Dike-New Hartford Superintendent Inducted into Officials Hall of Fame

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Dike-New Hartford Superintendent Justin Stockdale was recently inducted into the IHSAA Officials Hall of Fame, an honor he says was special to receive alongside other standout officials he got to know over the course of his nearly 30-year officiating career. Stockdale officiated 33 state basketball tournaments, including 10 title games and 18 consecutive boys' tournaments, before retiring his whistle when he became a superintendent in 2018.

Why it matters

Stockdale's induction into the IHSAA Officials Hall of Fame recognizes his decades of excellence and leadership in high school sports officiating in Iowa, a role that helped shape his subsequent career as a school administrator.

The details

After graduating from Aplington-Parkersburg in 1993, Stockdale began officiating basketball and baseball at age 19, starting with junior high and lower level contests as a part-time job. He quickly rose to become a standout basketball official, working 33 state basketball tournaments across the IHSAA and IGHSAU, including 10 title appearances and 18 consecutive boys' tournaments. Stockdale officiated alongside other veteran officials like John Conlon and Ryan Eklund, and also worked three seasons in the American Rivers Conference in NCAA Division III.

• Stockdale began officiating at age 19 after graduating from Aplington-Parkersburg in 1993.
• He was inducted into the IHSAA Officials Hall of Fame during halftime of the Class 1A basketball championship game in 2026.

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