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: 11/10/25
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
November 10, 2025
1. GIRLS VOLLEYBALL No. 2 Bloomfield Hills came back after losing the first set and nearly the second to defeat No. 4 Bloomfield Hills Marian in four in a Division 1 District Final – Oakland Press
2. GIRLS SWIMMING & DIVING Battle Creek Harper Creek – No. 9 in Lower Peninsula Division 3 – clinched its first league championship in this sport since 1983, winning the Southwestern & Central Conference title – Battle Creek Enquirer
3. GIRLS VOLLEYBALL Chesterfield Austin Catholic won its first District title in this sport, sweeping Sterling Heights Parkway Christian in Division 4 – Macomb Daily
4. GIRLS VOLLEYBALL No. 8 Battle Creek St. Philip swept Climax-Scotts in Division 4 to clinch a 26th-straight District title – Battle Creek Enquirer
5. GIRLS SWIMMING & DIVING LPD3 No. 3 Hudsonville Unity Christian finished as outright champion in the O-K Lakeshore after tying No. 6 Grand Rapids Christian at the league meet – Holland Sentinel
6. GIRLS SWIMMING & DIVING LPD3 honorable mention Chelsea won a fifth-straight Southeastern Conference White championship – Chelsea Sun Times News
7. GIRLS SWIMMING & DIVING The Traverse City Tritons cooperative program won a fifth-straight Coastal Conference title – Traverse City Record-Eagle
8. GIRLS SWIMMING & DIVING LPD1 honorable mention Grand Blanc edged LPD2 honorable mention Midland Dow to win the Saginaw Valley League championship meet – Midland Daily News
9. GIRLS SWIMMING & DIVING LPD1 No. 6 Rockford was first and Grand Haven second at the Ottawa-Kent Conference Red championship meet – Grand Haven Tribune
10. GIRLS SWIMMING & DIVING Gibraltar Carlson completed an outright championship in the Downriver League – Southgate News-Herald