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Not only are the Akron-Westfield wrestlers on their way to the state tourney but so are three Akron wrestling officials. Brad Harvey, Tom Huls and Doug Manley have been selected to officiate at the state wrestling tournament in Des Moines. Huls and Manley will officiate both semi-finals and final championship matches this weekend while Harvey will officiate semi-final matches on Thursday and Friday. “It's pretty special that three people from Akron are going to referee the state tournament,” said Manley, who has been a wrestling official for 28 years. “It doesn't happen that often in a town this small.” This will be Manley's 17th state tournament to officiate wrestling, 15 of those he has refereed championship round. This will be Huls' fourth state tournament and Harvey's second state tournament. While the Westerners have earned their way to the state championships, the three Akron wrestling officials have been earning their own honors. Manley is currently the Northwest District of Iowa District Official of the Year. However, it's an honor awarded to one of the top four officials nominated for the award. The four nominees were Harvey, Huls, Manley and Al Van Whye of Hawarden. Nominations are made by coaches and officials in that district. At a district meeting, the coaches and officials vote on the Class 1A, 2A and 3A coaches and officials of the year. Manley has received this award nine previous times, consecutively from 1990 – 1999. He was also awarded the Iowa State Official of the Year in 1999. This year, Manley has been named one of the six finalists selected for the 2006-2007 Iowa State Official of the Year award. The winner will be announced after the state wrestling tournaments. Manley began his wrestling career wrestling for the Akron Raiders. During high school, he was a two time state qualifier and placed fifth his senior year. He began officiating as soon as he graduated from Akron High School in 1979. He recruited both Harvey and Huls to join him in officiating. Harvey wrestled for the Akron-Westfield Westerners from 1979 – 1983 and was a two-time district qualifier. He began officiating while attending his first year at Iowa State University. He officiated junior high wrestling matches in Ames. After graduating from ISU in 1987, he returned to Akron and began going to junior high matches with Manley. This year was the second time Harvey has been nominated for Northwest District of Iowa District Official of the Year. Huls also wrestled for the Westerners from 1993 – 1997, qualifying for state his senior year. He began officiating right out of high school. He was the Northwest District of Iowa District Official of the Year in 2003-2004 and 2004-2005. In addition, Akron-Westfield Head Wrestling Coach Mark Van Oort was named the 2006-2007 Class 1A Coach of the Year. “We do it because we all three love the sport,” said Huls, adding that a highlight is the relationships they have with the coaches, athletic directors, wrestlers, score keepers and time keepers. “You spend all day Saturdays with them at breaks, lunch,” said Harvey. “You get to know individuals, coaches.” “And Doug,” said Huls. Being a wrestling official opens the door to other opportunities, including officiating at Disney Duals and being officials' supervisors of NAIA Wrestling Tournament in Sioux City and Brute-Adidas Nationals in Kansas City, Mo. “Those are some things that happen after you've been in it a while,” said Manley, who has had those opportunities. “You meet a lot of people, and they offer you the opportunities. You seize them.” “I have had a lot of fun refereeing with these guys,” said Manley, who can often be found officiating every night but Mondays and all day Saturdays during wrestling season. “It takes a lot of time out of your life,” said Manley, and both Huls and Harvey agreed. “You miss out on your own children's activities while officiating,” said Harvey. Harvey and Huls are following in Manley's footsteps – starting another generation of Akron wrestling officials. They have recruited 1995 A-W graduate Dan Rolfes of Akron. “I remember Doug asking me,” said Huls with a smile, explaining he'd told Manley “next” year but Manley called him for the rules meeting, then Huls went and picked up his officiating uniform. “I still didn't think I was going to do it. Then Doug called.” Manley said he'd pick him up to go to a wrestling tournament in Rock Valley. “I was awfully nervous,” said Huls. “I'm pretty proud we have three of us from here,” said Manley, explaining that there was a time when only one official would be representing all of the Northwest District at the state championships. “Now to see three from our own is pretty awesome. Something to be proud of.”

The Akron-Westfield wrestlers traveled to Inwood to West Lyon High School to see who goes to state. A-W not only will be sending seven young men to state, but they also won the Class 1A District Tournament.

Headed to state are Marshall Koethe, a defending state champion, at 130 lbs., Brody Verschoor goes at 140 lbs., Joe Sievert at 145 lbs., John Sievert at 152 lbs., Chad Morehead at 160 lbs., David Hecht, 189 lbs., and David Ericson at heavyweight. Crowned District Champions were Marshall Koethe, Brody Verschoor, David Hecht and David Ericson. A-W ends the dual season with a 25-3 record. A-W also goes to the State Dual Tournament in Cedar Rapids. A-W drew I-35 for their first opponent.

by Hank Krause