07/13/26 – KHSAA Spring Sports Officials of the Year Nominees and Winners Announced

July 13, 2026 2026-2027 News Releases

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 13, 2026

Each year, the Kentucky High School Athletic Association honors the top officials in the sports it licenses. Finalists in each sport are selected based on a combination of on-field performance, local association activity and leadership, training efforts, and mentoring of newer officials.

One official in each sport is named Outstanding Official of the Year in appreciation of their dedication and service to schools and student-athletes across the state. Winners are selected following consultation with local assigning secretaries, veteran officials’ observers, and coaches throughout the state, as well as additional staff review.

To finish out the 25-26 school year, the Association has announced its spring sports nominees and overall winners.

2025-26 KHSAA OUTSTANDING SPRING OFFICIALS (Winners in bold)

• Baseball: Kirk Dragoo (Madisonville), Jordan Blair (Columbia), Mark Harvey (Lexington)
• Softball: Larry Thompson (Marion), Jareed Combs (Glasgow), Gregg Martin (Wurtland)
• Boys’ Volleyball: Logan Gilbert (Louisville), Randy Stone (Lexington)
• Track & Field: Mark Roche (Louisville), Aaron Teegarden (Falmouth)
• Girls’ Lacrosse: Matt Sallee (Louisville), Mary Brainard (Lexington)
• Boys’ Lacrosse: Chris Bray (Louisville), Greg Schuler (Lexington)
• Officials Assigner of the Year: Rick Browning, (Louisville)

Each finalist receives a desk clock and certificate courtesy of the Officials Trust Fund, with the Official of the Year receiving an additional recognition award.

With officiating numbers declining nationwide, the KHSAA is always accepting applications from individuals interested in giving back to their communities. Officiating remains a great avenue to stay active, earn extra spending money, and ensure that high school athletics are preserved for the current and future generations. To get involved as an official, visit khsaaofficials.org.

– KHSAA –

About the Kentucky High School Athletic Association
The Kentucky High School Athletic Association was organized in 1917 and is the agency designated by the Kentucky Department of Education to manage high school athletics in the Commonwealth. The Association is a voluntary nonprofit 501(c)3 organization made up of 284 member schools, both public and non-public. The KHSAA awards 215 State Championships to 51 teams and 164 individuals in 13 sports and six sport-activities, funds catastrophic insurance coverage for its more than 106,000 rostered member school student-athletes, provides coaching education and sports safety programs for more than 12,000 coaches and licenses and facilitates the distribution of training material for over 4,000 contest officials.

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