The Indiana Officials Association (IOA) recently hosted its 96th annual awards and recognition banquet on March 20, 2023, at The Atrium. Mark Baltz, IOA member and NFL official, served as the master of ceremonies for the evening.
Indianapolis-native Jake Query, one half of The Fan’s morning sports radio show “Kevin & Query,” entertained the group as the keynote speaker. His message to the crowd was to never doubt the important work you do and the impact it has on today’s youth.
A highlight of the banquet each year is the recognition of the student scholarship recipients. To be eligible for a scholarship, the students must be in the top 20 percent of their high school graduating class or maintain a 3.0 GPA in college. The recipients also must be the child or step-child of an IOA member. This year, three recipients were chosen. They include:
- Xander Beauchamp, the son of IOA member Dan Beauchamp, is a senior at Hamilton Southeastern High School. He maintains a 4.6 GPA and plans to attend Indiana University.
- Ryne Roehling, the son of IOA member Chad Roehling. Roehling is a senior at Center Grove High School. He holds a 4.75 GPA and plans to attend Purdue University.
- Allie Swafford, the daughter of IOA member Jeremy Swafford, is a senior at Monrovia High School. She maintains a 4.3 GPA and plans to attend Indiana University.
Each year, the IOA selects two schools who exemplify sportsmanship and hospitality. This year’s recipients were: Roncalli High School – Sportsmanship and Greencastle High School – Hospitality. The awards were accepted by David Lauck, athletic director, and Jason Sims, assistant athletic director, from Roncalli and Doug Greenlee, athletic director, and Samantha Call, athletic secretary, from Greencastle.
The IOA also recognized members of the association with service awards, applauding their many years of dedication to athletics and the students they serve across the state. Officials earning recognition this year include:
15-Year Award: David Covington, Dan Feser, Michael Nicholson, Charles Russell, John Talley, Jeff Wellner and Ken Yott
20-Year Award: Lambert Barnes, Bill Lawry
25-Year Award: Casey Gaynor, Jeff McClane, David Morton, Bruce Talbot
30-Year Award: Michael Anderson, Mike Eason
35-Year Award: Bill Purdue, Tim Welch, John Yantiss
45-Year Award: Terry Magnuson, Phil Vidito
50-Year Award: Denis Maude
The association also took time to honor the officials in the group who have reached the highest level of officiating – the state tournaments – in their respective sports for the 2022-23 academic year. Those members include: Chris Curry and Justin Faw for Girls Basketball; Curtis Anderson, Robbie Miller and Damon Williams for Football; Jared Curcio, Josh Medvescek, Jim Russell and Kevin Troy for Wrestling; John Yantiss for Cross Country; Chris Curry for Track and Field; Derek Etherington for Soccer and Jason Ferguson, Chris Shields and Jeremy Swafford for Boys Basketball. Scott Wagner (Girls Basketball) and Chris Curry (Track and Field) were also honored retrospectively for achieving this level in previous years.
Each year, the IOA bestows two prestigious awards to members of their association: the Official of the Year Award and the President’s Award. Lambert Barnes of Indianapolis is the recipient of the Official of the Year Award. Barnes was chosen for the award for his dedication to officiating, working five varsity sports deep into the tournament level. Barnes is a licensed and active official in five sports: football, volleyball, basketball, baseball and softball. He has been a member of the IOA since 2002 and is a former IOA board member. Barnes is employed in guest services at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Ken Washam of Indianapolis was the recipient of the President’s Award. This award recognizes a member who displays leadership qualities, represents the association professionally and serves its membership to the fullest. Washam is a licensed official in football, volleyball, basketball, softball and baseball. He has been a member of the IOA for 20 years and recently completed a term as an At-Large Board Member of the IOA. He is the director of golf at Smock Golf Course.
The IOA also honored John Harrell, longtime sportswriter and editor, who created and launched www.JohnHarrell.net in 2000, devoted to Indiana high school football and basketball. Harrell was presented with a plaque commemorating his many contributions to athletics in the state of Indiana. His website has revolutionized the way players, coaches, fans and administrators track results, records, rankings, schedules and postponements. Harrell is a member of the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame, an inductee of the Indiana Sportswriters and Sportscasters Hall of Fame and has been honored by the IHSAA and the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association.
The IOA encourages any individual with an interest in sports officiating to visit www.ihsaaorg/become-official. Prospective officials can take advantage of securing a free license through the nearest professional official’s association by texting OFFICIAL to (317) 943-9030. Part 1 testing opens each year on April 1 for the following school year.
For more information about the IOA and how a licensed official can become a member of this organization, please visit: www.ioaofficials.com.
The Indiana Officials Association is the largest officials group in the state of Indiana with 615 current members and several honorary retirees. Its members have worked at the highest levels of the Indiana High School Athletic Association’s state tournaments. The association has turned its seasoned members’ past experience and commitment to fair play into a well-developed training regime for new members. The organization provides training, certification, re-certification, and assessments for new and experienced officials who are responsible for promoting safety and sportsmanship for athletes of all ages and levels of competition. Through charitable giving, the IOA strives to make an impact on today’s youth.