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: 5/19/26
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
May 19, 2026
1. BOYS GOLF Holland Christian came back from a double-digit deficit to claim the Ottawa-Kent Conference Black Tournament championship – Holland Sentinel
2. BOYS GOLF McBain Northern Michigan Christian – No. 2 in Lower Peninsula Division 4 – won the Highland Conference Tournament, with Blair DeZeeuw carding two eagles in finishing first individually – Traverse City Record-Eagle
3. GIRLS SOCCER Division 1 No. 7 Hartland handed Division 2 No. 5 DeWitt its only loss this season, 1-0 – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
4. BOYS GOLF LPD2 No. 10 Macomb Lutheran North broke Warren De La Salle Collegiate’s three-year winning streak at the Macomb County Tournament, but the Pilots’ Julian Sinishtaj was the individual medalist – Macomb Daily
5. GIRLS TENNIS Bay City Western claimed six flights in winning the Bay County Championship – Bay City Times
6. SOFTBALL Division 3 top-ranked Evart swept McBain to finish its Highland Conference schedule undefeated – Cadillac News
7. BOYS LACROSSE Temperance Bedford opened its Division 2 Regional with a big win over Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central – Monroe News
8. BASEBALL Division 1 No. 5 Bay City Western downed Flint Powers Catholic in the first game of a Saginaw Valley League championship series – Bay City Times
9. GIRLS SOCCER Melanie Kolnitys had three goals in Midland Dow’s Senior Night win over Division 3 No. 8 Frankenmuth – Midland Daily News
10. GIRLS SOCCER Bay City John Glenn downed Saginaw Heritage – WNEM