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: 5/5/21

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

May 5, 2021

1. Boys Lacrosse: Division 1 No. 8 Lake Orion, Clarkston and Birmingham Unified will share the Oakland Activities Association title after Lake Orion’s 10-9 win over the Wolves – Oakland Press

2. Baseball: Division 2 No. 18 Freeland swept No. 5 Bay City John Glenn, handing the Bobcats their first losses of the season – Bay City Times

3. Track & Field: Macomb Dakota swept Grosse Pointe South in a pair of matchups of league co-leaders; both Dakota teams are ranked No. 3 in Lower Peninsula Division 1 – Macomb Daily Girls | Boys

4. Track & Field. LPD2 No. 6 Remus Chippewa Hills’ girls ran their dual meet win streak to 129 with two more over LPD3 No. 8 Central Montcalm and Grant – Big Rapids News

5. Track & Field: Emerson Sargeant won four events to race Hartland’s girls past LPD1 No. 8 Howell – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

6. Baseball: Zeeland East downed West in a matchup of neighbors, league co-leaders, and brothers – FOX 17

7. Baseball: A pair of University of Michigan recruits combined for 28 strikeouts as Division 2 No. 11 Essexville Garber got past Frankenmuth 1-0 in nine innings – WJRT

8. Track & Field: The Traverse City St. Francis boys and Indian River Inland Lakes girls won Boyne City Invitational championships – Traverse City Record-Eagle

9. Track & Field: Edwardsburg’s Luke Stowasser set a school record with a long jump of 21-foot-11 – Niles Daily Star

10. Baseball: Division 4 No. 3 Beal City moved to 17-0 with a sweep of McBain – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun

Also of note …

Girls Basketball: Clarifying an earlier report, Tonya Edwards will continue coaching Flint Carman-Ainsworth while also returning to the WNBA as an assistant – Flint Journal