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: 4/26/19

September 26, 2019

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

September is drawing to a close, and teams in boys soccer, girls tennis and girls golf earned league championships Wednesday while a number of others edged closer to title celebrations.

1. Boys soccer: Division 1 No. 6 Midland Dow scored late to get past rival Midland 1-0 and clinch the Saginaw Valley League North championship – Midland Daily News

2. Girls Tennis: Marquette celebrated three flight champions on the way to earning the overall Great Northern Conference tournament title – Iron Mountain Daily News

3. Boys Soccer: Division 3 No. 6 Grosse Ile broke No. 10 Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central’s 11-game winning streak with its second victory this fall over the Falcons – Southgate News-Herald

4. Girls Golf: Durand won the Mid-Michigan Activities Conference tournament to lock up the league title – Owosso Argus-Press

5. Cross Country: The Adrian Lenawee Christian girls – ranked No. 2 in Lower Peninsula Division 4 – and No. 14 Hillsdale Academy boys won the first Southern Central Athletic Association jamboree, Lenawee Christian ahead of No. 3 Hillsdale Academy and No. 9 Pittsford among others – Hillsdale Daily News

6. Boys Soccer: Birmingham Seaholm edged Division 2 No. 8 Detroit Country Day 2-1 – Oakland Press

7. Boys Soccer: South Lyon downed White Lake Lakeland in a Lakes Valley Conference semifinal to earn a rematch with Walled Lake Western in the championship game – Observer & Eccentric

8. Boys Tennis: Ludington – No. 8 in Lower Peninsula Division 4 – earned a key Coastal Conference win over North Muskegon – Ludington Daily News

9. Volleyball: Division 3 No. 9 Saginaw Valley Lutheran moved to 15-2-2 with a sweep of Michigan Lutheran Seminary – Saginaw News

10. Boys Soccer: Clinton Township Chippewa Valley held on to first place in the Macomb Area Conference Red with a 3-0 win over Sterling Heights Stevenson – Macomb Daily

Also of note …

Football: The MHSAA is working with youth football leaders to improve participation at both levels, and Executive Director Mark Uyl spoke on the subject during the annual Update Meeting in Frankenmuth – Saginaw News