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: 4/14/25

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

April 14, 2025

1. SOFTBALL Division 2 honorable mention Essexville Garber clinched its fifth-straight Bay County Championship title with a 10-7 win over Bay City Western – Bay City Times

2. BASEBALL Division 1 No. 14 Saline swept No. 8 South Lyon 5-1 and 9-3 – Chelsea Sun Times News

3. BASEBALL Midland Dow downed Division 2 No. 8 Flint Powers Catholic 9-4 in 13 innings – Midland Daily News

4. BASEBALL Division 1 No. 2 Bay City Western downed John Glenn 9-0 to became the first three-peat winner in Bay County Championship baseball history – Bay City Times

5. SOFTBALL Division 2 No. 10 Frankenmuth won the first game 10-0, but Birch Run won the second 13-11 – WNEM

6. TRACK & FIELD Addison’s Molly Brown was the star of the Napoleon Invitational with four individual championships – Jackson Citizen Patriot

7. GIRLS SOCCER Division 3 No. 13 Essexville Garber repeated as Bay County champion with a 1-0 win over John Glenn – Bay City Times

8. GIRLS SOCCER Utica Ford and Division 3 No. 4 Warren Regina played to a 1-1 draw – Macomb Daily

9. GIRLS TENNIS Traverse City St. Francis – No. 3 in Lower Peninsula Division 3 – dominated the Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett quad with wins over the host, Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central and Macomb L’Anse Creuse North – Traverse City Record-Eagle

10. GIRLS LACROSSE Troy Athens came back after trailing early to get past United Farmington 10-9 – Oakland Press