WATERLOO - Nine weeks ago, Bill Roths had hip-replacement surgery.

A few months from now, Roths expects to be back on the mat as a wrestling official.

It is that dedication that earned Roths, an executive at Community National Bank in Waterloo, the 2008 National Wrestling Official of Year award from USA Wrestling Magazine.

Roths is the first official from Iowa, according to Iowa High School Athletic Association executive director Alan Beste, to be awarded a national honor.

"I was surprised by it," Roths said. "I got an e-mail about it in February, and Alan talked them into letting the association give me a certificate at the state meet.

"But other than that, they wanted to keep it hushed until they gave out all of their awards in April. Actually, it will be coming out in this Friday's issue of USA Wrestling."

Roths wrestled at New Hampton High School and Upper Iowa University before becoming a wrestling official in 1974. He has officiated at every level of the sport, including 21 state tournaments from 1985 to 2005. For the last three years, he has been the supervisor of officials at the state meet.

Roths has officiated numerous collegiate national tournaments - NAIA (2), NCAA Division III (4) and NCAA Division II (6), as well as the Big Ten Conference tournament (6), Division I West Regionals (6) and National Duals.

In addition, he is the supervisor of referees for the Northeast Iowa Conference, the president of the Iowa Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association and serves as the head official for the Iowa Conference tournaments.

He also has officiated numerous junior national tournaments for USA Wrestling at the UNI-Dome.

Roths believes his entire work for the sport of wrestling is what helped him win the award.

"I really believe it is everything I've done for the sport of wrestling," he said. "This award kind of encompasses all the work I've done."

Roths figures he'll continue to officiate three or more years which will push him toward the age of 60.

"I'll know when it is time to get out," he said.

When he does retire, Roths plans to stay actively involved with officiating. He said he will continue as Iowa's state meet supervisor of officials as long as the association wants him back.

"Eventually, our plan is for me to move into an evaluator role," Roths said. "We only have three or four evaluators, and I'd become the evaluator for the Northeast Iowa quadrant.

"Right now we have a real shortage of wrestling officials, and the idea is to get me out there and hopefully give some of the younger officials some advice."

When Roths does decide to hang up his whistle, he knows there will be a spot for him at the McLeod Center next to Chuck Yagla, the highly decorated wrestler and official from Waterloo who retired after the 2007 season. They'll be watching Northern Iowa's wrestlers - and the officials.

"We'll sit up there and critique. Chuck likes to do that," Roths laughed.

Contact Jim Nelson at (319) 291-1521 or jim.nelson@wcfcourier.com