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A Leading Official

July 29, 2014

For more than a decade, Mark Uyl has been the MHSAA’s leader of service and support to officials. Mark’s calm demeanor and subtle sense of humor have much to do with his successful leadership of what we sometimes call “the complaint department;” but because he has been both, Mark has a good feel for and the respect of both school administrators and officials.

Since joining the MHSAA staff in January of 2004, Mark has continued to referee college football and baseball. Last month Mark worked the NCAA College World Series in Omaha which had been a long-time goal for this still very young man.

This week Mark ascends to chair of the board of directors of the National Association of Sports Officials (NASO).

It’s clear that Mark has as fine a reputation nationwide as he enjoys here in his home state.

The Character Network

March 6, 2015

“You can go other places to try to become a better athlete, but there’s no better place to become a better person than high school sports.”

There’s a hint of hyperbole in that statement, but it’s the sincere sentiments of one with an important dual perspective.

These are the words I heard spoken last month by Robert Rothberg, father of a high school senior who just completed her high school volleyball career. He is also chief executive officer of the NFHS Network that is producing thousands of high school events so family, friends and fans can follow their favorite local athletes, just like his daughter.

Like high school sports, the NFHS Network is for the masses, not merely the elite. Interscholastic athletics provides competition and character building opportunities for students of diverse sizes, shapes and skill levels; and the NFHS Network provides coverage that is just as diverse – from the local subvarsity and varsity level sponsored by schools of all types in all parts of almost all states, to many of the culminating state championship events.

To peek in on the network that focuses on character more than characters, go to MHSAA.tv.