Journal & Topics Media Group

DP Resident Wins Official Of The Year Award


The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) announced its 2020-21 Officials of the Year in 22 IHSA sports, and one of them is a Des Plaines resident.

To be considered for the honor, an official must first be nominated by an officials association recognized by the IHSA. 

Staff members from the IHSA then vote on the winners based on factors such as character, skill as an official and levels worked in the IHSA state series.

The IHSA Officials of the Year are traditionally honored at a banquet during the IHSA Officials Conference each July. The 2020 IHSA Officials Conference was moved to a virtual format due to the pandemic. The IHSA will announce its plans for the 2021 conference format in the near future.

“There was never a question of whether or not we would continue awarding this honor in 2020-21 despite the impact that the pandemic has had on IHSA sports and officiating,” IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson said. “Our officials give back so much to our student-athletes and there are so many individuals deserving of this honor, we could not be prouder to recognize these amazing officials. We know that they miss officiating just as much as the students and coaches miss participating. We are optimistic that we will have an abundance of opportunities for IHSA officials to work contests and meets in the very near future and we will need them all now more than ever. Each IHSA official will need to make personal decisions that are best for them and their families. We look forward to welcoming them back when they are ready to officiate and hope in the meantime, some new individuals might step out of the stands and try their hand at this fulfilling vocation.”

Des Plaines resident Keith Mukai was named the boys gymnastics Official of the Year. Mukai served as a judge in the state finals in 2017 and 2019. He also served as an assistant boys and girls gymnastics coach at Niles West, where he graduated as a student in 1995. He was a member of the Wolves gymnastics team as well. 

The Des Plaines resident also coached at Elk Grove in 2010-11, winning the MSL East crown in 2010 and the MSL conference title in 2011, according to his LinkedIn page.

Mukai previously served as the Illinois High School Gymnastics Coaches Association president in 2014.

 

IHSA Officials of the Year:

Boys Soccer: John Vargo (Belleville)

Girls Soccer: Jay Weis (Deerfield)

Football: Tom Hug (Joliet)

Boys Basketball: Kevin Senor (Plainfield)

Girls Basketball: Kim Poulter (Chicago)

Boys Lacrosse: John Vetter (Carpentersville) 

Girls Lacrosse: Rogelio Ranay (Bolingbrook)

Baseball: Michael Wiley (Williamsville)

Softball: Travis Pate (Greenville)

Girls Volleyball: William Beaty, Sr. (Divernon)

Boys Volleyball: Jonathan Heldmann (Bolingbrook)

Boys Swimming & Diving: Mike Howard (Beach Park)

Girls Swimming & Diving: Gwen Van Steen (Woodstock)

Water Polo: Matthew Hochstein (Barrington)

Cross Country: Scott Erwin (DeKalb)

Boys Track & Field: Steven Kessler (Vernon Hills)

Girls Track & Field: Ben Guyot (Sullivan)

Wrestling: Shane Morgan (Oswego)

Boys Gymnastics: Keith Mukai (Des Plaines)

Girls Gymnastics: Jackie Moravik (Somonauk)

Competitive Cheer: Ashley Schwenk (Gibson City)

Competitive Dance: Linnea Mason (Chicago)

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