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: 12/8/25
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
December 8, 2025
1. WRESTLING Division 3 No. 6 Lake Odessa Lakewood downed Division 1 No. 6 Rockford to win the Cadillac Invitational – Cadillac News
2. WRESTLING Several of the state’s top wrestlers competed in the Grappler Gold Invitational at Hartland – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
3. BOWLING Cadillac’s boys repeated as champions of the Big North Conference Tournament, and the Cadillac girls were runner-up – Cadillac News
4. BOYS BASKETBALL Trey Oldenburg went over 1,000 career points during Monroe Jefferson’s 58-42 win over Petersburg Summerfield – Monroe News
5. WRESTLING Big Rapids defeated Traverse City West 46-35 to clinch its home invitational title – Big Rapids Pioneer
6. BOYS BASKETBALL Julius Wilson’s buzzer-beater gave Macomb L’Anse Creuse North a 61-60 win over Troy Athens during the Macomb Area Conference/Oakland Activities Association Showcase – Macomb Daily
7. ICE HOCKEY Muskegon Mona Shores scored twice during the final 24 seconds to get past Grand Haven 5-3 in the “Battle of the Barn” – Local Sports Journal
8. BOYS BASKETBALL Freeland downed host Petoskey 69-54 to win the Sean Pollion Invitational championship – Midland Daily News
9. BOYS BASKETBALL Saginaw Heritage avenged a District loss to Saginaw United with a 73-58 victory – Saginaw News
10. BOYS BASKETBALL Saginaw United, International Academy of Flint, Davison and East Lansing won at the Vehicle City Flintstone Classic – WNEM