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: 10/16/18

October 16, 2018

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Each weekday of the school year, we break down the top headlines courtesy of Michigan’s sports media.

1. Boys Soccer: Unranked Macomb Lutheran North upset No. 8 Imlay City 2-1 in a Division 3 District opener – Macomb Daily

2. Boys Soccer: No. 3 Lansing Catholic scored the game winner in overtime to defeat formerly-ranked Williamston in a Division 3 District opener – Lansing State Journal

3. Boys Soccer: Division 4 No. 6 Adrian Lenawee Christian pulled away from No. 9 Manchester 4-1 in a District opener – Adrian Daily Telegram

4. Boys Soccer: Owosso downed Flint Kearsley 3-1 in Division 2 for its first District boys soccer win since 2011 – Owosso Argus-Press

5. Boys Soccer: No. 4 Berkley rallied for a 2-1 win over Troy in Division 1 – Oakland Press

6. Boys Soccer: A second-half goal pushed No. 8 Brighton past Walled Lake Central in Division 1 – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

7. Boys Soccer: Melvindale won another close match with Allen Park, coming back from a halftime deficit to edge the Jaguars 2-1 in Division 2 – Southgate News-Herald

8. Boys Soccer: Boyne City needed a shootout to dispatch of Grayling, 2-1, in Division 3 – Petoskey News-Review

9. Boys Soccer: Clinton went to the seventh round of a shootout to get past Jackson Christian 2-1 in a Division 4 opener – Adrian Daily Telegram

10. Boys Soccer: Top-ranked Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern opened its postseason with a Division 2 win over Lowell – FOX 17

Also of note …

Volleyball: From Saturday, Kingsford needed an extra point to finish a comeback win over Gladstone in the Great Northern Conference tournament final – Iron Mountain Daily News

Girls Swimming & Diving: From Saturday, Plymouth freshman Brady Kendall won the 50-yard freestyle and 100 butterfly as a multi-winner at the MISCA Invitational, which featured a number of the state’s top teams – MISCA