The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) is proud to announce its 2023-24 Officials of the Year in 21 IHSA sports. To be considered for this honor, an official must first be nominated by an Officials Association recognized by the IHSA or by an IHSA administrator. 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.
This year’s winners will be recognized during the 2024 IHSA Officials Conference, which will be held July 12-13 in Normal, Illinois.
“Participation in high school sports provides countless benefits, however, those opportunities would not exist without the hard-working men and women who choose the officiating avocation,” said IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson. “It is an honor to be able to celebrate these 21 outstanding individuals who are so respected among their officiating peers, while also recognizing that IHSA sports continue due to the collaborative efforts of every IHSA official. We thank them all.”
See the full list of honorees by sport below:
IHSA OFFICIALS OF THE YEAR
Sport |
Official of the Year |
Hometown |
Boys Soccer |
Jay Weis |
Mundelein |
Girls Soccer |
Kevin Parker |
Lombard |
Football |
Fred Steinway |
Quincy |
Boys Basketball |
Darrin Sortor |
Sherman |
Girls Basketball |
Kenneth Pink |
Arlington Heights |
Boys Lacrosse |
Scott Rogowski |
Algonquin |
Girls Lacrosse |
Patrick Nolan |
Elmwood Park |
Baseball |
John Cyr |
Woodridge |
Softball |
James Bauser |
Springfield |
Girls Volleyball |
Sharon Walker |
Stanford |
Boys Volleyball |
Aaron Woods |
Channahon |
Boys Swimming & Diving |
Mark Markwell |
South Elgin |
Girls Swimming & Diving |
Patricia Flesher |
Waukegan |
Water Polo |
Colleen Lyons |
Homer Glen |
Cross Country |
Leo Vandervlugt |
Chillicothe |
Boys Track & Field |
Thomas Miller |
Carpentersville |
Girls Track & Field |
Kelley Lucas |
Mt. Zion |
Girls Gymnastics |
Hilary Carlson |
Bloomingdale |
Competitive Cheerleading |
April Mahy |
New Lenox |
Competitive Dance |
Laura Panuska |
Woodridge |
Wrestling |
Derek Ryan |
Kankakee |
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