Conneaut's Olmstead to be honored by OHSAA this summer

[ASFN Admin]

COLUMBUS — Fourteen individuals will be enshrined in the Ohio High School Athletic Association Officials Hall of Fame, and 21 individuals will be honored as the OHSAA Official of the Year in their respective sport during the OHSAA’s annual Celebration of Officiating banquet this summer.

Becky Olmstead, of Conneaut, will be honored as a 2024-25 Official of the Year for girls basketball.

“I want to thank all of my fellow officials and share this with them,” she said. “You are only as good as your partner in this profession. Having made so many friends and met so many dedicated officials has been the most rewarding experience in my 32 years of refereeing the great game of basketball.

“I have enjoyed so many memories of great boys and girls basketball players, watching them from their earliest years to continue to play through high school, watching them grow into great athletes and young adults.”

Additionally, the OHSAA will recognize those who have dedicated 50 years (42 individuals) and 25 years (247 individuals) of service as state-certified officials in Ohio.

The banquet is set for June 21 at the Renaissance Columbus Westerville-Polaris in Westerville.

The 14 Hall of Fame inductees are being honored for outstanding officiating careers and significant contributions to interscholastic officiating in Ohio.

The officials of the year are selected through a process that includes OHSAA staff, OHSAA Directors of Officiating Development and local officials associations.

“We appreciate the commitment and dedication of all of our officials across the state,” Beau Rugg, OHSAA Director of Officiating and a member himself of the OHSAA Officials Hall of Fame, said. “Each year we take great pride in celebrating the distinguished careers of our hall of fame inductees and officials of the year. Officiating is a service, and each of these individuals is to be celebrated for their excellence in that service.”

2025 OHSAA Officials Hall of Fame Induction Class (name, city and sports officiated)

Milt Anthony, Westerville (Basketball), posthumously

Mary Black, Dayton, (Volleyball)

Daniel Delande, Shadyside (Basketball, Softball), posthumously

James Fox, Poland, (Cross Country, Track & Field)

Ralph Green, Toledo, (Football, Basketball, Softball)

Jim Johnson, Mason, (Football, Basketball)

Matthew Kleiner, Monroe, (Football, Volleyball, Basketball, Baseball, Softball)

Ken Kuhlman, Waterville, (Football, Basketball)

Kenneth Mills, Poland, (Football, Volleyball, Basketball, Baseball)

Rodney Nichols, Hillsboro, (Basketball)

Jonathan Ross, Columbus, (Volleyball, Basketball, Lacrosse)

Glen Smith, Bucyrus, (Cross Country, Track & Field)

Lee Spitzer, Columbus, (Lacrosse)

Kevin Sulecki, Mentor, (Football)

2024-25 Officials of the Year

Baseball: Jon Saphire, Worthington

Boys Basketball: Dan Holland, Fort Loramie

Girls Basketball: Rebecca Olmstead, Conneaut

Boys Cross Country: Kristopher Marshall, Milford

Girls Cross Country: Dr. Allison Jones, Austintown

Field Hockey: Todd Shapiro, Cleveland

Football: Rick Barnes, Pickerington

Gymnastics: Trisha Sefakis, Cincinnati

Ice Hockey: Robert McGreal, North Olmsted

Boys Lacrosse: Wally Petry, Cincinnati

Girls Lacrosse: William Andres, Pickerington

Boys Soccer: Ed Shoemaker, Vandalia

Girls Soccer: Zack Kinsey, East Liverpool

Softball: Maria Hottinger, Hilliard

Boys Swimming and Diving: Eric Turner, Springfield

Girls Swimming and Diving: Joe Vogt, Massillon

Boys Track and Field: Mike Nissenbaum, Powell

Girls Track and Field: Dave Milkovich, Copley

Boys Volleyball: Tim Meyer, Cincinnati

Girls Volleyball: Anne Bean-L’Heureux, Athens

Wrestling: Paul Coffland, Cadiz

OHSAA 50-Year Officials

Raymond Anthony, Columbia Station

Richie Bellas, Kinsman

Gene Bishop, Milford

Rex Durdel, Twinsburg

John Evans, Massillon

Michael Fruth, Wellston

Donald Hange, Defiance

Richard Hanna, Cuyahoga Falls

James Herold, Canal Winchester

David Hershey, Westerville

Philip Horvath, Wadsworth

Thomas Jones, Cincinnati

Ron Knight, Warren

Joseph Koler, Wheeling, WV

David Madaras, Pemberville

Donald Marsh, Jr., Roaming Shores

James McPike, Edgerton

Paul Meuleman, Pioneer

Louis Mouser, Jr., Huntsville

R. Thomas Neighbarger, Cortland

Stephen Oren, Lima

Julius Palazzo, Columbus

Phillip Rhonemus, West Union

Terry Roy, Fayetteville

Thomas Rutledge, Chesterland

Donald Sabo, Ravenna

Rita Schnipke, Fort Jennings

Randy Schreiber, Zanesville

William Scott, Huron

Paul Sells, Westerville

Kathryn Sowers, Cincinnati

Connie Steinbrunner, Celina

Danny Strain, Greenfield

James Thielen, Darbydale

Rodney Thompson, Orrville

James Troyer, Columbus Grove

Stan Urankar, Cleveland

Michael Uszak, Avon Lake

John Vicarel, Youngstown

Joel Vogt, Massillon

Bill Welch, Salem

Michael Whitley, Huntington, WV

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