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: 5/21/26
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
May 21, 2026
1. SOFTBALL Division 3 No. 2 Brooklyn Columbia Central won its first league title since 2012, downing No. 4 Grass Lake 6-5 in the Cascades Conference – Jackson Citizen Patriot
2. SOFTBALL Division 1 No. 4 Northville shut out No. 9 Salem 6-0 to clinch the overall Kensington Lakes Activities Association championship – Hometown Life
3. BASEBALL Division 3 No. 8 Grass Lake clinched a sixth-straight Cascades Conference title with a 3-2 eight-inning win over No. 2 Brooklyn Columbia Central – Jackson Citizen Patriot
4. BASEBALL Division 1 No. 5 Bay City Western finished an overall Saginaw Valley League title run with a 9-1 win over Division 2 No. 20 Flint Powers Catholic – Bay City Times
5. TRACK & FIELD The Indian River Inland Lakes girls and Mancelona boys finished Ski Valley Conference title runs – Traverse City Record-Eagle
6. BOYS GOLF Freeland clinched the Tri-Valley Conference Red title with a final jamboree victory – Saginaw News
7. SOFTBALL Division 2 No. 7 Saginaw Swan Valley and No. 6 Frankenmuth split a doubleheader to share the Tri-Valley Conference Red championship – Saginaw News
8. TRACK & FIELD Macomb Dakota’s girls – ranked No. 5 in Lower Peninsula Division 1 – Romeo’s boys and both Macomb Lutheran North teams won county championships – Macomb Daily
9. BASEBALL Division 2 No. 9 Saginaw Swan Valley clinched a share of the Tri-Valley Conference Red title with a 4-1 win over Frankenmuth – Saginaw News
10. TRACK & FIELD Bay City Western’s girls and boys teams continued their county championship dominance – Bay City Times
Also of note …
SOFTBALL Division 1 No. 7 Walled Lake Northern swept No. 3 Saline 2-1 and 4-2 – Oakland Press
BASEBALL Division 3 No. 1 Traverse City St. Francis defeated and tied Division 4 No. 2 Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart – Up North Live