IBCA E-Newsletter

Mark Wise of Crown Point is the winner of the 2022 Roy Gardner Award.

Over 32 seasons as a boys’ basketball official, Wise worked 22 sectionals, 15 regionals, eight semi-states and the State Finals in 1999, 2003, 2006 and 2010. He also called the boys’ Hall of Fame Classic in 1998, and he worked the girls’ basketball State Finals in 1995 and 1998.

Wise is a 1978 graduate of Crown Point High School, where he played basketball and tennis. He went on to Indiana University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in business in 1982.

Wise began officiating in 1983 as a member of the Lake County Athletic Officials Association. While in the association, he was a lead clinician, basketball program director, conducted rules meetings and served as a mentor to younger officials.

As an official, Wise received an IHSAA Award as Official of the Year in Boys Basketball in 2012, the Stan Dubis Award from the Calumet Sportsmanship Committee for outstanding contribution, goodwill and achievement in amateur athletics in 2013, and the Harry Werkowski Award as the LCAOA Official of the Year in 2013-14.

Wise often worked with Steve Kvachkoff as an officiating partner and mentioned how Kvachkoff always helped make basketball fun. Other career highlights include working in venues such as Hinkle Fieldhouse, the RCA Dome, Lucas Oil Stadium, Market Square Arena, Conseco/Bankers Life/Gainbridge Fieldhouse and serving as lead official for the Class 4A state title game that included Greg Oden and Mike Conley as Lawrence North seniors.

Professionally, Wise worked in the grocery industry for 43 years, retiring in December 2021. His hobbies included golfing, working out at his local YMCA and spending time with his grandsons.

Wise noted he would not have done any of the above without the support of his wife, Cindy, an elementary school principal in Crown Point and his “No. 1 officiating observer.” The couple has been married for 38 years, and they have two adult sons – Matt and Tommy – as well as four grandsons.

IBCA/ROY GARDNER AWARD

Roy Gardner was a basketball official who was a math teacher for 34 years at Batesville High School. He coached basketball at Westland, Rising Sun and Batesville as well as track, baseball and golf at Batesville, with his teams capturing numerous championships. As an official, Gardner worked the 1955, 1956 and 1959 State Finals. He also officiated in the Big Ten from 1959 through 1969, and he called the East-West College All-Star Games in Hinkle Fieldhouse in 1968 and 1969. Gardner was born in 1919 in Lawrenceburg, lettered in basketball and track at Ball State University and passed away in 1977. He was inducted into the Ball State Athletics Hall of Fame in 1981 and the Ripley County Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003. The IBCA has presented an award to an outstanding basketball official in Roy Gardner's name since 1978.

• 1978: Lowell Smith, Palmyra
• 1979: Wayne Van Sickle, Richmond
• 1980: Troy Ingram, Richmond
• 1981: Jerry Larrison, Indianapolis
• 1982: John Lozier, Logansport
• 1983: Rich Boer, Gary
• 1984: Jim Wehsollek, Alexandria
• 1985: Jerry Petro, Franklin
• 1986: Roger DeYoung, Hebron
• 1987: Jesse Lynch, Indianapolis
• 1988: Bob Marcinek, East Chicago
• 1989: Melvin Redmond, Mt. Vernon
• 1990: Steve Cherry, Pendleton
• 1991: no award given
• 1992: Richard Cook, Michigan City
• 1993: Jim Cox, Jonesboro
• 1994: Mike Bohan, Brownsburg
• 1995: Bill Wulner, Lawrenceburg
• 1996: Bob Beeson, Elkhart
• 1997: Jerry Cook, Elkhart
• 1998: Norm Hathcoat, Pendleton
• 1999: Steve Fisher, Poseyville
• 2000: Rick Owens, Lynn
• 2001: Larry Maxwell, Martinsville
• 2002: Larry Jones, Logansport
• 2003: Bill Nimnicht, Evansville
• 2004: Jimmy Dimitroff, Indianapolis
• 2005: Garry Leistner, Dubois
• 2006: Ken Gorrell, Franklin
• 2007: Jerry Taylor, Lafayette
• 2008: James Dunlap, Newburgh
• 2009: Don Nester, Indianapolis
• 2010: Larry Nixon, Veedersburg
• 2011: Mark Baltz, Zionsville
• 2012: Bob Anderson, Indianapolis, and Ray Tebbe, New Palestine
• 2013: Mike Waisnora, Crown Point
• 2014: Terry Magnuson, Greenwood
• 2015: Rex Nichols, Mooresville
• 2016: Jason Ferguson, Whiteland
• 2017: Tom Rohr, Montezuma
• 2018: Tom Walters, Indianapolis
• 2019: Mike Eason, Cumberland
• 2020: Jay Slater, Sullivan
• 2021: no winner named (winner from 2020 honored in 2021 because of COVID-19 pandemic).
• 2022: Mark Wise, Crown Point