Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – Chris Petersen, second from left, is the 2025 recipient of the CIF NCS Golden Whistle Award.

Longtime H-DNL football official Chris Petersen has received a prestigious award, it was announced this week, while fellow official Rollin Trehearne has announced his retirement after 32 years of service here on the North Coast.

Petersen is the recipient of the 2025 CIF North Coast Section Golden Whistle Award for the fall sports season.

According to the NCS, the award is presented to officials who have made significant contributions to high school athletics through their respective careers, demonstrating outstanding character, and upholding the integrity of the game.

Petersen, a multi-sport official, has devoted over 33 years to officiating within the H-DNL, earning the respect of athletes, coaches and fellow officials.

Throughout his career, Petersen has officiated three NCS football championship games, two NCS baseball finals, an NCS soccer championship, six NorCal basketball tournament games, one NorCal football final, four NCS basketball title games and six Dick Niclai Tournament basketball finals.

In 2022, he reached the pinnacle of his profession when he was selected to officiate the CIF state Division-7A championship game at the iconic Kezar Stadium.

Petersen describes that game in San Francisco as the highlight of his career.

According to a press release announcing the news, he has also served as a leader and mentor in the officiating community and has been a member of the NorCal Football Officials Association (NCFOA) since 2004.

Petersen has held the role of Assigning Secretary with the association since 2020 and has also been a member of the Six Rivers Basketball Officials Association since 1993.

He will be officially recognized by the NCS at Friday night’s Division-6 football playoff game in Fortuna.

Trehearne, meanwhile, announced his impending retirement last week, ending a distinguished career officiating football games that spanned more than three decades.

Trehearne will conclude his long career next month with one final projected CIF Regional Bowl game.

He began his football officiating journey in 1993 at the youth and high school levels.

His career highlights include officiating countless NCS playoff games, four CIF regional bowl games, and one CIF state championship. 

According to a press release announcing the decision, Trehearne has been instrumental in the organization and instruction of local football officials. 

He served as the NCFOA Assigning Secretary from 2009 to 2019.

Before that, he held numerous positions on the NCFOA board. 

Trehearne also has been a longtime basketball official here on the North Coast, serving in that role for 25 years.

His mentorship of the next generation of officials on the North Coast means his influence will continue for decades to come.

Rollin’s retirement follows a series of recent departures of veteran football officials, including Ed Matthews (52 years of service) and Jack Haase (43 years) in 2022, and Jim Seaman (33 years) and Monte Henry (24 years) in 2023.

The loss of this collective experience comes at a critical time for high school athletics. 

A growing national shortage of officials is threatening the future of high school sports, with the National Federation of State High School Associations estimating that more than 50,000 officials have left various sports since 2019.

The NCFOA encourages anyone interested in supporting high school athletics to consider becoming an official.

To learn how to officiate in any high school sport, please visit www.highschoolofficials.com to sign up, or email ncfoa.humboldt@gmail.com for more information.