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: 5/31/23

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

May 31, 2023

1. BOYS TENNIS Ishpeming began the MHSAA’s Spring Finals schedule with a championship in Upper Peninsula Division 2 – MHSAA.com

2. SOFTBALL Ava Mullen struck out a Stevensville Lakeshore-record 19 batters in the No. 5 Lancers’ 6-0 perfect-game win over Berrien Springs in Division 2 – St. Joseph Herald-Palladium

3. GIRLS SOCCER No. 6 Saginaw Nouvel avenged its 2022 postseason loss with a 2-0 win over No. 3 Valley Lutheran in a Division 4 District Semifinal – Saginaw News

4. BASEBALL AJ Jones struck out 13 in No. 20 Hillman’s no-hitter District win over Atlanta in Division 4 – WBKB

5. BOYS GOLF No. 4 Charlevoix shot a 309 to win its Lower Peninsula Division 4 Regional by 10 strokes – Petoskey News-Review

6. GIRLS SOCCER Sophia Hekkema broke her own single-season school scoring record in leading Muskegon Reeths-Puffer to a 5-0 Division 2 District win over Ludington – Muskegon Chronicle

7. BASEBALL A 12-run inning highlighted unranked Mattawan’s big Division 1 District win over No. 17 Portage Northern – Kalamazoo Gazette

8. SOFTBALL Division 2 No. 4 Essexville Garber swept Division 4 top-ranked Unionville-Sebewaing in regular-season play – Bay City Times

9. GIRLS SOCCER Brighton avenged a pair of regular-season losses to Hartland with a 3-0 District Semifinal victory – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

10. GIRLS SOCCER Lilley Bosley netted the game’s lone goal in No. 3 Rochester Hills Stoney Creek’s 1-0 win over Romeo in Division 1 – Oakland Press