Being selected to work an IHSA State Final is a culminating moment for an IHSA official in any sport. In the 100+ year existence of the IHSA, approximately 500 officials have been selected to state finals in two sports. When you look at officials who have worked a state final in three different sports, the number shrinks to 60.
That is what makes Mark Wiley’s 2016-17 school year so remarkable. The Williamsville native achieved the three-sport feat in a single school year, as his crew was selected to referee the 2016 IHSA Class 5A Football State Championship game in November, followed by trips to state in 2017 at the Class 1A & 2A Boys Basketball State Finals in March and the 3A/4A Baseball State Finals in June.
Wiley has officiated all three sports for the IHSA for over three decades.
For more on his career year that is unlikely to ever be duplicated, read more from the Springfield State Journal-Register by clicking
here.