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: 3/9/26
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
March 9, 2026
1. ICE HOCKEY Houghton claimed its first Finals championship since 1982, Flint Powers Catholic repeated and Detroit Catholic Central won its seventh straight – MHSAA.com
2. COMPETITIVE CHEER Rochester Hills Stoney Creek, Allen Park and Pontiac Notre Dame Prep repeated as Finals champions, and Pewamo-Westphalia won its first since 2019 – MHSAA.com
3. WRESTLING Five seniors finished their high school careers by winning fourth Individual Finals championships, and Romeo won the second girls team title – MHSAA.com
4. GYMNASTICS Hartland repeated as team champion and senior Alexis Fundich moved up from runner-up in 2025 to win the Division 1 individual title, with Haslett United’s Phoebe Elder finishing first all-around in Division 2 – MHSAA.com
5. GIRLS BASKETBALL Muskegon clinched a Division 1 District title with a 35-27 win over Rockford, last season’s Finals runner-up – Local Sports Journal
6. GIRLS BASKETBALL Evart avenged two regular-season losses and handed McBain its only defeat 45-37 in a Division 3 District Final – Cadillac News
7. GIRLS BASKETBALL Jackson Lumen Christi repeated as a Division 3 District champion with this rematch win over Grass Lake, 64-53 – WLNS
8. GIRLS BASKETBALL Livonia Stevenson also won a District Final rematch, downing Farmington Hills Mercy in Division 1 58-53 – Detroit News
9. GIRLS BASKETBALL Negaunee advanced to the Division 2 Regionals with a 47-30 win over Gladstone – My UP Now
10. GIRLS BASKETBALL Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart clinched a seventh-straight District title with a 57-52 win over Breckenridge in Division 4 – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun
Also of note …
CROSS COUNTRY Jackson girls and boys cross country coach Nathan Martin won the Los Angelos Marathon – Detroit News