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: 10/5/26
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
October 5, 2026
1. BOYS TENNIS Holland West Ottawa and Holland Christian – No. 3 in Lower Peninsula Division 3 – both won league championships, West Ottawa its sixth straight in the Ottawa-Kent Conference Red and Holland Christian by a point over runner-up and LPD3 No. 6 Hudsonville Unity Christian in the O-K Black – Holland Sentinel
2. GIRLS VOLLEYBALL Division 2 top-ranked Grand Rapids Christian won the Jenison Invitational – Local Sports Journal
3. GIRLS SWIMMING & DIVING Monroe High continued its impressive climb with its first Monroe County championship – Monroe News
4. GIRLS SWIMMING & DIVING LPD2 No. 1 Farmington Hills Mercy ran its Oakland County championship string to four – Oakland Press
5. GIRLS SWIMMING & DIVING Utica Eisenhower repeated as champion at the Macomb County meet – Macomb Daily
6. CROSS COUNTRY The LPD1 No. 7 Rochester Adams girls and Lake Orion boys won Oakland County team titles – Athletic.net
7. CROSS COUNTRY The LPD1 No. 14 Traverse City Central girls and No. 2 West boys won “elite” race championships at the Shepherd Invitational – Traverse City Record-Eagle
8. GIRLS VOLLEYBALL Division 3 No. 3 Muskegon Western Michigan Christian finished 5-0 to win the Best of the West Tournament at Mona Shores – Local Sports Journal
9. CROSS COUNTRY The LPD3 No. 6 Lake City girls and Reed City boys finished first at the Cecil R. Burch Pine River Invitational – Cadillac News
10. GIRLS VOLLEYBALL Muskegon Reeths-Puffer finished 3-0 at Spring Lake – Local Sports Journal