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: 10/13/25
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
October 13, 2025
1. GIRLS VOLLEYBALL Division 1 top-ranked Rockford became the first West Michigan champion of the Beast of the East Tournament – Instagram
2. CROSS COUNTRY Okemos – No. 12 in Lower Peninsula Division 1 – swept team and individual girls championships at the Greater Lansing Invitational – Lansing State Journal
3. CROSS COUNTRY Romeo swept Macomb County championship races; Romeo's girls are ranked No. 3 in LPD1 – Macomb Daily
4. CROSS COUNTRY The LPD1 No. 6 Grand Ledge boys were first and LPD2 No. 3 Alma was second at the Greater Lansing Invitational – Lansing State Journal
5. CROSS COUNTRY The LPD1 top-ranked Ann Arbor Pioneer girls and Saginaw Heritage boys won Freeland Invitational titles – Saginaw News
6. CROSS COUNTRY The Gibraltar Carlson girls and Allen Park boys were team champs at the Downriver All-Area Invitational – Southgate News-Herald
7. CROSS COUNTRY The Muskegon Mona Shores girls won their first Greater Muskegon Athletic Association meet since 2022 – Local Sports Journal
8. CROSS COUNTRY Whitehall dominated in winning the GMAA boys championship – Local Sports Journal
9. GIRLS VOLLEYBALL Essexville Garber finished a 6-0 day as champion at the New Lothrop Buddy Forever Invitational – Bay City Times
10. CROSS COUNTRY The Sturgis girls and Detroit Catholic Central boys were champs at the 61st Kiwanis Invitational in Sturgis – Sturgis Journal