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: 1/28/19

January 28, 2019

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Multiple events over the weekend featured what potentially could end up as multiple MHSAA champions when the postseason gets rolling next month, as titans clashed especially in wrestling, hockey and boys basketball.

1. Wrestling: Division 1 No. 2 Brighton swept the Lowell Super Duals with wins over the Division 2 top-ranked Red Arrows, Division 3 No. 1 Dundee and Division 4 No. 2 New Lothrop – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

2. Hockey: Division 2 No. 3 Livonia Stevenson broke top-ranked Hartland’s 21-game in-state winning streak with a 3-2 victory – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

3. Boys Basketball: Division 1 Detroit U-D Jesuit edged Division 3 Flint Beecher 70-69 in a matchup of MHSAA championship favorites in their respective divisions – WJRT

4. Gymnastics: Rockford finished first and Forest Hills second at the annual Kenowa Hills Invitational – Coldwater Daily Reporter

5. Wrestling: Division 2 No. 7 Niles finished first, and No. 10 Stevensville Lakeshore was second at the Greater Berrien County Invitational – St. Joseph Herald-Palladium

6. Wrestling – Division 2 No. 5 Gaylord had four champions on the way to winning the 30-team Northern Michigan Championships – Gaylord Herald Times

7. Hockey: Division 2 No. 5 Brownstown Woodhaven downed Division 3 No. 5 Detroit Country Day 2-1 in overtime – Southgate News-Herald

8. Competitive Cheer: Division 4 Sanford Meridian posted the highest score of the Alma College Cheer Fest – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun

9. Hockey: Unranked L’Anse Creuse United moved into first place in the Macomb Area Conference Red with a 3-2 win over Division 1 No. 9 Macomb Dakota – Macomb Daily

10. Wrestling: Division 4 No. 5 Manchester won the 22-team Leslie Todd Stern Invitational – Chelsea Sun Times News

Also of note …

Boys Basketball: New Haven downed Warren Mott 64-37 to clinch the Macomb Area Conference White championship – Macomb Daily

Girls Basketball: Negaunee defeated Iron Mountain, but the Mountaineers’ Riley Poupore scored her 1,000th career point – Iron Mountain Daily News