Why be an Official? (Grand Rapids Press)
January 25, 2012
The Grand Rapids Press' Jane Bos tells the story of some of the most valuable, yet often-criticized people who help make our games go -- the officials enforcing the rules.
Consider this interesting point: On a Tuesday or Friday, the O-K Conference must come up with 150 officials to work its basketball games. And it, like most if not all leagues, always is looking for more.
She also explains how another former Press sportswriter, Howie Beardsley, got into the reffing game.
Check it out:
"Why West Michigan high school referees say you should consider wearing stripes"
Today in the MHSAA: 9/25/26
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
September 25, 2026
1. BOYS SOCCER Division 2 No. 7 Fruitport moved into first place alone in the Ottawa-Kent Conference Silver with a 1-0 win over Division 3 No. 5 Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian – MuskegonSports.com
2. GIRLS SWIMMING & DIVING Rochester – No. 10 in Lower Peninsula Division 1 – edged Bloomfield Hills 94-92 – Oakland Press
3. BOYS SOCCER Traverse City Central and Division 1 No. 11 Traverse City West remain tied for the lead in the Big North Conference after a 2-2 draw – Up North Live
4. BOYS SOCCER Division 1 No. 15 Walled Lake Northern edged Walled Lake Western 4-3 – Oakland Press
5. GIRLS VOLLEYBALL Traverse City Central’s Erica Heffner reached 1,000 career kills during a sweep of Sault Ste. Marie – Traverse City Record-Eagle
6. CROSS COUNTRY The Montrose boys and Frankenmuth girls won team titles at the latter’s invitational – Saginaw News
7. GIRLS VOLLEYBALL Gibraltar Carlson came back from a 2-1 deficit to defeat Brownstown Woodhaven in five – Southgate News-Herald
8. GIRLS VOLLEYBALL Kingsford improved to 10-1-0 with a sweep of Gladstone – Upper Michigan’s Source
9. GIRLS VOLLEYBALL Macomb L’Anse Creuse North lost the first set but won the next three to down Harrison Township L’Anse Creuse – Macomb Daily
10. GIRLS SWIMMING & DIVING Dexter defeated Temperance Bedford 106-79 – Chelsea Sun Times News
Also of note …
FOOTBALL Longtime Monroe Jefferson coach Marc Cisco died at age 90; he coached Jefferson for 47 years – Monroe News