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: 11/13/19

November 13, 2019

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

The field of 128 was whittled to 66 volleyball teams still alive in the MHSAA Tournament as all but two Regional Finals were played Tuesday, with Divisions 1 and 3 producing the night’s loudest newsmakers.

1. Volleyball: Top-ranked Schoolcraft swept No. 5 Bronson, ending a four-season Class C/Division 3 championship streak for the Vikings – WWMT

2. Volleyball: No. 7 Bloomfield Hills Marian pushed top-ranked Farmington Hills Mercy to a fifth set before the Marlins prevailed in a Division 1 Regional Semifinal – Observer & Eccentric

3. Volleyball: No. 4 Hudsonville got past No. 8 Grand Haven in five sets in a matchup of ranked Division 1 teams – Grand Haven Tribune

4. Volleyball: Honorable mention Pewamo-Westphalia swept No. 9 Morley Stanwood in a Division 3 Regional Semifinal – Ionia Sentinel-Standard

5. Volleyball: Honorable mention Lake Orion went five sets to upset No. 9 Rochester Hills Stoney Creek in Division 1 – Oakland Press

6. Volleyball: Manistique came back from a set down to win the final two and get past Calumet in five in a matchup of Division 3 honorable mentions – Escanaba Daily Press

7. Volleyball: Unranked Hudson swept honorable mention Hanover-Horton to also move on in Division 3 – Adrian Daily Telegram

8. Volleyball: Unranked Manton got past honorable mention Beal City in five sets, also in Division 3 – Cadillac News

9. Volleyball: Novi swept Brighton in a matchup of Division 1 honorable mentions, ending the stellar high school career of Bulldogs all-stater Celia Cullen – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

10. Volleyball: In Division 3, Vandercook Lake advanced to its first District final and saw two school records fall during a sweep of Bath – Jackson Citizen Patriot

Also of note …

Girls Golf: Okemos’ Allison Cui was named Miss Golf by the Michigan Interscholastic Golf Coaches Association – Lansing State Journal

Boys Soccer: The Michigan High School Soccer Coaches Association named Aidan O’Connor its Mr. Soccer for this season – Grand Rapids Press