Gopher State Officials Association

Since 1965, serving members of the Minnesota State High School League by providing high school officials in baseball, basketball, football, and softball and educating officials who are members of the association.

Gopher Officials Most Recent News

Click here to read important updates from Gopher,

last updated May 25, 2026 and includes information about

Gopher officials working the baseball/softball state tournaments,

the Bozo Wincek Award and Rookie of the Year Awards, and the football meeting.

Football

Some dates were announced recently for the upcoming football season:

Pre-season football meeting for all officials

The football annual meeting will be Sunday August 16, 2026, at the Brooklyn Park Community Center, 5600 85th Ave N, Minneapolis, MN 55443. Meeting will run from 6pm to 8:30 pm. Attendance is required for those who are committed to being a football official, but if you're curious about working football we'd love to have you attend the meeting as well. Reach out to George Winn and Rick DeGardner for more information at ghwinn@comcast.net and rickdeg@comcast.net.

Scrimmages

Saturday 8/29
Start times vary 8:00 AM– 10:00 AM

Regular Season Varsity Schedule

Thursday 9/3 – Friday 10/23
NOTE: MEA week is our week 7. Games will be played Wednesday 10/14
Week 8 games will be played Tuesday 10/20 – Friday 10/23

2026 Bozo Wincek and Rookie of the Year Awards

The 2026 Bozo Wincek Memorial Award was awarded to George Winn. George has been an integral part of Gopher State for many years, from being a football official who worked multiple state tournament and state championship games, to his service to the high school league in multiple adapted sports, to his many years of service on the Board, to assigning football these past several years after Bozo stopped, to assigning lower level basketball in a pinch when the regular assignor got sick, he has devoted much of his life to being a great official and helping Gopher State produce great officials and serve our schools. His insight, commitment, and dedication to officials across our association have made a lasting impact on GSOA and across Minnesota. He is the kind of person and official that embodies the spirit of Bozo Wincek, and the Board is honored to award George with this year's Bozo Wincek Award. Congratulations George!

Rookie of the Year Awards

Gopher State Officials Association proudly announces four Gopher officials who were selected as the recipients of the 2026 Gopher Rookie of the Year award winners. Please join the Board in congratulating the following officials:

Basketball - Gina Zech

Football - Ben Lampron

Baseball - Solomon Vana

Softball - James Holt