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: 5/15/25

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

May 15, 2025

1. GIRLS TENNIS Hemlock – ranked No. 10 in Lower Peninsula Division 4 – won five flights to repeat as a Regional team champion – Saginaw News

2. GIRLS SOCCER Division 2 No. 3 Richland Gull Lake clinched the outright Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference title with a 3-0 win over Mattawan – Kalamazoo Gazette

3. BASEBALL Clawson downed Hazel Park 12-4 to claim a third-straight Macomb Area Conference Silver title – Oakland Press

4. GIRLS SOCCER Division 4 No. 11 Harbor Springs downed Boyne City 3-0 to clinch the Northern Shores Conference title – Petoskey News-Review

5. BOYS GOLF Romeo defeated Utica Eisenhower and Ford to claim the Macomb Area Conference Red dual-meet championship – Macomb Daily

6. BASEBALL Division 2 No. 11 Mason secured a share of the Capital Area Activities Conference Red title with a 14-2 win over Fowlerville – Lansing State Journal

7. BOYS GOLF Marshall won the Interstate 8 Athletic Conference championship tournament, but LPD2 No. 10 Battle Creek Harper Creek finished with the league title – Coldwater Daily Reporter

8. BASEBALL Division 1 No. 18 Brownstown Woodhaven earned an important 4-0 win over Division 2 No. 6 Trenton – Southgate News-Herald

9. BOYS LACROSSE Cohen Beck set a Muskegon Reeths-Puffer record with nine goals in a 16-12 win over Coopersville – Local Sports Journal

10. BOYS GOLF McBain Northern Michigan Christian drew closer to a potential first Highland Conference title with another league match win – Cadillac News

Also of note …

GIRLS BASKETBALL Scott Stine will take over at Jackson Lumen Christi after leading Ypsilanti Arbor Prep to two straight Division 3 titles – Ann Arbor News