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: 9/25/17

September 25, 2017

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

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

Today's Top 10

1. Girls Swimming & Diving: Host East Grand Rapids – No. 1 in Lower Peninsula Division 2 – outpaced LPD1 top-ranked Farmington Hills Mercy in winning the Pioneer Classic – PrepSwimming.com

2. Volleyball: Honorable mention DeWitt downed reigning Class A champion and current No. 3 Novi in the semifinal and No. 8 Bloomfield Hills Marian in the championship match to win the Novi Invitational. 

3. Boys Soccer: Division 1 No. 8 Grand Haven could be on the move this week after a 3-1 win over No. 7 Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central – Grand Haven Tribune

4. Girls Golf: All six Bay City Central golfers posted season-low scores as the team scored a tournament record 362 to win the Bay County Golf Championship – Bay City Times

5. Volleyball: Class D No. 2 Leland downed Class B No. 10 Montague in the championship match of the Morley Stanwood Invitational – Traverse City Record-Eagle

6. Volleyball: Class B No. 9 Kingsley downed Class C honorable mention McBain in both pool play and the tournament final of the Ramblers’ tournament – Cadillac News

7. Girls Cross Country: Traverse City Central (LPD1 No. 3) and lead runner Sielle Kearney won titles in the Eagle division of the Grand Rapids Cougar Falcon Invitational, Kearney followed by reigning LPD2 runner-up Anna Fischer of St. Joseph – Traverse City Record-Eagle

8. Volleyball: Class D No. 8 Onaway came back from a set down to beat Cheboygan and win the St. Ignace Invitational – Sault Ste. Marie Evening News

9. Boys Soccer: Division 3 No. 10 Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard downed host Alpena 2-0 to win the Huron Shores Tournament – Alpena News

10. Cross Country: The Berrien Springs boys (LPD3 honorable mention) and South Haven girls won Tri-State Invitational championships, with Zeeland East (boys are LPD2 No. 13) finishing second in both races – Niles Daily Star