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: 10/10/25

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

October 10, 2025

1. GIRLS VOLLEYBALL Buckley earned a share of its first league title in this sport, sweeping Frankfort to claim part of the Northwest Conference championship with Suttons Bay and Onekama – Traverse City Record-Eagle

2. CROSS COUNTRY Marquette’s girls won their 26th-straight Great Northern Conference title, and Marquette’s boys ran their championship streak to 13; both are top-ranked in Upper Peninsula Division 1 – Escanaba Daily Press

3. BOYS TENNIS Williamston won five flights on the way to a Lower Peninsula Division 4 Regional team title – Lansing State Journal

4. GIRLS VOLLEYBALL Traverse City West earned a key Big North Conference sweep of Cadillac – Up North Live

5. BOYS SOCCER Bloomfield Hills got past Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice 3-2 in a Division 1 District opener – Oakland Press

6. BOYS SOCCER Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker followed Faustin Therer to a Division 3 District-opening 4-1 victory – Huron Daily Tribune

7. GIRLS VOLLEYBALL Essexville Garber came back to defeat Frankenmuth in five sets – Saginaw News

8. BOYS SOCCER Spring Lake opened its Division 2 District with a 6-0 win over Sparta – Grand Haven Tribune

9. BOYS SOCCER Traverse City Central opened Division 1 District play with a 7-1 win over Midland – Up North Live

10. BOYS SOCCER Stevensville Lakeshore advanced in Division 2 with a 5-0 win over Sturgis – St. Joseph Herald-Palladium