Making it official:
Riceville senior wrestler refereeing youth sports
By Kristi Nixon
RICEVILLE — As Riceville senior 190-pounder Andrew Pridgen’s wrestling career starts to wind down, his involvement in the sport is far from over.
He began working as an official this season, starting with a middle school meet not too long ago. He’s been managing his time between school and his own activity, in which he wrestled for the final time at the Wildcats own home meet, along with fellow senior Will Felper, on Tuesday, Jan. 23.
“We had it set up so that high school is available to help, like, for the other meets,” he said. “We’re a very tight-knit program all the way K-through-12, so time is set up so everyone can help everyone else for the home meets. Instead of working at the table or the concession stand, I was refereeing.”
He got the idea from his fellow classmates as well as Riceville athletic director, Bryce Conway.
“There has been a couple kids my age getting into officiating with Ryder Fair in basketball and Aidan Ebert in baseball,” Pridgen said. “I just love the sports I play, so might as well do as much of it I can. It’s something you can take beyond high school and continue to do to stay in the sport.”
Conway, who officiates basketball and football, says that it is important to get younger athletes involved with it.
“As an athletic director, I see the shortage and feel it a little bit,” he said. “It’s hard to find them. And, with the high school kids, it’s getting them thinking that it’s something they can do. It’s probably not on their radar, I guess, but we’re offering a class. And him, Ryder Fair and Aidan Ebert are all certified in certain sports, so it’s really awesome to see them out there to get a taste of it and, hopefully, they continue. Whether it is in college, making some money. And then, it develops into a passion, hopefully, and down the road they continue. We definitely need more officials, and that’s where it starts. at the high school level.”
The full story, and more photos, will be found in the Jan. 31 print and e-editions of the Enterprise Journal.
