The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) is proud to announce its 2014-15 Officials of the Year in 20 IHSA sports. To be considered for this honor, an official must first be nominated by an Officials Association recognized by the IHSA. IHSA staff members then vote on the winners based on factors such as character, skill as an official, and levels worked in the IHSA State Series. All of this year’s winners will be recognized at a banquet during the 2015 IHSA Officials Conference, which will be held on Saturday, July 18 at the Embassy Suites in East Peoria.
“I commend all of the IHSA officials who give back to the games that they love,” said IHSA Executive Director Marty Hickman. “Officiating is a tough job and these individuals deserve the respect of the coaches, student-athletes and fans. It’s important for the Association to take the time each year to recognize these individuals. Not only for their excellence in officiating, but also for the extra work they do behind the scenes to improve as officials, grow their Officials Associations, or mentor newer officials. My hat is off to this deserving group.”
Pictured is Boys Basketball Official of the Year Leonard Sanford courtesy of
Visual Image Photography.
Sport
|
Official of the Year
|
Hometown
|
Boys Soccer
|
Joe Bean
|
Springfield
|
Girls Soccer
|
Tony Baines
|
Virden |
| Football |
John Widmayer
|
Woodstock |
Boys Basketball
|
Leonard Sanford
|
Matteson |
Girls Basketball
|
Keith Nykiel
|
Downers Grove
|
| Baseball |
Jim Hayden
|
Roscoe |
| Softball |
Larry Haywood
|
Country Club Hills
|
Girls Volleyball
|
Julie Terstriep
|
Industry |
Boys Volleyball
|
Jason Palmer
|
Chicago |
Boys Swimming
|
Fred Gafrick
|
Bartlett |
Girls Swimming
|
Doug Surch
|
Wheaton |
Water Polo
|
Andrew Mattson
|
Madison (WI)
|
Cross Country
|
Lonnell Poole
|
Richton Park
|
Boys Track
|
Geza Ehrentreu
|
Rockford |
Girls Track
|
Richard Skirball
|
Granite City
|
| Wrestling |
Jack Wiesneth
|
Libertyville |
Boys Gymnastics
|
Alan Galatte
|
Palatine |
Girls Gymnastics
|
Vicki Munch
|
Arlington Heights
|
Competitive Cheer
|
Angie Wilmington
|
Chillicothe |
Competitive Dance
|
Lynn Gelatka |
Beecher |
| |
|