Young referee hasn’t let impairment keep him from pursuing excellence

“I can choose to focus on the bad about it and feel bad about myself,” Sam Roberts said. “Or I could embrace what I have and show people that challenges can be overcome.”

October 8, 2026Updated: October 8, 2026

By Flatwater Free Press

Young referee hasn’t let impairment keep him from pursuing excellence

From left, referees Sam Roberts, Mike Hagge, Matt Hagge, Joshua Adams and J.D. Koerner talk during halftime of a football game on Aug. 28 in Laurel. At the age of 20, Roberts is believed to be the youngest full-time varsity high school football official in Nebraska.Photo by Darin Epperly for the Flatwater Free Press

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