By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
As Highland Park's athletic director, Boshner Whitaker is never at a loss for something to do.
But Whitaker spends any spare time he can find to devote to something else he has a great passion for -- officiating.
"I did that a little bit when I was in high school, just to help out at the rec centers, and then I realized it was a nice money-maker in college and I could pick and choose when I wanted to work and where,'' Whitaker said.
In addition to his duties as athletic director for Highland Park, Boshner Whitaker also works as a high school official whenever possible. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Highland Park athletic director Boshner Whitaker officiates in multiple sports when he can while also trying to spread the word about the need for officials. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Whitaker eventually caught the officiating bug and has officiating experience in basketball, football, baseball and softball.
Obviously, Whitaker's major priority is overseeing the Scots' athletic programs and he cut back his officiating schedules accordingly.
"My No. 1 commitment is to Highland Park, so I did have to give up my fulltime status as an official,'' Whitaker said.
But whenever he can, you'll find Whitaker working a game somewhere.
"I stay away from the varsity games in the Centennial League, but I do work varsity games in other leagues outside of Topeka and away from people who might know me on a personal level,'' Whitaker said.
With Kansas and many other states facing a shortage of officials, Whitaker believes it's his responsibility to do what he can.
"It does keep me involved with sports and I also see it as an opportunity to give back to the students,'' he said. "You always hear people complain about officials so I take it upon myself to try to be the best official I can to give the students an opportunity to play the best version of the game they can.''
Whitaker also has taken it upon himself to try to spread the word about the need for officials.
"I try to get a lot of students at Highland Park involved in officiating and I got some involved in the summer -- baseball and softball -- which is going to help them out,'' Whitaker said. "And anyone I see, especially when I hear people complaining about the way the game is called, I always encourage them to apply so they can come and help us.
"Unfortunately, as of yet I have not gotten any adults to join off of that but we definitely need officials because there could come a time where we have to go to two-man (crews) during varsity games and not have oficials for games. So anyone who has some free time and wants to give back, we would definitely enourage you.''
Whitaker, who was once a beginner himself, said there is a lot of assistance avaiable for prospective officials.
"We have programs available to help you, to teach you, to bring you along,'' he said. "We have veteran officials to work with you. There's camps and clinics and we'll do everything we can to put you in a position to be successful.''
And while his time is at a premium, Whitaker hopes he'll always have time to don the stripes.
"It's just nice seeing kids and I want to see these kids play,'' he said. "Some of them have been through a lot in their lives and the last thing I want to see is them not be able to play a game because there's not enough officials.''
