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: 6/7/17

June 7, 2017

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Coaches often say that at this level of the tournament, every team is excellent. And that held true with the start of Girls Soccer Regionals on Tuesday, as favorites faced tough challenges and a few fell in upsets.

Each weekday during the school year, we’ll gather and post media links covering the most significant and intriguing high school events from all over the state.

Girls Soccer

Division 4 top-ranked Lansing Christian fended off a strong challenge from No. 5 Jackson Lumen Christi to win 2-1 – Lansing State Journal

Division 2 No. 2 Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern needed a shootout but edged No. 8 DeWitt 3-2 – Grand Rapids Press

Division 3 top-ranked Flint Powers Catholic scored late to eliminate No. 6 Williamston 2-1 – Flint Journal

No. 2 Hudsonville Unity Christian scored late in overtime to advance in Division 3 1-0 over No. 15 Paw Paw – Grand Rapids Press

No. 14 Manchester took No. 15 Plymouth Christian into overtime before securing a 2-1 win in Division 4 – Jackson Citizen Patriot

No. 13 Marshall scored with four minutes to play to upset No. 9 Middleville Thornapple Kellogg in Division 2, 2-1 – Battle Creek Enquirer

Division 3 No. 8 Macomb Lutheran North earned a return to the Regional Final with a 7-0 win over No. 19 Almont – Macomb Daily

Walled Lake Northern, No. 13 in Division 1, eliminated No. 5 Utica Eisenhower 1-0 – Oakland Press

Charlevoix won a second straight shootout in Division 3, this time over Clare for a 3-2 win – Petoskey News-Review

Division 4 No. 11 Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett notched a 3-1 upset of No. 3 Madison Heights Bishop Foley – C&G Newspapers