The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association and Green Bay Packers have announced the selection of Pat O'Brien of Madison, Nick Solum of Merrill, Jim Herson of Marinette, Eric Chartre of Deerfield and Luke Gajewski of Kaukauna as the October high school football officiating "Crew of the Month."
The recognition is part of a joint initiative between the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) and the NFL to honor outstanding high school football officials across the country. The selected crew members were chosen for their demonstration of objectivity, fairness in rules implementation and commitment as officials.
Pat O'Brien (Referee): O'Brien has been a football official for the past 40 years. He has officiated youth, high school, and college football during that time. Besides being a championship level official, O'Brien has served in various leadership roles with the Southern Wisconsin Officials Association and has been a clinician numerous times. O'Brien has volunteered his time to staff a booth at the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association annual clinic to help foster stronger relationships between coaches and officials. O'Brien challenges his crew on a weekly basis with a difficult quiz pushing his teammates to be better. Residing in the Madison area, he also helps to teach football officiating at Verona High School.
Nick Solum (Umpire): Solum is the football chair of his local officials association, Central Wisconsin Officials's Association. He helped to organize and lead an officials clinic this past summer in an effort to gain more officials and help others improve their craft. In his spare time, Solum will review game film for various crews and for a few coaches as well. Although he isn’t the white hat, Solum is a leader within his crew by challenging everyone to get better every week and ensuring crew continuity. Known as the “rules guy” on his crew, he has taken great pride in knowing the rules and challenging others by creating weekly quizzes and sharing them with fellow officials. He resides in Merrill.
Jim Herson (Head Linesman): Herson is the consummate professional to the officiating avocation. One of things that he takes great pride in is how he treats every chain crew he works with, ensuring that they are well-prepared and integral part of the officiating team. Many coaches commented how approachable he is and able to clearly communicate when things get hectic during play. Herson is committed to safety in football by remaining vigilant when observing plays and communicating with the athletes when they are starting to push the limits within the rules of the game. He resides in Marinette.
Eric Chartre (Line Judge): Chartre is being recognized for excelling in game management and his dedication to his craft. That is evident in how he prepares for the season with his rules knowledge and mechanics of officiating. He is dedicated to teaching and helping newer officials by moving from his normal position during sub-varsity games to allow those newer officials an opportunity to work on the line of scrimmage. Chartre is active in the Southern Wisconsin Officials's Association and helps to answer football questions to various members. In his spare time he has coached youth flag football and speaks to local youth football programs about officiating questions and rules explanations. He is a resident of Deerfield.
Luke Gajewski (Back Judge): Gajewski was called upon to help lead back judge training sessions for the Green Bay Official’s Association during their preseason clinic. He is an active middle school, high school, and college football official and is able to blend those experiences to enhance his teaching skills. Gajewski has led very informative and helpful presentations for officials and how to review film to help newer officials develop quicker and build upon their experience. As an active member of the Fox Cities Officials's Association, he also takes great pride in recruiting former students and players to join the officiating community, helping grow the next generation of officials. Gajewski resides in Kaukauna.
Additional officials will be recognized as part of a Crew of the Month in November. To nominate an outstanding Wisconsin high school football official, please visit the WIAA's NFL & NFHS Officiating Crews of the Month page.
About the High School Officiating Crew of the Month Program:
As part of a NFHS and NFL initiative, the Packers and WIAA will recognize a "Crew of the Month" in September, October and November. Each month, WIAA personnel will review nominations for five positions: referee, umpire, head linesperson, line judge and back judge. Individuals will be named as part of the Crew of the Month based on demonstration of objectivity, fairness in rules implementation and commitment as officials. At the conclusion of the season, five outstanding officials previously named to a Crew of the Month will be selected as members of a Wisconsin "Crew of the Year." All participating in NFL clubs' Crew of the Year honorees will then be sent to the NFHS and NFL to determine a national Crew of the Year. Each month's honorees are highlighted on Packers, WIAA, and NFL Play Football digital and social media platforms.