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: 10/16/23

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

October 16, 2023

1. VOLLEYBALL Division 1 No. 10 Bloomfield Hills Marian defeated four ranked teams including No. 7 Jenison in the final to win the Beast of the East Tournament – Oakland Press

2. VOLLEYBALL Muskegon Mona Shores swept Montague to clinch the Greater Muskegon Athletic Association championship, while Kyann Hellman went over 2,000 career assists for the Sailors – Local Sports Journal

3. CROSS COUNTY The Muskegon Western Michigan Christian girls won their first GMAA title and were joined by the Muskegon Reeths-Puffer boys as champions; the WMC girls are No. 2 in Lower Peninsula Division 4 – Local Sports Journal Girls | Boys

4. CROSS COUNTRY The LPD1 No. 5 Okemos girls and LPD2 No. 10 Alma boys won Greater Lansing Invitational championships – Lansing State Journal Girls | Boys

5. VOLLEYBALL Battle Creek Harper Creek claimed its first All-City championship since 2015 with a sweep of Battle Creek Lakeview – Battle Creek Enquirer

6. CROSS COUNTRY Romeo swept Macomb County championships; Romeo’s girls are No. 1 in LPD1, and the boys are an honorable mention – Macomb Daily Girls | Boys

7. VOLLEYBALL Division 3 No. 7 Calumet swept all three opponents to win the Western Peninsula Athletic Conference Tournament – Houghton Daily Mining Gazette

8. CROSS COUNTRY The Dexter, LPD3 top-ranked Jackson Lumen Christi and Novi Christian girls and LPD1 No. 4 Ann Arbor Pioneer, LPD2 No. 8 Marshall and Royal Oak Shrine Catholic boys won at the Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard Invitational – Chelsea Sun Times News | Livingston Daily Press & ArgusAthletic.net

9. VOLLEYBALL Division 4 top-ranked Adrian Lenawee Christian edged Tecumseh to claim the Lenawee County title – Adrian Daily Telegram

10. CROSS COUNTRY The Clinton girls and LPD2 No. 6 Adrian boys won Lenawee County championship races – Adrian Daily Telegram