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Congratulations to Douglas Cole who joins 40 other Washington referees at State 2 (Grade 6) after successfully passing two San Carlos assessed games at center and an assistant referee spot in a Liga Hispana game. State Director of Assessment Bob Pettingill did one of those center assessments and writes to Douglas that he looks forward to receiving his application for State 1 when his year time in grade is up.

Besides Douglas, there is one other 20-year-old State referee, and the rest are much older. Douglas lives in Stanwood (but will attend WWU next fall) and has been refereeing since he was nine years old. He achieved his first upgrade shortly after his 17th birthday and has been steadily doing increasingly more difficult games. He joined the Washington Intercollegiate Soccer Officials Assocation doing college games while still in high school. Besides being a regular at San Carlos games in Mt. Vernon, Douglas has refereed across the U.S. doing ODP camps, USA Cup in Blaine, Minnesota and several tournaments in Illinois.

Two years ago, Douglas was the District I nominee for Young Referee of the Year, and last year he was awarded "Best Referee" by the San Carlos managers. He has also returned after the worst referee assault in recent San Carlos history which sent him to the Emergency Room last year for stitches after being struck in the face by a red-carded player. But as the assessors will tell you: courage and consistency are necessary qualities for the higher level referee.

Skagit Referees are proud of Douglas and hope more of our Grade 7's will join him in wearing a State badge before the year is out.