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: 4/14/26
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
April 14, 2026
1. GIRLS SOCCER Division 1 No. 4 Utica Eisenhower downed No. 15 Romeo 4-1 in a Macomb Area Conference Red opener – Macomb Daily
2. BASEBALL Division 1 No. 14 Midland Dow and No. 9 Bay City Western split their Saginaw Valley League doubleheader, Western winning 5-2 and Dow claiming the second game 4-2 – Midland Daily News
3. BASEBALL Freeland improved to 5-0 with a 16-12 win over Division 4 No. 2 Beal City – Saginaw News
4. SOFTBALL Allen Park downed Wyandotte Roosevelt 8-3 in a matchup of potential Downriver League contenders – Southgate News-Herald
5. SOFTBALL Division 1 No. 10 Grand Ledge stayed undefeated with a sweep of DeWitt including a 9-8 comeback win in the first game – WLNS
6. BASEBALL Bay City Central earned a notable 5-4 win over Mount Pleasant – Bay City Times
7. SOFTBALL Chelsea defeated Pinckney 21-3, but Pinckney came back to win the second game 6-3 – Ann Arbor News
8. GIRLS SOCCER Grand Blanc shut out Flint Powers Catholic 4-0 – WNEM
9. SOFTBALL Division 3 No. 4 Laingsburg moved to 7-1 with a sweep of Portland St. Patrick – WLNS
10. SOFTBALL Elk Rapids and Traverse City St. Francis split a doubleheader – Traverse City Record-Eagle