Praise Reports --- Sept. 2023
Posted: Monday, September 11, 2023 - 12:51 PM
In addition to working contests, League Officials have the opportunity to submit positive reports from their assignments. These reports were received by the League over the past month.
School: Mounds Park Academy
Date: Aug. 25, 2023
Activity: Volleyball
Report: Mounds Park Academy Activities Director Dan Haase made all of the officials feel very welcome for our assignment between MPA and visiting Hopkins. He sets a high bar for League activities directors. We appreciated the personalized signs and the separate locker room, as well as water and plain old Midwestern hospitality. Thanks!
Officials Kevin Spence and Perry Coonce
School: Mound Westonka
Date: Aug. 31, 2023
Activity: Football
Report: What a great job of hosting by Activities Director Jeff Peterson and his staff. It was a very positive environment, and both schools (SMB was the visitor), players and staff were outstanding. We would go back there every year.
Officials Toby Sackett, Mike Kaufman, Mike Casey, Elijah Ojika, Jason Rutten
School: Brooklyn Center
Date: Aug. 31, 2023
Activity: Volleyball
Report: We can’t begin to say how wonderful the table crew was during our assignment at Brooklyn Center against Minneapolis North, especially in
helping a new volleyball official feel welcome. As the Up Referee, they were one of the best tables I have had the chance to work with!
Officials Kevin Spence and Josh Zuiderweg
School: Silver Bay (William Kelley) High School
Date: Aug. 31, 2023
Activity: Volleyball
Report: We worked the junior varsity and varsity volleyball matches when Silver Bay was host to McGregor. It was amazing hospitality and courtesy by Activities Director Kelly Olilla and her staff. They met us on arrival and greeted us warmly. They had paperwork ready to be signed and provided us with a small cooler behind the table with snacks and drinks. The table personnel and line judges were all there at least 30 minutes early to make introductions and take instruction. After the varsity match, a 3-2 loss for Silver Bay, we were fed a quick lunch from the concession stand before we departed. We would more than welcome the opportunity to return to the North Shore to officiate again. It was definitely “Minnesota Nice.”
Officials Mike Turnbull and Steve Tracy
School: Minneapolis Edison
Date: Sept. 1, 2023
Activity: Boys Soccer
Report: This praise is for the Minneapolis Edison Boys Soccer team for staying after their training session to support the girls team, which was playing St. Paul Washington. The boys were full of praise and chanting which was very positive. Several of the players agreed to serve as ball chasers, which helped the match move forward. I love high school soccer when the students are involved in the game. It was great to see the boys in the stands supporting their school and following all the guidelines regarding sportsmanship and fair play. They were also having fun; we never heard one negative comment. We thanked the players for their support and commitment to positivity. We need more involvement like this at our schools.
Officials Aaron Frederickson, Rachell Trimm, Robert Larson
School: Mankato West
Date: Sept. 1, 2023
Activity: Girls Soccer
Report: After a game with Winona, the visiting players from Mankato West walked up to our crew and gave fist bumps, along with a letter and Doritos snack. The letter was a fun pun stating “You are NACHO average referee! Thank you for working our game today.” It was signed by each player from the team. It was wonderful and we did not expect it.
Officials Benjamin Magambo, Bill Taylor, Erin Geravais
School: Concordia Academy
Date: Sept. 9, 2023
Activity: Volleyball
Report: We would like to praise Kim Duis, the head coach at Concordia Academy. She and her team showed great sportsmanship in the championship game of the Apple Valley Tournament. Despite their loss, they stayed positive throughout the match and offered us their thanks at the end. What a delightful match!
Officials Louise A. Beaman and Ben Thies
School: Caledonia
Date: Sept. 9, 2023
Activity: Volleyball
Report: We would like to praise Scott Koepke and his Caledonia team for their quality of good sportsmanship during the championship match of the Apple Valley, which it won in three sets. During the entire match, all we heard were positive remarks given to players, which in turn, they responded to in a positive manner. The officiating crew received thanks following the match. It was a delightful match to officiate!
Officials Louise A. Beaman and Ben Thies