In winter, the moments people remember are easy to spot — a late basket at the horn, a match-ending takedown, or a swimmer stretching for the wall in a tight race.

Less visible is the work that makes those moments possible.

That’s the focus of PIAA Winter Sports Officials’ Appreciation Week, which runs Sunday, Jan. 11, through Saturday, Jan. 17, recognizing the more than 15,000 registered officials who work contests for member schools across the state under the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association.

“Officials play a vital role every day,” said Frank Majikes, president of the PIAA Board of Directors and chairman of District 2. “Games can’t be played without sports officials. Their unwavering efforts need to be recognized and given the well-deserved appreciation for all they do for Pennsylvania student-athletes.”

Across winter sports — from basketball and wrestling to swimming and diving — officials play a similar role, even if their presence often fades into the background once the competition begins.

For longtime local officials Dan Rossino and Chris Grammes, the week is less about recognition than reflection — a reminder of why they started, what the role has given them, and why they continue to show up.

A job that became a community

Rossino, of Lehighton, is in his 34th year as a PIAA official, with experience that extends across seasons and levels. Over time, he’s learned the job is about far more than rules and whistles.

“You have friends from all over the world now,” Rossino said. “It’s pretty special.”

Officiating, he said, opened doors he never anticipated — opportunities that took him from local fields to major events and introduced him to people far beyond his daily routine. The relationships, he said, became one of the greatest rewards.

Just as meaningful has been the chance to share those experiences with his family.

Rossino said his children — Anthony, DJ and Ally — grew up around the game. More recently, they’ve become part of it. Ally has begun officiating basketball games, and Rossino said working alongside his kids has become one of the biggest reasons he still enjoys the role.

“I’m able to work with them,” he said. “That’s the fun part. That’s what keeps me going.”

Rossino believes officials play an important role in modeling how competition should be handled — not just by enforcing rules, but by managing emotions in high-pressure moments.

“You can’t go to the fire with a can of gasoline,” Rossino said. “You’ve got to de-escalate and not escalate.”

Learn from mentors — then give it back

Rossino is quick to credit the officials who helped shape his approach. He pointed to mentors such as George Krell, Frank D’Angelo, Mike Lukac, Joe Ligenza and Jim Strubinger, saying their guidance helped him learn not only the mechanics of officiating, but the leadership that comes with it.

Now, Rossino tries to return that investment by helping newer officials find their footing and by making sure young people interested in officiating are supported early on.

He said part of developing officials is placing them in positions to succeed — emphasizing preparation, attention to detail and people skills as much as rules knowledge.

Rossino also highlighted a younger generation he’s excited about, including Palmerton’s Cameron Pengelly and Mason George, who he said stood out for their readiness and reliability.

“They were very effective and very good,” Rossino said. “They have a career in this.”

A parallel path in wrestling

That same emphasis on mentorship and continuity is central for Chris Grammes, a veteran wrestling official who began officiating in 1998 after spending time coaching.

Grammes served as an assistant coach at Northern Lehigh and Lehighton, and said a conversation with his former head coach and mentor, Bob Kern, helped steer him toward officiating.

“Without Bob as a mentor, I probably wouldn’t have become a very good official,” Grammes said.

He also credited the likes of Gene Waas and Mike Bateman, among others, for helping establish a strong foundation early in his career.

Now in his 28th year, Grammes has worked numerous high-level assignments, including seven state finals, but he said those moments are secondary to watching younger officials develop.

“I guess it goes along with seeing some of the younger guys progress and become good officials,” Grammes said.

Grammes serves as secretary of the District 11 Lehigh Valley Chapter of Wrestling Officials, and recruiting future officials has become a regular part of the culture. Before meets, officials read the PIAA sportsmanship message, and Grammes said many also encourage wrestlers to consider officiating as a way to stay involved in the sport.

“If they’re interested, they can reach out,” Grammes said. “We’ll help them get started.”

He recalled recently working with Lukas Croizier, a junior official, during a youth match and using the opportunity to guide him through the experience.

“He did a great job,” Grammes said.

Grammes also pointed to Ryan Evans, the son of longtime official Mike Evans, as an example of a young official who has earned respect on his own merits.

“He’s stepping up,” Grammes said. “He’s well respected among the coaches, and he’s making a name for himself.”

Growth changing the landscape

As sports evolve, both men said officiating has had to evolve with them.

In wrestling, Grammes said the growth of girls wrestling has reshaped the landscape in a positive way, but has also increased the demand for officials.

“Girls wrestling is saving wrestling,” Grammes said.

He described a different dynamic in girls matches — one he sees firsthand while volunteering with Lehighton’s girls program — noting the emphasis on sportsmanship and coachability.

“They tend to congratulate each other,” Grammes said. “It’s a really good look.”

From an officiating standpoint, he said officials must remain mindful of safety, especially given differences in flexibility, but called the learning process “a work in progress.”

Grammes also said recent rule changes — including updates to scoring and edge-of-mat criteria — have helped remove gray areas and improve the flow of matches.

“I think the PIAA is really listening,” he said.

Recognition — and an invitation

PIAA noted it was the first state association to dedicate a week in each sports season to recognize officials, an initiative later adopted nationally by the National Federation of State High School Associations.

The association encouraged schools and communities to show support during the week and on social media using #PIAAOfficial and #ThankYouOfficials. The release also noted that Scott Martin plans to introduce another resolution designating the 2025-26 Officials’ Appreciation Weeks, and Anita Kulik has reintroduced legislation addressing harassment of sports officials.

For Rossino and Grammes, though, the reward has never been attention. It’s been the chance to stay part of the game, to guide the next generation, and to make sure the moments everyone remembers are given the structure they deserve.

And if appreciation week does anything beyond offering thanks, they hope it encourages more people — former athletes, coaches and anyone who loves sports — to consider stepping in.

“This is a great recruiting tool,” Rossino said.

Those interested in becoming a PIAA official can find more information at piaa.org/officials, or reach out to people such as Rossino or Grammes. The next Officials’ Appreciation Week is scheduled for April 5–11, 2026, honoring spring sports officials.