championships to our roster, bringing with it new revenue to our local businesses.”

Polk State College will host the Boys & Girls Volleyball State Championships at the Winter Haven Health Center for the first time in either event’s history. Most recently held in the confines of Polk County back in 2010 at the RP Funding Center (formerly The Lakeland Center), the girl’s event which is a fall sport, is set to take place on November 11 & 12 of this year. For the boys, which is a traditional spring sport, the event will take place on May 19 & 20.

“To have student-athletes, their friends, families, and classmates from across the state utilize our wonderful facilities and see our beautiful campus is a tremendous opportunity for Polk State College and our community,” said Stanley Cromartie, Polk State Director of Athletics. “We’re humbled to partner with PCTSM, PCPS and the FHSAA as these high school athletes compete in championship matches that they’ll remember for the rest of their lives.”

According to PCTSM Director Mark Jackson, the winning teams aren’t just the ones playing on the court. The projected economic impact for all championship series is expected to exceed $30 million over five years.

“This is just another great example of what makes Polk County such a great place to work, play and stay,” said Jackson. “Partnerships for PCTSM have been a core philosophy for decades and continue to pay dividends to the businesses and municipalities we serve while providing what we hope is a home field advantage for our winning Polk County athletes.”

Specific schedules, event and ticket information will be released on FHSAA.com as each event draws near.  


About the FHSAA
The Florida High School Athletic Association supervises and regulates interscholastic athletic programs for high school students at member public, private and charter schools. The organization also recognizes and honors academic achievement among student-athletes at over 800 middle, junior and senior high schools statewide. Headquartered in Gainesville, it is the official governing body for interscholastic athletics in Florida.

           

About Polk County Sports Marketing & Visit Central Florida
Polk County Sports Marketing and Visit Central Florida is Polk County’s official Sports Commission and Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB). It is our mission to create a significant economic impact to the local economy by promoting the county as both leisure travel and sports tourism destination. We host more than 280 events annually through sports, special events, and meetings & conventions. We welcome you to Florida’s Sweetest Spot!