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: 9/27/21

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

September 27, 2021

1. GIRLS SWIMMING & DIVING Ann Arbor Pioneer – the top-ranked team in Lower Peninsula Division 1 – won duals over No. 2 Northville, LPD2 No. 1 Birmingham Seaholm and LPD3 No. 6 Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood at a Northville Invitational featuring all three of last year’s Lower Peninsula Finals winners – We Love Ann Arbor

2. GIRLS SWIMMING & DIVING LPD3 No. 3 Holland Christian was first and No. 8 Grand Rapids Christian second at the Division 3 Midseason Invitational – Holland Sentinel

3. GIRLS SWIMMING & DIVING LPD2 honorable mention Midland Dow followed Ella Roberson’s lead in winning the Tri Cities Championship – Midland Daily News

4. GIRLS GOLF Spring Lake won a Ludington Invitational that saw the top five teams separated by 17 strokes with a field that included the reigning LPD3 champion – Local Sports Journal

5. VOLLEYBALL Division 3 honorable mention Pewamo-Westphalia defeated Division 2 No. 8 Cadillac 2-1 to win the Gold division of the East Grand Rapids Invitational – Cadillac News

6. GIRLS SWIMMING & DIVING LPD3 honorable mentions Trenton and Grosse Ile posted the top two team finishes, respectively, at the Downriver Classic – Southgate News-Herald

7. VOLLEYBALL Division 2 honorable mention Niles swept Portage Northern, Division 3 No. 9 Bronson and Schoolcraft in a Saturday quad – Niles Daily Star

8. CROSS COUNTRY The LPD1 No. 1 Ann Arbor Pioneer, Tecumseh and LPD3 No. 5 Jackson Lumen Christi girls and LPD1 No. 9 Traverse City Central, UPD1 No. 2 Sault Ste. Marie and Stockbridge boys won Jackson Invitational championships – Athletic.net

9. VOLLEYBALL Marquette won every set in claiming its nine-team Redette Rumble championship – Marquette Mining Journal

10. BOYS TENNIS LPD3 No. 7 Sturgis swept and shut out LPD4 No. 5 Big Rapids and Williamston – Sturgis Journal