Left: Michael Thorner, Right: Michal Ann-Watts
Thorner and Watts Tabbed to Officiate at National Championships
LA GRANDE, Ore.- Two Cascade Collegiate Conference women’s basketball officials have been selected to officiate at the upcoming NAIA National Championships.
Michael Thorner who has been officiating collegiate women’s basketball for the past seven years was selected to work the NAIA DII Championships being held this week in Sioux City, Iowa.
Thorner has worked multiple playoff games in both the Northwest and Cascade Collegiate Conference. This season he was assigned to the Cascade Conference Tournament Championship game and the NCAA D III National Tournament second round.
Thorner lives in Yakima, Washington and is a lawyer and partner in Thorner, Kennedy & Gano, PS law firm. This is Thorner’s first assignment at the NAIA National Tournament.
Michal-Ann Watts, who has been officiating collegiate women’s basketball for the past eight years, was selected to work the NAIA D I Championships that will be held in Independence, Missouri March 18-24.
Watts, who also was assigned the CCC Championship game this year, has previously officiated at the Northwest Conference D III and NWAC junior college playoffs.
Watts resides in Castle Rock, Washington where she is an Instructor and Department Chair for General Education at Lower Columbia Community College.
In addition to basketball Watts is a collegiate volleyball official. This is Watt’s first assignment the NAIA National Tournament.