2022 MSHSL Officials Distinguished Service Award

Mike Amidon, St. Paul

• MSHSL Registered Official, 50 years
• Minnesota Gymnastics Judges Association, 50 years
• MSHSL Officials Advisory Board
• MSHSL Gymnastics Clinician, 30 years
• Gymnastics Assignor
• Diving Judge
• State Meet Official

“Mike’s service didn’t stop with our association. Many of the gymnastics clubs in the state have him come to their gyms. He helps them evaluate their routines and explains the rules to parents, gymnasts and coaches. This request has been going for more than 30 years. Mike is the most deserving person I know.?

Gary Parker, former Minnesota Gymnastics Judges Association Assignor

David Anderson, Rochester

• MSHSL Registered Official, 40 years
• Rochester Area Officials Association, 40 years
• MSHSL Basketball Official, 40 years
• MSHSL Volleyball Official, 10 years
• Head Baseball Coach, Byron High School, 18 years
• Section Coach of the Year Award
• Jim Dimick Retired Coach Award

“Dave’s reputation as a basketball official is beyond outstanding. He has worked basketball games since the mid-1970s. He has officiated games I coached, at games where I was a principal and AD, and many Region 1A administered tournament games. Dave always gave each game he worked his best. Whether it was a game matching the top teams or those that were not quite the top, those team’s always got Dave’s best.”

          Brad Johnson, Region 1A Executive Secretary

Tony Bartovich, Eveleth

• MSHSL Registered Official, 50 years
• Range Coaches and Officials Association
• Rules Clinician
• Observer
• Mentor
• Assignor
• Board Member
• MSHSL Clinician
• Community Coach

 “Tony epitomizes what this award is all about. Whether it is an elementary game or a state tournament game, Tony’s approach is the same. This game is about the kids and their experience, and we call learn from that.”

            Paul McDonald, Range Officials Coaches and Officials Association

Bill Benson, Maple Grove 

• MSHSL Registered Official, 30 years
• Gold Country Wrestling Officials Association, 30 years
• Board Member
• Mentor Program
• Training and Testing
• Clinician
• Minnesota Wrestling Officials Clinician
• Section Tournament Head Official
• MSHSL State Tournament Official

 “Bill has willingly served and has provided leadership to Gold Country as a member of the board for 20 years. He is recognized for his experience and leadership qualities He has been a member of Gold Country for 30 years. Bill has provided training at clinics since 1993. When asked to help out and develop a training session, he always says “yes!”

            Ron Ackerman, MSHSL Hall of Fame Class of 2022

Greg Rathbun, Byron 

• MSHSL Registered Official, 42 years
• Rochester Area Officials Association, 42 years
• Mentor
• Rookie Official Coordinator
• Board Member
• Basketball Official Educator, Triton High School
• MSHSL Basketball State Tournament Official
• MSHSL Baseball State Tournament Official

“Greg has always been quick to be willing to learn new techniques in officiating and is a receptive student of improvement recommendations. He has served the association as one of the vice president’s several times and is quick to help younger officials as they begin their officiating careers. This award will be well received in the eyes of his peers.”

Jennifer Smith, Woodbury

• MSHSL Registered Official, 19 years
• Minnesota Gymnastics Officials Association, 19 years
• Board Member
• President
• MSHSL Officials Advisory Committee
• MSHSL State Meet Official
• MSHSL Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee
• Community gymnastics volunteer
• Gymnastics officiating advocate

 “I believe that Jennifer’s greatest strength is her never-ending energy and positive attitude. Gymnasts, coaches and fellow officials are always happy to see her enter the gym for a gymnastics meet. They know she is going to calculate her score using knowledge of the sport in a fair and positive manner. She is highly respected by all.”

            Ellie K. Berg, President, Minnesota Gymnastics Judges Association

George Winn, Maple Grove

• MSHSL Registered Official, 40 years
• Gopher Officials Association, 40 years
• Board Member
• Football Assignor
• Clinician
• Game Film Evaluator
• New Officials Clinician
• MSHSL State Tournament Official
• MSHSL Officials Advisory Committee
• MSHSL Officiate Minnesota Planning Team
• MSHSL Adapted Floor Hockey and Softball official

“Finding one member from an association to help out with one extra need is always possible. Finding one association member to do two extra things during the course of the year is where things begin to separate quickly from active members to the members who only want to officiate games. Take it one step farther and try to find someone that will work with members who can give back not only during their particular season, but also out of season. Well, very few members are willing to help in that regard. However, George Winn is different. He is different in a very good way. George knows the value of service. He knows that belonging to an association is a team game on the field and a team game off the field. George is a “yes, and how about this…” kind of guy.”

            Timothy Litfin, Gopher State Officials

Association of Excellence 

This association is unique as it is the only group in Minnesota that links coaches and officials in name, service and mission. The association has been serving the League’s member schools on the Iron Range and beyond for 66 years. The association also provides officiating services to five community colleges. “Having coaches and activities directors as members provides dialogue and communications within the association and buy-in into the planning and need to train officials, especially new members,” said Jack Coombe, former longtime executive secretary of the group. “Many of our members will coach one sport and then officiate another.” The Range Coaches and Officials Associations has a mentoring program that uses experiential learning methods beginning with the junior high and sub-varsity levels as new officials begin their journeys.