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Minnesota high school ref officiates his 2,500th game

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Published  January 7, 2025 10:22pm CST
High School Sports
FOX 9

MN ref celebrates 2,500th game

A Minnesota high school referee celebrated a huge milestone on Tuesday, officiating his 2,500th game in Zimmerman.

The Brief

    • Referee Rob Bissonnette officiated his 2,500th game on Tuesday.
    • Bissonnette has worked at high school and college games across Minnesota for 30 years.
    • He hopes to keep officiating games for the foreseeable future.

ZIMMERMAN, Minn. (FOX 9) - A Minnesota high school referee celebrated a huge milestone on Tuesday, officiating his 2,500th game in Zimmerman.

Celebrating a huge milestone

What we know:

Over the past three decades, Rob Bissonnette has officiated high school and college games across Minnesota. He started tracking his games in 1994 when he began reffing junior high and lower-level high school matches.

Tuesday's game marked his 2,500th contest. "It’s just another game for me, and hopefully, I can do 2,500 more," he told FOX 9.

The backstory:

Bissonnette’s dedication comes at a time when athletic organizations nationwide face challenges hiring referees. This shortage is often attributed to increasing hostility from spectators, particularly parents. But, Bissonnette remains committed.

"I’m hoping for another 10 to 15 years, if my body lets me," he said.

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