(NDHSAA) VALLEY CITY, N.D. – The North Dakota Officials Association (NDOA) announced the 52nd induction class to its Hall of Fame as determined at its Fall Board of Directors meeting. The NDOA has inducted 159 officials into its Hall of Fame since the inaugural class in 1965. Plaques commemorating all Hall of Fame members are housed in the North Dakota Athletic Hall of Fame, located inside the Jamestown Civic Center. Inductees are:
Mike Nider – Mandan
Mike Nider registered as a wrestling official in 1985, and football official in 1989.
During his 35 years as a wrestling referee he officiated 12-plus state tournaments, over 20 regional tournaments, 300-plus duals, and hundreds of regular season tournaments. He had the honor of officiating all four Class B regionals and the Class A West regional. At the collegiate level, he has officiated the University of Mary, Jamestown College, Dickinson State tournaments and an NCAA Division II Tournament in Fargo. In addition, he worked over 300 varsity football games. He had the honor of officiating 20-plus state football playoff games. He worked countless sub-varsity and middle school football games.
He believed the younger, less experienced officials needed mentoring and guidance, so he continued to work sub varsity games and tournaments with them, right up to his retirement in 2020.
Mike continues to work the North Dakota State Track and Field Meet. He has served as the head official for the Pole Vault for the last 18 years.
He currently serves a North Dakota State Deputy Umpire in Chief for NDUSA Softball. He is an active umpire and has umpired for 44 years. He was inducted into the McQuade Softball Hall of Fame in 2021.
Mike worked as an educator and coach at Leah’s Elementary (Raleigh, ND) 1978-79, St. Vincent’s (Mott, ND) 1979-1981, St. Joseph Elementary (Mandan, ND)1981-1991, Mandan Junior High 1991-2004, and Simle Middle School (Bismarck) 2004-2014, retiring in 2014.
Mike is married to LouAnn. They have two children, Alexis (Mandan) and Anthony (Fargo). Two grandchildren Jake and Lucy.
Stephanie Smith – Bismarck
Stephanie Smith’s passion for volleyball began as a player for Century High School, where she was a member of the first-ever North Dakota State Volleyball Championship team in 1984. After encouragement from her former high school coach, Lynette Olson, Smith began her officiating career in the 1986-1987 season and continued to do so until her retirement in 2018. In addition to officiating high school volleyball, she also officiated at the NJCAA, NAIA and NCAA Division II levels.
During her tenure as a volleyball official, Smith was affiliated with the North Dakota Officials Association and the Professional Association of Volleyball Officials. She served as a workshop supervisor for NDHSAA Volleyball Officials starting in the ‘90s until 2018 and mentored many new and seasoned officials along the way.
Sheryl Solberg, former NDHSAA Assistant Director, said this about Smith: “Although Steph’s volleyball knowledge is highly respected, she is also remembered for her approachable, professional demeanor and sense of humor. There was no doubt that Steph could make the tough calls, but she remained humble in her reflections, always wishing to learn and improve. Steph understood her role as an official and strove to provide an equal playing field for all athletes. She enjoyed watching the sport grow as more teams formed across the state, and she marveled at the athletic talent as the level of play steadily increased.”
Smith was honored to be selected to officiate 18 NDHSAA State Volleyball Tournaments and approximately 30 region volleyball tournaments.
Smith is a court reporter and is co-owner of a court reporting agency in Bismarck and continues to line judge in her free time.
Tim Campbell – Fairmount
Tim Campbell began officiating in the fall of 1983 and continues to do so. Tim also serves as the Southeast area officials workshop supervisor and assists as the assignor for the Tri-State Officials Association. In the summer months, Tim facilitates camps throughout the state for basketball officials.
During his officiating career, Tim has officiated a total of 18 NDHSAA basketball state tournaments (three Class A Girls, three Class B Girls, one Class A Boys, and 11 Class B Boys) six of which were NDHSAA State Champion games. Tim has also worked numerous boys and girls region and district basketball tournaments in North Dakota as well as in the states of South Dakota and Minnesota. Tim has also officiated four NDHSAA Dakota Bowl Football Championship games.
Tim is currently a Richland County Commissioner and a salesman for S&S Specialties and Yield Advantage-Midwest Seed.
Tim is married to his wife, Kelli, and has 3 children: daughter Jordyn (Shane Bossert), son Taylor (Kennedy), and daughter Jadyn, and grandson, Kase.
Mitch Parker – Fargo
Mitch Parker began officiating North Dakota high school boys and girls basketball in 1984 and high school football in 1994.
Parker officiated a total of 35 seasons of North Dakota high school athletics. During his career he worked 11 state tournaments and 25-plus region and district tournaments. In addition to his high school career Parker also officiated college basketball for 15-plus years in the North Central Conference, Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, Dakota Athletic Conference, and North Dakota Junior College Athletic Conference working many conference and regional tournaments.
Parker was an active member in the Red River Valley Officials Association, serving three terms on their Board of Directors, as well as serving three terms on the North Dakota Officials Association Board of Directors. Over the years he served as a workshop supervisor, day camp supervisor, and rules clinician. He also served nine years on the Board of Directors of Special Olympics of North Dakota.
Parker is the CFO of Precision Plumbing, Heating, and Dirtworks. He is married to Peggy and has two children, daughter Kelsey (Deryk) grandson Jack, and son Taylor (Taylor).
Lynda Bertsch – Minot
Lynda began her officiating career in the winter of 1983 officiating volleyball contests and is still an active official in the sport, often officiating high school matches several days a week.
During her time as an official, Lynda served as an NDHSAA Volleyball Officials Workshop Supervisor for several years. Currently, she serves as a scheduler for numerous volleyball contests and tournaments and assignor for volleyball officials in the Minot area. As an NDHSAA veteran official, Lynda mentors young and new officials in her area.
Lynda has worked numerous district and regional volleyball tournaments at the high school level and has also officiated NAIA collegiate volleyball matches for several years.
During her career, Lynda has been selected to officiate 26 NDHSAA Volleyball State Tournaments – 21 Class B state tournaments and five Class A state tournaments. Other honors Lynda has received for her officiating include the National Federation of Interscholastic Officials Association Distinguished Service Award (1991) and the North Dakota High School Coaches Association’s Special Recognition Award (2022).
Through officiating volleyball at the high school and collegiate levels, Lynda has had the opportunity to meet and work with many people – fellow officials, athletic directors, coaches, players, and parents – many who have become family to her
