Mark Wise
Mark Wise of Crown Point is the winner of the 2022 Roy Gardner Award.
Over 32 seasons as a boys’ basketball official, Wise worked 22 sectionals, 15 regionals, eight semi-states and the State Finals in 1999, 2003, 2006 and 2010. He also called the boys’ Hall of Fame Classic in 1998, and he worked the girls’ basketball State Finals in 1995 and 1998.
Wise is a 1978 graduate of Crown Point High School, where he played basketball and tennis. He went on to Indiana University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in business in 1982.
Wise began officiating in 1983 as a member of the Lake County Athletic Officials Association. While in the association, he was a lead clinician, basketball program director, conducted rules meetings and served as a mentor to younger officials.
As an official, Wise received an IHSAA Award as Official of the Year in Boys Basketball in 2012, the Stan Dubis Award from the Calumet Sportsmanship Committee for outstanding contribution, goodwill and achievement in amateur athletics in 2013, and the Harry Werkowski Award as the LCAOA Official of the Year in 2013-14.
Wise often worked with Steve Kvachkoff as an officiating partner and mentioned how Kvachkoff always helped make basketball fun. Other career highlights include working in venues such as Hinkle Fieldhouse, the RCA Dome, Lucas Oil Stadium, Market Square Arena, Conseco/Bankers Life/Gainbridge Fieldhouse and serving as lead official for the Class 4A state title game that included Greg Oden and Mike Conley as Lawrence North seniors.
Professionally, Wise worked in the grocery industry for 43 years, retiring in December 2021. His hobbies included golfing, working out at his local YMCA and spending time with his grandsons.
Wise noted he would not have done any of the above without the support of his wife, Cindy, an elementary school principal in Crown Point and his “No. 1 officiating observer.” The couple has been married for 38 years, and they have two adult sons – Matt and Tommy – as well as four grandsons.
