Donna Friesen Wigton | 2020 Nancy S. Sharpless Scorekeeper Emeritus Award

Donna Friesen Wigton kept the volleyball score for over four decades in various leadership roles before retiring from the scorer’s table.

While still playing at UNC Greensboro, Donna earned her state DGWS rating in 1972 and refereed at every collegiate level through 2016. She later got involved with the Southern Region, becoming a regional referee and scorer.

Donna earned her National Scorer certification in 1983 and missed just one USA Volleyball Open Nationals until 2017. She would move to Colorado, where she became active in the Rocky Mountain Region officiating and served on its board.

Donna called lines at the 1986 Olympic Festival and became qualified on the international scoresheet in 1986. She scored her first tour match in Colorado Springs followed by the 1987 Olympic Festival. Donna was a scorer at the 1991 International Military championships and at the 1995 World University Games.

Donna held a National PAVO rating from 1988 to 1996, working the NAIA Championships in 1991 and 1993, and the National Invitational Championships in 1995. She earned her USAV National Referee Patch in 1990.

Donna earned her USA International Scorer patch at the 1995 Centennial Cup in Atlanta. A year later came her career highpoint – invitation to work the 1996 Olympic Games.

Over the next decade, Donna continued taking on new roles with the Officials Assembly and the scorer’s commission as a rater at nationals and scoring FIVB World League matches. She became the fourth director of International Scorers, a position she held from 2008 to 2016.

Donna was honored with USA Volleyball’s George J. Fisher Leader in Volleyball Award in 2012, followed by the Edward P. Lauten Scorekeeper Service Award in 2015 and the Gold Pen Award in 2017.