Le Mars Community alum Bryan Borchers was a great basketball player for the Bulldogs. Now, he is one of the best officials in the state of Iowa and has been granted the opportunity of being one of 54 officials to work the boys state basketball tournament.
This is the second year Borchers has been in the stripes in Des Moines working the state tournament. He says it is always a wonderful honor to be given an opportunity like this.
Borchers’ playing career following his time at Le Mars saw him take stops at Buena Vista and Morningside. Following his collegiate experience, Borchers felt a void where his basketball playing career once sat. He says becoming an official helped satisfy his competitive drive.
Basketball has been a large part of Borchers’ life growing up. His dad Barry spent three decades coaching the sport, and his younger brother Tyler was a critical part of Le Mars’ 2015 runner-up team at state. Borchers says being around many different basketball people helped him prepare for dealing with coaches in a game.
When it comes to officiating, most people know that criticism will be coming your way as a referee. Borchers says it is important for him that he drowns out the noise and not even pay attention to it during a game.
Le Mars has been home to many officials that have gone on to have hall of fame careers like Steve Wick and Cory Isebrand. Borchers says Wick was a big help to him early in his process of becoming an official.
Borchers says one of his favorite part of officiating is getting to see some teams, players, and coaches that you would not normally see in your area.
Borchers also says that anyone that is thinking of becoming an official should give it a try.
In his second state tournament appearance, Borchers officiated the Johnston/Waukee Northwest Class 4A quarterfinal on Tuesday and the Ballard/Carroll Class 3A semifinal on Wednesday.
