Cook celebrates 50 years as an MSHSL official, honored by Minnesota Vikings

REFEREES WANTED: Football, varsity level, excellent benefits, knowledge of the game valuable, experience not required, will train, travel required. Contact the Minnesota State High School League.org (MSHSL) if interested.

Where have a large amount of high school football officials gone the past five years?

Covid forced several to drop out or retire early. Others were frustrated and didn’t want to deal with registration problems due to a new web site.

Wayne Cook of Redwood Falls wasn’t giving up officiating the sport. He registered during the year of covid (2020), although his refereeing crew had only three games scheduled.

That dedication has paid dividends as Cook was notified by the MSHSL … prior the 2024 fall season … that he was approaching his 50th year as a high school official. He’s done football, basketball, baseball, softball.

“The MSHSL said I was approaching 50 years,” he said upon registering in prior to the deadline in July, ’24. “I knew I was getting close.”

This year, Cook was awarded a wrist watch by the League for 50 years of service. In September, there was another surprise, as the Minnesota Vikings and MSHSL co-sponsored an award (certificate) to nine persons to highlight a career spanning five decades as sports officials.

“I’m honored to have been recognized by the MSHSL for having been with student-athletes and involved in their activities,” he said. “it’s one of the greatest honors an official can receive. It’s nice to be recognized by your peers.”

The certificate, in Vikings purple, is framed and hanging on the wall in Wayne Cook’s sports room.

Indeed, it was a memorable 2024 football campaign, as Wayne teamed up with his son Jeff, of Luverne. A rare father/son combination, they have reffed together five years. Two of the eight games went overtime … in Windom and Estherville, Iowa. And there was almost a third OT game, with the score 21-21 with three minutes left in Blue Earth.

40 YEARS IN FOOTBALL

Although he got an early start in baseball (1974), he has seen his seasons add up to 40 years as a football referee. He started with a three-man crew, then moved to four-man, and, recently, adding a fifth person as the back judge. Cook has worked as the referee, line judge, linesman, umpire and back judge.

He is a longtime member of the Marshall Officials Association.

In the mid-80s, he was active 15 years with a crew from Tracy, including teacher/coach John Coulter and bowling alley owner Terry Schaar.

They were also into collegiate football three years, working several games at (Dr.) Martin Luther College, located in New Ulm. Rounding out the crew were former Southwest Minnesota State University players Scott Beekman (Marshall) and Mark Eischens (Rochester).

The most memorable game was November 1990 when Concordia-St. Paul traveled to New Ulm. DMLC was NCAA/Division III, and CSP later moved to NCAA/Division II.

It was played in deplorable weather conditions. Snow.

It was snowing heavily when Cook ventured out from Redwood Falls. The officials were there two hours before kickoff to go over the difference in rules from high school to college.

The snow was piling up. Six inches covered the field. No yard lines were visible.

“The athletic director said we would play if it stopped by kickoff,” said Cook, remembering earlier that season Green Bay played at Denver in snow on a Monday night. Brett Farve’s father died that week, but Brett vowed he would honor his father’s wish, to play.

Snow stopped, and the game was on. Deep snow conditions made it nearly impossible to run the football. Passing was possible as the receivers knew where they were going and the defenders didn’t. DMLC’s quarterback threw for more than 300 yards.

What a miracle finish.

Trailing 19-14 as the clock ticked down, Concordia-St. Paul was 25 yards from scoring.

On the final play, the CSP wide-out went down the right sidelines. The tight end was doing a slant pattern, but he stumbled in the end zone. The pass was tipped before it reached the wide receiver. The ball somehow deflected to the tight end, lying on his back. He had it in his hands and dropped it.

“It ranks right up there,” Coulter said afterwards.

“The final five minutes were as good as any collegiate football game at any level of competition,” Cook wrote in a note to DMLC coaches later. “Both teams scored and played outstanding football considering the field conditions.”

MOTHER NATURE

Wayne Cook came back once to his alma mater, Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s, to referee a game with Minnesota Valley Lutheran. Again, Mother Nature caused havoc with a steady drizzle throughout.

It was a game of 13 … 13 points (7-6) and 13 fumbles. The football was comparable to a greased pig.

At halftime, referee O.J. Siewert of Redwood Falls told the officiating crew to get in closer to cover the fumbles. That was not advisable, as defensive players converged in an attempt to recover the loose ball.

Early in the fourth quarter, Cook remembered a play into the line stacked up for little or no gain. Trying to spot the ball, he didn’t notice any referee. To his amazement, Siewert was on the bottom of the pile of tacklers. He wasn’t injured and finished the game.

A former sports writer, Cook has fond memories of many football games, including:

100+ points scored by Murrray County Central (65) and Tracy/Milroy/Balaton (41). The MCC chain gang had 100 years combined. It was 65-35 before TMB scored a late touchdown. Total offense: 1,200 yards. The previous year, TMB won, 76-6.

Battle of 2-win teams, Westbrook-Walnut Grove 39, Heron Lake/Okabena/Lakefield 38. Winning PAT kick with 25 seconds left.

In the 90’s, Lincoln HI 19, Minneota 14, snapping the Vikings lengthy winning streak.

Forest City (Iowa), 33, Estherville (Iowa) 27. Overtime. Estherville missed GW 25-yard field goal with :04 left in regulation. Both kickers had missed extra point kicks earlier in the game.

LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON

Refereeing is a constant in the Cook family wth Wayne, 75, and Jeff, 38. Both began their football careers around age 30.

“The last couple of years, Jeff has really done an oustanding job,” Wayne said. “He is up on the rules and in keeping a flow to the game. I’m proud of what he has accomplished. Just maybe, something from watching me has rubbed off on him. I’m excited that he asked me if I wanted to referee again next year.”

Jeff also picks up game contracts through athletic directors. The crew’s schedule will go from nine games this year to 12 games in 2026, inluding the addition of Cedar Mountain, Wabasso and New Ulm Cathedral.

Jeff’s son, Hunter, turns 11 in December, plays fifth grade flag football at Luverne.