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Bobcat Boys And Girls To Participate In This Week’s KSAC Basketball Championships; Lee Krull And Ron Walter To Be Honored By District Nine For 50 Years Of Officiating Service, On Saturday

The Clarion Area Bobcats Boys and Girls teams will compete in the Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference (KSAC) Basketball Championships to be held this Thursday through Saturday (Thursday through Saturday, February 16th through 18th), at PennWest University-Clarion’s Waldo S. Tippin Gymnasium.

The Bobcat Boys, the #1 North Seed will face the Karns City Gremlins, the #2 South Seed, on Thursday at 6:00 pm.

(Clarion’s Rihanna Dittman will sing the National Anthem prior to the game.)

The winner of the 6:00 pm game will face the winner of the other semifinal, which will be played at 7:30 pm, between the #1 South Seed, Clarion-Limestone and the #2 North Seed, Union in Saturday’s Championship game at 6:00 pm. The Boys’ Awards will follow the Championship game.

The Clarion Area Girls, the #2 North Seed will face Redbank Valley, the #1 South Seed in the semifinals on Friday at 7:30 pm.

The winner will face off against the winner of the other semifinal, which will be played at 6:00 pm, between the #1 North Seed, North Clarion and the #2 South Seed, Moniteau, in Saturday’s Championship game at 8:00 pm. The Girls’ Awards will follow the Championship game.

All six games will be livestream video broadcast on Exploreclarion.com and d9sports.com! (Explore TV), With Mike Kalinowski and Bob “The Governor” Dunkle calling the action.

Between the Boys’ Championship game and the Girls’ Championship game, Special Recognition will be given to Lee Krull and Ron Walter, from District Nine, as they will receive plaques for 50 Years of Absolutely Stellar Service for the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) Officiating and other entities.

Image submitted: Lee Krull (left) with Ron Walter have combined for a Century officiating various sports at a number of levels

Presenting the plaques will be Bonnie Wolbert and Kevin Doverspike. Bonnie is the District Nine Female Officials’ Representative on the District Nine Committee and also the Statistician for the KSAC. Kevin is the Male Parent Representative for District Nine and also the Vice Chairman.

Bonnie shared, “Several other officials, over the past three years, have been recognized for their 50 years of service.  We thought this game would give the two locals the recognition they deserved in front of a big crowd.”

(These fine gentlemen’s bios are at the bottom of this article.)

Admission and ticket information

Doors will open at 5:00 pm, each evening.

Admission for each evening, is $5.00 for adults and $3.00 for children.

(No passes will be accepted.)

(Let’s Go, Cats!!!!) And To All The Teams, Have A Great Tournament!!!! and Congratulations Lee and Ron!!!!

Check Out Lee Krull’s and Ron Walter’s amazing Bio’s!!!!

HONORING LEE KRULL

50 YEARS OF SERVICE

AS AN ACTIVE PIAA OFFICIAL

Lee Krull, a resident of Clarion, PA, retired from Clarion University of PA as a business manager for 35 years. Before his retirement he graduated from Harborcreek High School in 1969 and completed his education from Edinboro University of PA with a degree in Business Administration in 1973. Lee resides in Clarion with his wife, Joan.

Lee’s 50 year officiating career expands over multiple sports. He has been a football official from 1996 to present. As a member of the District IX Northwest Mountain Chapter, he has officiated football in Districts IX, X, and VI. Lee has officiated over 30 district and inter-district football games, including a PIAA Western Semi-final game. He also has held a position as a Chapter officer.

From 1983 to 2003, Mr. Krull served as an NCAA Basketball official. He was a member of the Tri-State Intercollegiate Athletic Association under Commissioner Gene Seratore. Lee worked for the following conferences: the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC), the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC), the Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC), and the Alleghany Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC). He worked the ECAC Semi-final and Championship game in 1984.

Being a PIAA basketball official AND a baseball official has been a major part of his adult life from 1973 to present! Lee was a member of the Erie County Basketball Chapter from 1973 to 1976 and then joined the Clarion County Chapter in 1976 where he has been an active member to the present time. He has lost count of how many basketball district and inter-district playoff games he has worked, along with serving as a chapter officer numerous times.

Lee’s been a member of several baseball officials’ chapters such as the Erie Co. Chapter (1973-1976), the Tri-City Chapter in Oil City (1976-2008), and the Gateway Counties Chapter (2009-Present). He’s umpired numerous district and inter-district games over the years, including two PIAA Western finals.

Beginning his baseball umpiring at the age of 15 was the start of his working with Little League baseball. Lee has been a registered American Legion umpire from 1979 to present. His baseball officiating career includes numerous district, regional, and state tournaments throughout the state at all levels of amateur ball.

CONGRATULATIONS, LEE, on your recognition for serving PIAA for 50 years!

RONALD P. WALTER

MULTIPLE SPORTS’ PIAA OFFICIAL

50 YEARS RECOGNITION

Ron Walter (no “s” thank you!) graduated from Clarion-Limestone in 1966. As a student-athlete in high school, Ron lettered in basketball and track. While attending Slippery Rock State, he ran cross country and was a member of their indoor and outdoor track program, lettering three years. In 1970, Ron graduated with a degree in Health and Physical Education.

In the fall of 1970, Ron started his teaching career at North Clarion High School. Included in his 36 years as a classroom teacher at NC, he served for 34 years as a track and field coach, and a coach for 32 years covering the following sports: Varsity boys’ basketball, Varsity girls’ basketball, and Jr. High boys’ basketball. Ron was also an assistant coach under Mr. Ed Woolcock for 19 years.

Mr. Walter took his PIAA basketball test in May of 1973. During this span of 1973 to Present, Ron officiates in Districts IX and X. He has worked numerous play-off and championship games, including state play-off games, Western finals, and a State Final in 2009. Ron was a key figure with Roddy Hartle in establishing an Officials’ Assignor position within the Clarion County Basketball Chapter. He held said position for several years working to acquire officials for schools in the Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference (KSAC).

In addition to officiating basketball, Ron has also been an active volleyball official belonging to the Clarion County Chapter for the last 36 years to present. He has worked in the KSAC league and the District IX play-offs and State play-offs. Ron was seen working the State finals in 2008, 2010, and 2014 for volleyball.

Add officiating softball (20 years including a State final spot in 2010), baseball (14 years) and soccer (5 years) to his resume.

In his spare time, Ron played in the Clarion County Men’s Modified Softball League for 39 years. During that time, he was named the MVP of the league 3 times. He also played in the Brookville YMCA Men’s Basketball League for 14 years. Of course, he did find time for golfing, hunting, and fishing.

Ron resides in Sigel, PA, with his wife Carole of 51 years. He has two daughters, Barbi and Caron, and five grandchildren, Frances and Aron Milliron and Walter, Olivia, and Grant Heigel.

Your dedication to PIAA officiating for 50 years has touched so many!

THANK YOU!