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: 1/8/25

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

January 8, 2025

1. BOYS BASKETBALL Gary Barns became the Flint area’s winningest coach in his sport with 519 as Goodrich downed Ortonville Brandon – WJRT

2. BOYS SWIMMING & DIVING Holland Christian – No. 1 in Lower Peninsula Division 3 – defeated Holland West Ottawa in a dual for the first time since 1999, 101-85 – Holland Sentinel

3. GIRLS BASKETBALL Tara Kurncz reached 1,000 career points during DeWitt’s 61-44 win over East Lansing – Lansing State Journal

4. BOYS BASKETBALL Centreville’s Matthew Swanwick and Marcellus Howardsville Christian’s John Paul Rose both reached 1,000 career points in their teams’ respective wins – Kalamazoo Gazette

5. BOYS BASKETBALL Okemos delivered coach Jeff Wonch’s 300th win with a 72-51 victory over Holt – WILX

6. GIRLS BASKETBALL Leland won a matchup of undefeated teams 46-36 over Onekama – Up North Live

7. BOYS BASKETBALL Grand Rapids Northview’s Brady Swartz scored a school-record 50 points during a 93-69 win over Wyoming – Grand Rapids Press

8. BOYS BASKETBALL Muskegon remained undefeated with a 63-56 win over Hudsonville – Local Sports Journal

9. GIRLS BASKETBALL Paw Paw followed AJ Rickli to a 71-61 win over Kalamazoo Christian – Kalamazoo Gazette

10. HOCKEY Cormac Young scored his first career goal to pull Romeo past Utica/Fraser 4-3 – Macomb Daily