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: 1/26/26

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

January 26, 2026

1. BOYS BASKETBALL Keyshawn Summerville became Lansing Sexton’s all-time leading scorer during his team’s 61-56 win over Portland – Lansing State Journal

2. GIRLS BASKETBALL Victoria Hauffe reached 1,000 career points in Hemlock’s win over Carrollton – Saginaw News

3. BOYS SWIMMING & DIVING Monroe and Erie Mason/Ida – the latter ranked No. 9 in Lower Peninsula Division 3 – tied for the Monroe County championship – Monroe News

4. ICE HOCKEY Painesdale Jeffers came back three times to get past Division 2 No. 2 Grandville 4-3 – Houghton Daily Mining Gazette

5. BOYS WRESTLING Division 3 No. 4 Whitehall edged Fruitport by four points to win its 19th Greater Muskegon Athletic Association championship over the last 20 seasons – Muskegon Chronicle

6. ICE HOCKEY Division 1 No. 3 Hartland scored the go-ahead goal with 23.5 seconds left in a 3-1 win over No. 7 Brighton – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

7. BOYS WRESTLING Gaylord claimed the Northern Michigan Championships title – Traverse City Record-Eagle

8. ICE HOCKEY Division 3 No. 5 Marquette downed No. 8 Escanaba 5-2 – Upper Michigan’s Source

9. COMPETITIVE CHEER Hillsdale won the Napoleon Invitational by nearly 42 points – Hillsdale Daily News

10. ICE HOCKEY Division 3 No. 6 Riverview Gabriel Richard ended Detroit Country Day’s four-game winning streak with a 3-0 victory – Southgate News-Herald