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: 5/14/26

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

May 14, 2026

1. GIRLS TENNIS Zeeland West claimed its first Regional title, advancing in Lower Peninsula Division 2 – Holland Sentinel

2. BOYS GOLF LPD1 No. 4 Rochester Adams won the Oakland County championship with a 291 – Oakland Press

3. GIRLS TENNIS LPD2 No. 5 East Lansing claimed a fourth-straight Regional title – Lansing State Journal

4. BOYS GOLF LPD4 No. 4 Charlevoix carded a 301 to win the Northern Shores Conference championship event by 25 strokes – Traverse City Record-Eagle

5. GIRLS SOCCER Division 2 No. 15 Mount Pleasant downed Davison 3-2 to win the first Saginaw Valley League Cup – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun

6. BASEBALL Division 1 No. 5 Bay City Western clinched the SVL North title with an 8-1 win over Bay City Central – Midland Daily News

7. TRACK & FIELD The Niles Brandywine girls and Buchanan boys claimed LPD3 Regional championships – Niles Daily Star

8. SOFTBALL Division 1 No. 2 New Baltimore Anchor Bay extended its winning streak to 22 with a 5-4 win over No. 7 Walled Lake Northern – Macomb Daily

9. SOFTBALL Division 3 No. 8 Morley Stanwood ended No. 5 Ravenna’s 27-game winning streak with a doubleheader split – Local Sports Journal

10. BASEBALL Warren De La Salle Collegiate advanced in the Catholic High School League Bishop bracket with a 3-2 win over Division 1 No. 6 Detroit Catholic Central – Macomb Daily