KMCH SPORTS: Oberbroeckling inducted into IAHSAA Officials Hall of Fame

BY JON SWISHER – SPORTS DIRECTOR:

Dyersville native and Beckman Catholic 1989 graduate Chris Oberbroeckling Sr. was inducted into the Iowa High School Athletic Association’s Hall of Fame on Friday night. The ceremony took place in Cedar Rapids before the Class 3A and 4A state championship games at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Oberbroeckling began umpiring in the Dyersville Little League as an eighth grader, that led him into what now is 35 years of baseball umpiring. A journey that has seen him grow into one of the most-respected officials in Iowa with 24 state tournaments and 14 championship game appearances among his more than 2,500 games. He works games in the WaMaC, Mississippi Athletic and Mississippi Valley Conferences. The Iowa Baseball Coaches Association inducted him into its Hall of Fame in January of 2023 and the Dubuque County Baseball Hall of Fame enshrined him last summer. He has also officiated basketball for 15 years.

Oberbroeckling works as an insurance agent with Farm Bureau Financial Services and lives in Marion with his wife Leah. Their family includes four children and two grandchildren.